Young Guns 16: CALMATIC
By Brett McKenzie on Nov 01, 2018
Showcasing the incredible winners of Young Guns 16
After months of decisions, discussions and debate, The One Club For Creativity is thrilled to unveil the winners of Young Guns 16! These 30 art directors, illustrators, filmmakers, photographers and designers of all types stood above all in this career-making, globe-spanning portfolio-based competition.
Ahead of the Young Guns 16 Ceremony + Party taking place on November 15, we are shining a spotlight on the various superstars who will be honored that evening.
CALMATIC
Filmmaker
Los Angeles, CA
What does being a Young Guns winner mean to you?
This is my first time submitting my work for any awards, and I believe this is my first award as a filmmaker so this means a lot to me. And coming where I’m from (South Central Los Angeles), I’m just honored to be considered at all.
It’s not easy to be a successful creative. What sorts of challenges have you encountered to get where you are today?
Dealing with expectations have been a challenge for me throughout my career. We spend so much time looking at references and studying all the greats that come before us and we develop this very specific premium taste level. So when we prepare to create we have all these built up ideas of how everything is going to be or how it should be. “Everything's perfect, the walls are going to be this color, the lighting looks like this, the camera is going to move like this"…. But then when you get on set things are the exact opposite. The hard thing to understand is that everything still going to be okay. People are still going to enjoy your work, they’re going to think that it’s dope and everything will fine and dandy. In order to overcome that feeling you need to have an understanding that your “okay” is better than a lot of peoples “perfect”.
Was it a challenge to curate your Young Guns entry, considering you could only submit six projects?
I just submitted all work. Naturally I have a knack for working with a wide array of artists with all types of styles. I figured something would connect with someone. Whether it be the alternative soul vibes with The Internet or the outta this world bizarre ride we went on with Anderson .Paak's “Bubblin” video. I’m sure there was something for everyone.
Can you name any past Young Guns winners who you look up to, whose work you admire or are even inspired by?
I really look up to The Daniels (YG14), they are easily the most creative directors out there and they give me confidence that my weird ideas that I have tucked in the back of my brain can actually be brought to life. They perfectly blend, comedy, style and intelligent film making into one and I aspire to match the energy each time I create. They’re a big reason why I decided to join PRETTYBIRD.
What keeps you going, creatively speaking?
Getting ideas out of my head. I feel like I have like three or four new ideas a day. I’m a hoarder of ideas. They usually just dissolve and never manifest so what drives me is to get one of those bad boys out into the actual universe. The more I do that the more I want to share the next one with the world. Being able to share my ideas is what keeps me going.
Now that you’re a Young Guns winner, what’s next?
I want to challenge myself not only to expand and grow in the world of film, but to explore my passion for music, art and fashion. I want to have a hand in all possible aspects of creativity. I believe I owe to myself to give it a solid try.
The Young Guns 16 Ceremony & Party takes place on Thursday, November 15 in New York City.
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