Meet Carl Elmore | Producer & Director

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

Hi Carl, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
Collaboration and Communication. Especially within film, communication and collaboration are everything. It’s impossible to be a one-man team, and if you try to be, then you’re just setting yourself up for failure. Whenever I work on a project as a director or a producer, I always try and get thoughts and opinions from as many people as I can from the crew for camera moves and setups so I can hear other ideas. Some of my favorite shots and sequences from the films I’ve directed/produced have come as a result of bouncing ideas of one another. I collaboration of filmmaking is one of the best aspects about this industry.

Communication is just as important. You have to be able to talk to your cast and crew about what you want for a shot or how you want your actors to perform in a scene and you also must be able to say no and offer other ideas and alternatives as well. You need to be able to have that exchange of dialogue to get the best possible outcome. On a recent music video I shot, myself and the DP had this exchange back and forth about what would be the best angle to get for the drummer. We both had a conversation about what would look best and bounced different ideas off of each other to come up with a shot we both agreed looked the best. It gave me a chance to hear his own idea and perspective and combine it with my own which all loops back into the collaboration aspect.

Each set I have worked on has run as smoothly as it has because of those two vital components and they are habits I take with me to every project I work on.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I feel what sets me apart from others is my sense of cooperation. Films rely on teamwork and I strive to make that an integral part of the sets I work on. I always search for feedback, thoughts and suggestions on projects. I do this not only when I’m producing or directing but also when I’m working as a grip or a 2nd AC. I want people to tell me if there is an easier or more efficient method for achieving a goal and I also want to be the person who gives that feedback to other people.

I got where I am professionally through hard work, dedication and kindness. It wasn’t always easy to get where I am now but nothing good is ever easy. I had to jump through tons of hurdles and learn a lot of new skills but I feel it has paid off as I’m very happy with the films I’ve worked on and the people I’ve collaborated with. I had to learn how to adapt to different directors and DPs as a producer. I had to learn about different lighting techniques and the best way to achieve certain shots that I want. Those skills and hurdles have made me a better producer/director and I’m always constantly learning new skills with every project I work on. I overcame these challenges but asking questions and listening to other people. I always like to hear what other people have to say whether it’s a professor or a friend. Being kind will have people always happy to work with you or ask you to work with them and I’ve kept that as a staple of my life for as long as I can remember. Being kind is easy and I think it’s a trait everyone should implement in their life, both on and off set.

A lesson I learned along the way is that things will frequently not go how you want them to. You have to learn to be able to adapt and overcome those difficulties but also don’t be afraid to ask for help when you do struggle. Anytime I found myself at road block, I always figured out a way not only to overcome it, but to also push myself from what I learned with that roadblock. Sometimes that came from asking for help from my friends or my family. Patience especially was a big one. I found myself getting frustrated sometimes on sets on how long some setups would take. I overcame this by talking to people and learning about what they had to do to move faster. From then on I tried to give people as much time as I can while still being on schedule. I learned lessons from my mistakes from other productions and from life and used them to push myself further into being a better artist and a better person.

I want the world to know from my story that kindness and being willing to ask questions if you’re unsure on a creative decision are invaluable traits and they will take you far no matter what others say. Let your voice be heard on set about what you can do to make a setup more efficient or a camera move just a little bit better. People do appreciate someone willing to ask questions.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I brought a friend to the Atlanta area, I would take them to some of the touristy places such as the Atlanta Zoo, the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coke. Second, I would also take them to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum which has always been a favorite of mine. There’s lots of really interesting history to read and see there.

I’m a big train buff so I would definitely recommend the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth. It’s a small museum but has a ton of really cool history including a Presidential Carriage along with an operating locomotive that runs a short trip around the museum.

Since I’m a film fan, a trip to the Plaza would be essential to go to. It’s one of my favorite places to visit. The atmosphere is incredible and they are always showing something unique and cool outside of whatever films are currently in other theaters. Recently, I went and saw a screening of the 2007 film Across the Universe where they had a live band perform a couple Beatles songs. They host cool events like that all the time!

In terms of eating, El Azteca in Buckhead has always been my go-to spot. The food there is delicious, especially the Carne Asada, and the drinks are spectacular as well. Fellini’s Pizza is also one of my favorite pizza places to eat at. The slices are quite large, it’s delicious, and it’s relatively cheap as well.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people I would thank!

My parents, Scott and Tracy, and younger brother Ryan have been with me every step of the way and have encouraged and pushed me to be a better person.

My wonderful girlfriend, Casserley, is always honest with me about her thoughts while also supporting me with her love, advice and care. She constantly pushes me to expand my interests and be a better person and filmmaker.

All of my close friends from SCAD (Galen, Jaden, Jesse, Ali, Jabari, Jonatan & Em) and from home (Kaden, Austin, Elijah, Mason, Adeola, Johanna & Cole) who have been with me every step of the way either providing support, advice or working directly on set with me. I would not have made it this far without any of them.

My professors from SCAD deserve a big thanks. Professors Jaime, Kinney, Kaminsky and Lester played such a big role in my time at SCAD and have been instrumental in teaching me how to make good movie.

I would also thank the people who are no longer in my life such as my Uncle John and grandparents Lowell and Betty. They aren’t around to see where I am now but they always took an interest in my passions and I know would be proud of where I am today.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctor_carl2002/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-elmore-860417275/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563721576729

Image Credits
Photos (in order) taken by Naijah Ashbaugh, Carlos Lopez-Calleja, Scott Elmore, Sam Saldivar, Andrew Yalowitz, Elijah Smith