Meet E. Luke Chandler | Writer and Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with E. Luke Chandler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi E. Luke, is there something you believe many others might not?
“Find your niche.” Ultimately, yes, the ideal is to find the place you fit best and feel most capable of succeeding. However, I think this advice is often misinterpreted to say you need to find one thing early on and stick with it. I think this is a foolish choice to make. When you’re young – when you’re still figuring it out – my advice is to spread your experience and spread it wide. Cast a wide net – not just in different roles within an industry but across a whole range of industries. The industries can be in the same in the same general world. If you want to be a creative you don’t have to try being a doctor – that’s probably a waste of time. But maybe try being a creative within a medical institution as well as being a wedding photographer or whatever you see as your main hustle. If you don’t like it, guess what? You can leave. The days of working for a company for 40 years out of some idea of loyalty or obligation are (mostly) long gone. You’re an individual and your responsibility is to find the spot you’re going to shine the brightest and foster your unique skillset to its greatest potential. This could take a long time, so be down for the ride, tune in to your intuition and trust the process. Along the way, don’t see anything as beneath you or as wasting your time – it’s impossible to know whether you’ll like something until you try it. I’ll say it again: Trust. The. Process.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a writer and filmmaker, I pride myself on three main things – my voice, my versatility, and my resilience.

My creative voice is something I’ve developed for my whole life – not just my whole career. I draw from artists I respect without mimicking. I can be terse and verbose all at once. My words throws punches. I blend styles and do acrobatics between genres, cadences, and formats – all while staying true to my heart and speaking from my unique experience. I’m proud of that.

My versatility has grown throughout my working life. Sometimes I’ve developed it purposefully, other times by pure necessity. I can conform and adjust to whatever is asked of me because I believe in myself and my ability to learn. That’s something that will never go away. I can always trust myself to make the most of the situation I find myself in because I’ve done it time and time again. This ability benefits me in my career and in my life at large.

My resilience shows itself in my refusal to go away. I’ve evolved and adapted at every twist and turn on my path. I’ve never let roadblocks stop me for too long. Sometimes I think the number of times I’ve faced failure and discouragement outnumber the times I’ve felt success and affirmment. I own that. And still, I rise.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
H-Mart. Buford Highway Farmer’s Market. Buford Highway in general. Krog Street Market. Little Five. Beltline is dope but fuck Ponce City. Hotel Clermont (esp. downstairs – iykyk). Go to the places they tell you not to go – the places the suburban/Buckhead types say are the “wrong side of town.” Fear not.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
So many people to thank. My family first and foremost who’s stood with me through thick and thin – times when I was directionless or cripplingly depressed or both. To say they’ve been my cornerstone and foundation would be an understatement. Then there’s my peers – Trip Wood, Matt Reiter, Josh McCausland, Nick Galarza, Everett Reiff, Cameron Flaisch, Jaye Starkes, Zvante Silver, Ben Cake, Neil Davenport, McClain McKinney – the list goes on and on. I’ve been very blessed to have the people in my circle that I’ve had. They all support and inspire me, and their creative voices have influenced and fostered my own. Then there are the industry pros that put me on and gave me my shot – Drew Belz, Dwayne Logan, Merissa Costanza, Isaiah Smallman, Pam Satterfield, Tim Cruz. They believed in me enough to pass me the baton and I ran with that shit. Wouldn’t be where I am today without that faith – that opportunity.

Website: https://www.antithesisfilms.com/

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@antithesis.project5362?si=X3OW1ISR3616zoOM

Other: https://vimeo.com/elukechandlerstories

Image Credits
Zvante Silver Chris Wright