Today we’d like to introduce you to Whitney Ingram
Hi Whitney, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My interest in filmmaking started in high school when I took a TV and Video Production class. From there, I went to Utah Valley University, majoring in Digital Media with an emphasis in Cinema Production. After I graduated, I freelanced for four years. I fell into camera operating and live productions, but I always focused on screenwriting, directing, and editing. When COVID hit, I was forced to take a corporate job, which actually ended up being quite valuable since they had an in-house studio. I was able to be behind the camera, direct, and edit product videos, ads, and training modules for their non-profit on human trafficking awareness. I worked at a couple more corporate gigs where I started to specialize in social media content.
Since 2018, I have built a following on my personal social media accounts, where I share my filmmaking journey. It has been motivating to feel supported by so many people around the world. I’m about to attend another film festival where my 7th short film will be premiering. Right now, I am working on my YouTube channel, creating filmmaking eBooks, courses, and anything else I can do to build an audience and work full-time as a filmmaker. My YouTube channel has recently gained a lot of traction, and I want to focus on creating narrative work as well as showing how I do it with behind-the-scenes content. I’m really excited to finally create what I want to see full-time and see where it goes.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think anything I’ve done since graduating has gone smoothly. It’s taken me a long time to feel comfortable in my own skin and find my own path. I can be rebellious when it comes to being told what to do. As a woman in film in Utah, I stand out at every event I attend—sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. Either way, I’ve never felt like I fit in here, which is why the online following I’ve built has been such a safe haven for me. One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is people not trusting that I know what I’m doing. I look young, and I’ve struggled with confidence. I also have a hard time asking for help and have struggled with anxiety and depression my whole life.
That said, I’ve come a long way. I’ve learned to be comfortable being misunderstood and not to let others’ perceptions define me. I’ve also learned to recognize the types of people to avoid and the kind of people I want to work with. It can be difficult to find work with people who are serious. Many have contacted me under the guise of work when, in reality, they were just trying to ask me out or impress me for some other reason. I don’t think many men have to deal with this factor. Because of this, I always have to keep my guard up so my time isn’t wasted.
Despite these challenges, I’ve grown stronger, more focused, and more determined to carve out my own space in this industry. I’m excited about the future and confident in my ability to create the kind of work I’m passionate about, surrounded by people who respect and support my vision.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I mainly focus on writing and directing. Bringing my visions to life is my passion, and I’ve been a storyteller from a very young age—even before I realized filmmaking was what I wanted to do. I took extra writing classes in school and have even written an eBook on storytelling called Get Your Story Straight, an interactive workbook I truly enjoyed creating. I’ve written and directed seven short films, each very different in tone and genre. I’ve also discovered that I’m really good at editing as well. I enjoy finding the story in the edit and fine-tuning it, making all the puzzle pieces come together. It’s always been something I find enjoyable, and I love learning new techniques and watching the project take shape. I’ve also found that editing has helped me become a much better filmmaker, as I now realize what I’ll need in the edit and can plan accordingly when I go to shoot my projects.
My last short film, Out to Lunch, is the one I’m most proud of. It’s a dark comedy—a genre I love but had never explored before. I also took on the roles of director of photography and editor for that project. I enjoy being behind the camera and diving into the post-production process; honestly, I love every aspect of filmmaking. That film surprised a lot of people with its strange tone and somewhat violent aspects. I’m trying to lean into the parts of myself I’m most drawn to, which apparently includes strange, absurd humor with dark undertones and wild plots.
At this point, I’m probably best known for my inspiring content on social media, where I talk about filmmaking and my love for cinema production and storytelling. Ultimately, I’d love to be known for my dark comedies and for creating conflicting figures and flawed and complex female characters.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
When I was in school, I had a few professors who were great motivators. I especially remember my writing and editing professor, Stu Heimdal, who helped me learn to write in a way that finally made sense to me—it was a huge breakthrough. I’m actually participating in his new writing course right now as I work on a feature screenplay.
I’d say my online followers have been a huge support system. There have been many times when I didn’t feel like continuing or thought a project wasn’t worth posting, only to be proven wrong by the attention my work gets and the encouraging words that come my way.
I’ve also found a lot of support from my partner, who has stepped up when I needed it the most. He even played a role in my last short film and did an amazing job, stepping in just a couple of days before we were set to shoot. My mom and friends have also been an incredible support system. A huge group came to our premiere at the International Utah Film Festival. It was the first time so many people came out to see something I had made, and I’m so thankful to have found people in my life who are willing to show up for me.
And while it can be hard to keep going, especially when you don’t know where you’ll end up. There’s no single path. While others’ support helps, believing in yourself is key. You have to be able to pick yourself off the ground. You really have to be your biggest supporter.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wittyfilmgirl.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wittyfilmgirl/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitingramfilm/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wittyfilmgirl
