Meet Nick Tabidze | Director and Actor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nick Tabidze and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nick, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
For a filmmaker ambition can be quite a curse; especially in a saturated field where ideas are your best form of currency (and there are sooo many amazing and beautiful ideas). It’s definitely a struggle. The money isn’t always there to keep up with your imagination and you still need to live your life. It’s a harsh truth but if you are considering giving up, your hearts not in it… and it needs to be.

For me, I base the decision on those I surround myself with, whose like minds and pursuit for something greater proliferate this sort of intoxicating energy. To find success in the arts you need to be open to collaborating and working with people who you know are better than you. How else would you get better? As long as I am connecting with those like minded people, I feel confident that I can keep going.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I would say the journey really started when I was in college. I was a biology major but found myself shooting short films, music videos, and becoming active in the university’s theatre programs. I was always drawn to the arts but never considered it a career.

Deciding to become a filmmaker was a difficult choice. To feel some level of security in my choice to be a filmmaker, I finished my degree in biology and pursued a master’s in journalism at WVU to become a better storyteller. It was through that program that I found maintaining a high level of journalistic integrity was appealing and especially critical if I wanted to capture the human experience. Katelynn convinced me to move to Atlanta, I met the crew at RiTE Media, and here I am now.

I’m excited for many things. Besides getting back into acting, directing some more, and building a filmmaking community through Roster ATL, I’m really interested in how Virtual Production is going to effect the filmmaking industry. I actually directed my first virtual production last year through RiTE Media and it was a pretty incredible experience. RiTE is working toward the next level of filmmaking and I’m excited to be a part of the journey and to use those tools to tell unique but grounded stories.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I think I would take a spontaneous approach in planning an itinerary. There’s always something exciting happening in Atlanta. When I first moved here I went to the lantern festival and was blown away by the artistry and experience. If I were to ground myself a little here, it’s mostly restaurants that come to mind. I’m a fan of Nick’s Gyros, Eat’s has some great home-cooking, Middway’s got some great beer and food, Gaja for their KFC, and Prison Tacos stand out in my mind.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, my girlfriend Katelynn Burns. I couldn’t do this without her. It was her idea to move to Atlanta and because of that move I’ve been exposed to this amazing filmmaking community. I tend to get lost in my thoughts quite a bit and it’s Katelynn who acts as my equalizer and confidant. From my work, you can tell she’s my muse.

My family and especially my parents get a special shout out. I definitely don’t thank them enough for their support and that’s all they’ve ever given me. They immigrated from the Republic of Georgia to the United States in the 90’s and their story is a true rags-to-riches tale. They inspire me to work hard and work harder. Thanks to them I can pursue this dream. They’ll most likely read this, so love you guys!

I’d also like to shout-out RiTE Media and those people who I’ve met and crossed paths with through them. They have given me the most amazing and challenging experience in executing a production with such fine attention to detail. Their progressive and forward thinking mentality toward filmmaking is something that sets them apart from most productions in ATL.

Lastly, I want to thank those friends I’ve been fortunate enough to keep close. I can begin listing names but these people and organizations know who they are and how they have helped me find success. Thanks y’all.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicktabidze/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicktabidze

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/nltabidze

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tabidze.n

Other: https://vimeo.com/nicktabidze