Meet Taylor Potter | Multimedia Business Owner & Screenwriter

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

Hi Taylor, what are you inspired by?
As a creative, inspiration is the lifeblood of my work, and I take a two-pronged approach to having inspiration steadily present in my life.
Now, before this sounds too much like a finance-bro LinkedIn post about B2B sales, I will preface that I apply some kind of structure or system to as many aspects of my life to help remove the constant need for extra decision-making á la Steve Jobs’ black turtleneck.

Back to the two-pronged approach. #1 Regularly schedule generative rests and #2 Surround yourself with likeminded people.

What’s a generative rest, you ask? Great question.

Working in a creative field, we can feel this sense of everlasting pressure and expectation to constantly create. Because it’s not a “typical” career pathway, we can feel like we need to make every possible moment a productive one to prove to others we’re not lazy or wasting an opportunity.

When creating, though, time spent not creating is arguably as, if not, more important. I know that sounds odd, but it’s the same principle as exercising. Exercise is good for the body, but if we don’t provide our body with sufficient rest and healing time, our body will schedule an inconvenient break for us. That’s the same with creative work. Yes, write, photograph, paint, draw, whatever it is you do, but we must be disciplined in allowing ourselves to rest. For as much as we create, we must also consume.

For me, as someone who works in content creation and management, that means I need to take care to read up on market trends and to watch other people’s content. And, as an aspiring screenwriter, this entails watching TV shows and films, reading screenplays and novels. Another generative rest for me is traveling. Seeing new sights, learning about history, meeting new people, tasting new foods—it excites the brain and awakens all the senses, serving up a smorgasbord of inspiration.

That’s my “disciplined-creative” approach to inspiration, but people are just as important. I don’t remember where, but I read (or maybe heard on a TikTok) that we’re more likely to grow and accomplish our goals if we surround ourselves with people who encourage us to be better. This isn’t a literal “you’ve got this!” kind of encouragement but more of an environment of friends and colleagues who are ambitious and determined, whose presence challenges us to always strive for a better version of ourselves, a better draft of our script, or a better idea to execute. And “likeminded” people doesn’t mean to seal ourselves in a vacuum of folks with the same backgrounds, thoughts, education, and goals as us. Rather, it aims to construct a group of supportive individuals who align in the abstract— we’re all ambitious, striving to better ourselves, our work, our craft. Plus, when you’re looking for inspiration or need to bounce an idea around, would you rather hear from a dozen iterations of the same person or twelve different perspectives that can deliver a more conclusive, well-rounded understanding?

Rhetorical, but obviously the latter is better.

So when seeking inspiration, remember: if we’re only ever draining ourselves to create, our cups will run dry.

We must remember to fill our own cups.

What should our readers know about your business?
My business started as a pandemic-era internship for PATH Foundation, a Georgia non-profit working to make Atlanta one of the most trail-connected cities in America. This story is a key example of following up and staying connected because the only reason I even learned of PATH was because of Jennifer Dorian, a PATH board member and the current CEO of WABE.

When I met Jennifer, she was the General Manager of Turner Classic Movies, where I was doing a summer internship in 2019. I and some other interns put together an extracurricular marketing pitch, and our bosses liked it and had us present to several levels of higher ups until we pitched to Jennifer and a few other top executives. Like any good intern, I made sure to follow up and connect on LinkedIn.

Fast forward to late spring 2020. Oof. Or more like Poof! because that’s where all the internships went. That was, until I saw Jennifer’s LinkedIn post advertising PATH’s first internship—a communications role that would focus on elevating PATH’s online presence. I wasn’t really looking for this kind of role, but with the entertainment industry shutdown, I figured now could be a good time to explore alternative roles that would build transferable skills. So, I messaged Jennifer and applied.
She remembered me and forwarded my information to the folks at PATH.

After a few consecutive internships, we rolled my work into a freelance position, and I’ve been there ever since. When I departed my full-time job after graduating with my MFA last fall, I decided doing this kind of freelance work was the perfect way to balance doing something I’ve learned I’m pretty decent at and permitting myself a flexible schedule to write and work on my creative projects. Win-win!

And so, TPott Productions was born, a multimedia one-stop shop here to help with your creative needs from photography, to videography, to scripting, to editing, to social media management.

I didn’t think I would own my own business doing this line of work, but throughout college (and a pandemic) opportunities came my way, opportunities that challenged me, taught me new skills, and encouraged me to bet on myself so I can forge the life I want.

So the lesson here is to make a reasonable effort to standout, however that may apply to your situation, and stay connected. You never know where that connection may lead next.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I had to recommend a few activities for a friend to explore the city I would suggest:

Catching a show at the Fox Theater for a live theatrical performance.
Seeing a movie at the Plaza Theater followed by a meal at Manuel’s Tavern down the road. These establishments have operated since 1939 and 1956, respectively, and are a part of Atlanta’s cultural fabric.

For less artsy options, I would steer a guest toward an afternoon on the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail with lunch at Ladybird Grove and Mess Hall. After about a half hour walk north, stop off at Ponce City Market for a variety of shopping and dining. Nice weather is crucial for this itinerary, but it makes for a lovely and relaxing day outdoors.

Depending on their sports interest and the season, I would encourage them to catch a Braves game at the Battery or an ATL United game at Mercedes Benz Stadium.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My story wouldn’t be possible without the continued support of my family, who I think only understands about 10% of what I talk about but supports me nonetheless. I would also like to shoutout Matt Evans, Connie Burge, and Neil Landau, my screenwriting professors and former boss who have taught me what they know, supported my ideas, and written me many a recommendation letter.

Website: https://www.tpottproductions.com

Instagram: @tpottproductions

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/t-pott

Image Credits
Kate Benn
Taylor Potter