Why We Create

Kenny X Hamlett

Welcome to "Why We Create" - the podcast where we dive into the minds of some of the most brilliant and innovative creators of our time! Join us as we sit down with artists, filmmakers, writers, and designers to chat about their unique journeys to success. From the highs and lows, the struggles and triumphs, we'll explore what makes them tick and uncover the secrets to their success. Expect lively banter, hilarious stories, and a healthy dose of inspiration as we delve into the creative process, the joys and challenges of working in the arts, and what it takes to make a living doing what you love. So whether you're an aspiring artist or simply love getting to know the people behind the art, "Why We Create" is the podcast for you! Get ready to be entertained, inspired, and maybe even pick up a few tips and tricks along the way.

Episodes

  1. Aug 4

    Doing it the hard way w/ Tristan Utrecht thoughts on Betting on Yourself, Dropping Out, Moving Countries, and Chasing the Craft

    This one's personal. Tristan Utrecht — cinematographer, DP, and someone I've watched go from PA on my very first real directing project (the Fujifilm "Students of Storytelling" shoot) to shooting feature films in under a year — comes on to tell the wild, full story of how he got here. We're talking dropping out of high school in 11th grade, getting flown to Papua New Guinea at 17 to shoot 360-degree VR safety training in the middle of the jungle, and somehow landing back in photography by 13 with nothing but a point-and-shoot and the guts to cold-email a professional photographer for a mentorship. Then there's the leap that changes everything: walking away from a level of success in Australia, selling his car, and moving to Portland with no job, no real plan, and just his grandparents as a safety net — betting on himself all over again. We get into what "success" actually means, why film school might not be the move (unless it comes with real industry connections), the difference between being self-taught and learning real crew dynamics on a doc that took him around the world, and why almost everything good that's happened has come down to showing up when it got scary and being in the right room at the right time. This is a conversation about leaps of faith, building real community instead of chasing a global one, and why the answer to "should I do this?" is usually just: do it.

About

Welcome to "Why We Create" - the podcast where we dive into the minds of some of the most brilliant and innovative creators of our time! Join us as we sit down with artists, filmmakers, writers, and designers to chat about their unique journeys to success. From the highs and lows, the struggles and triumphs, we'll explore what makes them tick and uncover the secrets to their success. Expect lively banter, hilarious stories, and a healthy dose of inspiration as we delve into the creative process, the joys and challenges of working in the arts, and what it takes to make a living doing what you love. So whether you're an aspiring artist or simply love getting to know the people behind the art, "Why We Create" is the podcast for you! Get ready to be entertained, inspired, and maybe even pick up a few tips and tricks along the way.