Artist Spotlight - Laura Millersmith

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF - WHO IS LAURA? FOR ANYONE MEETING YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DO AND WHO YOU ARE IN THIS CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE?
I’VE ALWAYS BEEN HIGHLY SOCIAL AND OUTSPOKEN IN ANY GROUP IN WHICH I FIND MYSELF. I AM AN ARTS NERD…WITH A HISTORY OF PLAYING IN MARCHING BAND, DRAMA CLUB, AND COMPETITIVE LITERARY GROUPS. WHILE LANGUAGE WAS MY FIRST LOVE (AND I STILL LOVE LITERATURE) I QUICKLY FOUND PERSONAL INSPIRATION IN MUSIC, PHOTOGRAPHY, CONTEMPORARY ART, AND FILM. I WILL FLY TO A CITY FOR A BAND I LOVE (RADIOHEAD) OR AN ARTIST RETROSPECTIVE (JAMES TURRELL).

AMONG MY FRIENDS, I AM THE ONE WHO (SEEMS LIKE) I HAVE IT ALL PUT TOGETHER AND CAN JUGGLE A MILLION THINGS AT ONCE. I ALSO HOPE I’M THE FIRST TO ADMIT THAT WHEN YOU TRY TO DO IT ALL, SOME THINGS HAVE GOT TO GIVE AND WE NEED TO GIVE OURSELVES GRACE FOR THE EBB AND FLOW OF LIFE.

I LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE THAT I AM A GLORIFIED WEDDING PLANNER. MY SIDE OF PRODUCTION ISN’T INVOLVED IN PROCURING THE FINANCING, BUT RATHER IN ACTIVELY GETTING THE FOOTAGE COMMITTED TO THE MEDIA. I BEGIN A PROJECT BY COLLABORATING WITH A DIRECTOR AND THEN ORGANIZE ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS FROM LOCATION SCOUTING, CASTING, ART DIRECTION, WARDROBE STYLING ETC. I AM THE COMMUNICATION HUB FOR THE PROJECT FROM THE MOMENT WE HAVE FUNDING TO COMPLETION OF PHOTOGRAPHY. NO PROJECT IS THE SAME, BUT ALL PROJECTS HAVE A STRUCTURE WE FOLLOW TO GET TO THAT END GOAL.

I’VE BEEN DOING THIS LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW HOW TO APPROACH THE STRUCTURE OF REALLY ANY SHORT FORM SHOOT, AND ALSO THAT THERE IS ALWAYS MORE TO LEARN.

YOU’VE BUILT A CAREER AS A PRODUCER — WHICH, AT ITS CORE, IS ABOUT BRINGING IDEAS TO LIFE. WHAT ORIGINALLY DREW YOU TO PRODUCING?
I HAD A GOOD FRIEND WHO WAS A COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR. HE SAW HOW I MOVED THROUGH MY LIFE, THINKING AHEAD TO MAKE WHATEVER WE WERE DOING MORE MANAGEABLE AND FUN FOR A WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE. HE CORRECTLY GUESSED THAT I WOULD BE GOOD AT APPLYING THESE SKILLS TO FILM PRODUCTION, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY REALLY ELABORATE EVENT PLANNING.

YOU’RE OFTEN BEHIND THE CAMERA HELPING SHAPE STORIES. IF YOUR STORY WERE BEING TOLD, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT THE MESSAGE TO BE?
I’D LIKE TO BE THOUGHT OF AS THE PRACTICAL BUT CREATIVELY INVESTED FACILITATOR BEHIND FANTASTIC IDEAS. THIS APPLIES TO MY PERSONAL LIFE AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL. I LIKE TO PAVE THE WAY FOR A GOOD TIME, ON AND OFF SET. TAKE THINGS SERIOUSLY AND SET YOURSELF UP WITH THE GOOD PLAN SO THE UNEXPECTED ALCHEMY OF THE MOMENT CAN LET REAL MAGIC HAPPEN.

