Have you ever woken up one day and realized, "I'm [fill in the age] and I'm nowhere near where I thought I'd be in life"? Yeah, it happens to a lot of us. We all have dreams and aspirations, but the path to actualizing those goals sometimes veers off course. From books to blogs, and buzz phrases like "Quarter Life Crisis", it's a topic on a lot of people's minds. Korey Smallwood, decided to take on that topic with his thoughtful new web series, Retales. Alongside his production team consisting of Amanda White (pictured), Kyle Dixon and Kristina Walden, the show aims to illuminate what happens when a collective of 30 something dreamers find themselves working in retail and scratching and clawing to get back to their goals.
We caught up with Korey & Amanda of Retales at the inspiring landmark, The Strand Bookstore, talk about being Daring Creatives. Also, watch the full pilot episode below!
When did you decide to pursue your current career path?
I’ve always been creative, but I really started to take the idea of being a filmmaker seriously around 2004. Precise Minds Filmworks was founded in the spring of 2005. When I really think about it though, I’ve been walking in this direction since I wrote my first short stories at the age of nine.
Why is RETALES such an important project for you at this moment?
RETALES is semi-autobiographical, and represents part of my journey as a creative because in real life, it’s difficult. It takes an incredible amount of focus, dedication, and a crew of individuals communicating on the same wavelength to make this kind of life a reality. It’s definitely a marathon, not a sprint. I personally feel creation of this show is a benchmark for the company, and for my journey as a professional creative. It’s a testament to actually DOING, instead of just DREAMING.
How does the city you live in influence your creativity?
New York City is a constant source of inspiration, whether it’s the history of the city, the art that flourishes here, or the challenges facing the people from a social or political standpoint. Everything, both positive and negative, finds its’ way into my writing. Sometimes a subway ride is all it takes to spark it up.
In your words, what does it mean to be a “creative”?
I’ve always believed that everyone can be creative, but not everyone can be a creative. It’s just something in you. Creatives have an innate connection to the world, and to how things move. I feel like it’s a gift that manifests itself differently in every creative. A chef, writer, sculptor, painter, and a musician are all just different facets of the same power. I think we’ve been conditioned to view “creatives” as individuals who aren’t serious or focused on “real life”. It’s been said that if you want to learn about people at any point in the history of the world, look at the art they produced. Creatives channel what’s out in the world and make it tangible. Spiritually digestible for everyone else. What would we be without art?
What is the biggest misconception about what you do?
I think a lot of people believe being an independent filmmaker isn’t respectable, or rather, isn’t profitable. This conditioning is based on a belief that if something isn’t highly profitable it has no worth. Some of my friends in other parts of the world call that an “Americanism”. My usual reply to this kind of comment is simple: at one point in time Spike Lee, Ava DuVernay, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, and a slew of other successful writer/directors were just people trying to get it together. They put in the work and dedicated themselves to something, honing their gifts. I’m feel I’m no different.
What do you do to get through your day?
I spend a lot of time formulating things in my head, and listening to music. Research helps me stay on top of what’s current in the culture and the business. Learning as much as possible at all times and keeping the momentum consistent help me maintain my patience. The patience is so vital. On the flip side, having the necessary time and space to shut off and disconnect from the grind of work is also very important to me. I need to recharge the creative batteries!
Who is someone famous that you think is killing it at the moment? In other words, is there someone whose career you admire.
Right now Ava DuVernay, Issa Rae, Lena Waithe, Numa Perrier, and Jeanine Daniels are killing it. Each one of these amazing black women is unabashedly writing, producing, and handling the business end of these amazing creative endeavors. They’re churning out movies, television and web shows, and writing books. I’m incredibly inspired by them, and I seriously feel we are in the full throes of a new era for creatives of color.
Finish this sentence...
Happiness is: Finding your true purpose, fulfilling it while being supported by people you love and respect, while learning and growing every day.
My biggest frustration is: that there aren’t enough hours in the day to just create and build with my team without the interference of day to day humdrum. But all in due time. I seriously feel like it’s on the horizon.
I couldn’t live without my: team. Honestly, without Kristina Walden, Amanda White, and Kyle Dixon, RETALES would not be a reality today. They allow me the space to simply do what I do best while they handle the other important facets of the process. There is no me or Precise Minds Filmworks without them.
Photos by Tyrone Rhabb
Additional photos courtesy of Precise Minds Filmworks.
For more information on Retales, find it here.