Whitney Oliver: Filmmaker
1.- Please, Introduce yourself
My name's Whitney Oliver, but most people call me Whit. I'm from a tiny town in Nebraska, USA, but lived many years in the complete opposite - Los Angeles - before traveling the globe and settling down in Wanaka, New Zealand. I'm a filmmaker, mostly with short documentaries but also artsy pieces and various videography projects. // Or simply - Whitney Oliver, Wanaka NZ, filmmaker.
2.- What does a typical working day for you look like?
Days can be really varied depending on what I'm working on. If I'm editing a project, it might be downloading footage, sifting through shots, labelling what they are, and making a rough assembly of a storyline. Nearing completion of a project will be polishing the audio, colour grading the images, and getting feedback. Those days consist of a lot sitting at the desk, sometimes in the dark! Other days I might be out in the field shooting interviews or capturing action shots, which can also be really varied. There are also many days of working out the boring stuff, like budgets, quotes, pitches, and funding.
3.- What inspires you?
Stories. I love learning about people and what they do, what makes them tick. I love sharing one person's world with others in a way that develops new understanding and opens perspectives.
4.- What would your dream project/client be?
There's an Irish travel writer named Dervla Murphy who rode her bike solo from Ireland to India in the 1960's. She's a hero of mine and I would love to meet her and translate her story into a feature film - but I haven't had the courage to write and ask her!
5.- What's something you wish you'd known at the beginning of your creative career?
You don't have to know everything to begin - everyone is learning new things as they go. Trust your creative instincts and believe your ideas are worth working for. No one else will know about them until you put them out there!
6.- What do you do when you are not busy creating?
I love running, especially on the river and mountain paths where I live. I'm also a keen baker (and eater) and have been learning to sew my own clothes - really fun!
7.- Do you have any technique for overcoming creative blocks?
Sometimes I have to walk away from what I'm working on and let it percolate a bit. I might go for a run or walk, or even vacuum, just to let my mind roam and work out ideas or problems. It usually comes to me away from the desk doing something else. I also find music really helpful to find a rhythm and direction in my work, so finding the right song for a project or playing something in the background that fits with what I'm writing can work wonders.
8.- What are you working on right now?
At the moment I'm working on some rough animations for a new short film, a visual poem that has been an ongoing passion project amidst other projects.
9.- What advice would you give to someone that's just starting the same career as you?
See #5! Remember that you are capable and don't be intimidated by anyone who might be pursuing the same career differently. There are a lot of different roads to success in this field, and you just need to think about what your own definition of success is. Also, don't sweat not having the latest and greatest equipment. Use what you have. Just get started.
10.- Name 2 podcasts, magazines, websites or artists that you're into at the moment.
Peppermint Magazine - interesting read and inspiration for creative projects
Anna Brones - she's a papercut artist in the States, but has many talents, and I love seeing her work and hearing her perspectives. She has a great newsletter, too!
Website: www.whitneyoliver.com
Instagram: @whitinthewild