HOW HAS YOUR IDEA OF SUCCESS CHANGED FROM WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED OUT TO NOW?
HONESTLY I NEVER KNEW WHERE THIS CAREER WOULD TAKE ME. I NEVER HAD A GRAND DESIGN OR END GAME; I’VE ALWAYS BEEN MORE INTERESTED IN THE PROCESS OVER THE PRODUCT. THIS IS STILL WHAT FULFILLS ME TO THIS DAY. I FEEL SO LUCKY TO GET TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME. IT’S WILDLY SATISFYING TO BE A PART OF A TEAM THAT MAKES COMPLICATED THINGS HAPPEN. THIS IS SUCCESS FOR ME, THAT I GET TO WORK ANOTHER DAY WITH NEW AND OLD FRIENDS PUSHING THEMSELVES TO BE BETTER THAN THE DAY BEFORE.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A PRODUCER?
AS A LINE PRODUCER, I’M MORE INVOLVED IN THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF PRODUCTION. IF SOMEONE IS DRAWN TO THIS SIDE OF PRODUCING, PAYING ATTENTION IS EVERYTHING. IF YOU HAVE A SNEAKING THOUGHT, ASK IT, EVEN IF IT SOUNDS SILLY OR YOU THINK IT’S SOMETHING YOU SHOULD ALREADY KNOW. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THAT LITTLE QUESTION WILL SAVE THE DAY AND THE QUESTION UNASKED CAN CERTAINLY CAUSE YOU MORE HEADACHES LATER.

YOU TRAVELED A LOT, BOTH FOR WORK AND PERSONALLY. DO YOU HAVE A “TRAVEL PHILOSOPHY” — SOMETHING YOU ALWAYS TRY TO DO, OR A MINDSET YOU TAKE WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO?
I TRY TO IMMERSE MYSELF IN WHATEVER LOCATION I FIND MYSELF IN WHETHER FOR WORK OR PLAY. AGAIN, PAY ATTENTION AND LISTEN FIRST TO HOW THE LOCALS DO IT BEFORE YOU SET UP YOUR OWN EXPECTATIONS OF HOW THINGS SHOULD GO. 

WHAT’S ALWAYS IN YOUR CARRY-ON BAG?
CHAPSTICK, EYE DROPS, ADVIL, COMPUTER AND A MOLESKIN NOTEBOOK.

WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR SON TO LEARN BY WATCHING YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE?THAT WOMEN ARE NOT DEFINED BY ANY ONE PART OF THEIR LIVES. AS A FREELANCER, I AM FULLY ON OR FULLY OFF WITH WORK. AT HOME, I ORGANIZE AND PRODUCE OUR LIVES. WHEN I’M WORKING, I SET THINGS UP AT HOME TO RUN ON A BIT OF AUTOPILOT (WITH THE MASSIVE HELP OF MY AMAZING PARTNER) AND FULLY COMMIT TO MY JOB. I LIKE HAVING HIM SEE ME ACCOMPLISH HARD THINGS.

HOW DOES YOUR MIDWESTERN (OHIO!) UPBRINGING SHOW UP IN THE WAY YOU MOVE THROUGH THE WORLD TODAY?
I AM MIDWEST TO MY CORE. I USE THINGS UNTIL THEY HAVE LOST ALL UTILITY; I NEVER FELT I WAS OWED LUXURY; I BELIEVE THAT WORKING HARD IS ITS OWN REWARD.

YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND HAVE AN EXTENSIVE RECORD COLLECTION. WHAT’S A SONG, ALBUM OR ARTIST THAT INSTANTLY PUTS YOU IN A GOOD MOOD.
ELLIOT SMITH CENTERS ME WHEN I’M FEELING FRAZZLED, AND I CAN’T SIT STILL WHEN DAFT PUNK IS CRANKED UP IN MY KITCHEN.

YOU MENTIONED YOU LIKE TO PERFECT COMPLICATED RECIPES. WHAT WAS THE MOST RECENT?
I MADE A VERY ELABORATE APPLE PIE WITH VANILLA BEAN POD AND APPLE CIDER REDUCTION FOR THANKSGIVING. IT TOOK OVER 6 HOURS TO MAKE AND WAS ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT.

WHAT DO YOU WEAR WHEN YOU WANT TO FEEL POWERFUL - LIKE YOU’RE STEPPING FULLY INTO YOUR MAIN CHARACTER ENERGY?
ON SET, I ALMOST ALWAYS WEAR A JUMPSUIT. I AM LOW KEY KNOWN FOR THIS AND I LIKE KEEPING PEOPLE GUESSING WHAT VIBE I’LL WEAR DEPENDING ON WHAT WE ARE SHOOTING. I.E. ADIDAS FASHION SHOOT = SWEDISH VINTAGE KHAKI FLIGHT SUIT WITH METAL PINS, META WORKING WITH KIDS ON A VERY HOT DAY = BEL KAZAN TANK JUMPSUIT IN CREAM AND BLACK

WHY DO YOU WEAR BEL KAZAN? WHAT PIECE ARE YOU LOVING RIGHT NOW?
LOVE MY TWO PIECE SET IN BLACK LEDO. I FEEL LIKE IT WAS MADE FOR ME.

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