Meet Raymond Wood | Director

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

Hi Raymond, how do you think about risk?
In the day-to-day, taking risks is a very important part of working in a creative field, but the key is creating an environment and a structure in which you and your team feel empowered to take those risks. Being in a position where you have the ability to take risks is a privilege, and especially when you’re leading a team or running a business, failing without having a safety net in place can negatively affect the lives of many, many people. Instead of letting that force me to play it safe in my work, I factor a “risk-taking contingency” into my budgets and schedules the same way I factor in lunch or camera equipment or any other essential element in the process. We also always have a plan in place that is thorough but not rigid, and that gives everyone the confidence to know we’re going to have what we need while also creating a sense of freedom to explore, try things, and fail without any unnecessary pressure.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m still navigating the artistic landscape and determining whether or not I have a place in it or a valuable perspective to add to the cultural discourse, but if I had to pinpoint the one thing that I think I have to offer, it’s my ability to find empathy in the perspectives and experiences of others, even those I fundamentally disagree with. The worldview I subscribe to now is almost diametrically opposed to the one under which I was raised, and I think that has afforded me a very interesting and unique vantage point. Mohsin Hamid said, “Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself,” and in a society that is only growing more and more polarized, I feel both compelled and obligated to help amplify those echoes in order to help us identify the humanity in each other rather than the opposition.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Atlanta has often been referred to as the “city in the forest,” and since spending time outdoors in relative isolation is just about the only thing I feel safe doing outside of my home right now (COVID-19), it has really proven to be one of the best major cities to be quarantined in. That said, prancing around outdoors has always been one of the most ubiquitous activities here, so that would definitely still be at the top of the pre-pandemic itinerary alongside checking out our amazing street art, catching a local play or improv show, and winding down at one of our many rooftop bars or local breweries. Also, at least one visit to Slutty Vegan is required.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This list could quite literally go on forever, but I think I have to trace it all the way back to my family when I was growing up. The support they showed me in my artistic endeavors allowed me to develop a form of tunnel vision that I didn’t fully appreciate until much later in life.

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