Meet Sean Clark | Filmmaker

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

Hi Sean, do you have a budget?
The way I look at budgeting for my business and my personal finances is to always take care of yourself first. Every time I get paid I split it up by priority, I put money in my savings first. That includes emergency funds, new gear or long term savings, then I make sure I pay bills on time. I never like to gamble on paying bills late and having my credit docked that ruins your credit score which then makes you ineligible for certain perks that come with paying on time. Then whatever I have left over becomes recreational activity money like weekends with friends or family, but even then I like to put it back into my savings if I can so that if I ever experience an unexpected expensive situations and I don’t have work lined up I have some cash to keep me afloat.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a Filmmaker I have always been fascinated with the use of visual effects and practical effects in comedy. A lot of low budget filmmakers starting out don’t want to learn it because it takes a lot of patience and practice to look right. So the other alternative is to find someone who can do it for free if they are looking to collaborate for practice and credit, or pay a handsome fee for someone with experience. So since I had time I had begun learning it on a software called Hitfilm incorporating some of the visual effects that I would see tutorials on. My experience in filmmaking started with a passion to direct my own films. In order to make my own films with no budget and a couple of friends to assist, I took on other department roles to get my own comedy skits made. It was humbling to say the least and I could see why people charge sometimes $500 a clip to create amazing graphics and effects in videos, but even though some of the effects that I made didn’t turn out to look the way I wanted it to I still learned how to make it look better in the future which is going to be important moving forward. One of the most important lessons I’ve learnt is that quality is going to cost you either way. Whether it’s upgrading equipment or spending on someone who has the experience level and Equipment you need to pull off a special effect, it’s well worth it. Spend the time or spend the money to get what you need no matter what.

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.
One of my favorite types of places to go is restaurants. There is one in particular that a couple of friends invited my fiancé and I to called Fogo de Chao in Beverly Hills that has many delicious Brazilian steakhouse meats that’ll make your mouth water. For some of the biggest tacos you could ever eat I highly recommend Tacos Tumbras a Tomas right in Downtown LA next to some other amazing small restaurants. Then there’s a relaxing drive up the Pacific Coast Highway or fir amusement parks you can’t go wrong with Six Flags Magic Mountain, Knotts Berry Farm or Disneyland.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A lot of people have come and gone throughout my journey and the ones that stick with me are coming with me all the way. When I first considered filmmaking as my career choice I decided to look into education in the field and I was very fortunate to be taught by an after school program called R.O.P. That’s how I met a mentor who encouraged me to start pursuing this business my teacher John Moskal. A few people that deserve recognition are the founding members of YBS Ent. (Taijuan Billingsley, Selasie Ametu, and Keitrell Hamilton) this group continues to improve each year with their lyrics and technical skills behind the scenes. Another person who has been supportive of me from the start is my amazing Fiancé Ashley Simmons, she has helped me edit, film, and plan almost every project I’ve worked on. I would also like to give a special shout out to an amazing colleague by the name of Khristie “Kk” Dailey, who has been pivotal in my career progression.

Instagram: @kingclark532

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sean.clark.545

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCwpnbq4Gxwiq3eOI3ea6RuA