Meet WL Walker: Filmmaker

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

Hi WL, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I decided to pursue a creative career because my grandmother took me to see both new movies and classical Hollywood movies at the cinema. Watching Jurassic Park in theaters as a 4-year-old kid kind of set a sense of wonder inside me. That was the spark that started it. My mother also took me to the video store and let me rent whatever I wanted. This was probably not the best thing, but it did make me who I am today. It helped cultivate my love for campy movies and tv. I love things old school and retro, that’s how I formed my production company Retro Rad Films, LLC. It’s a name that shows my love for nostalgia but also brands who I am. Currently, I work at Graham Field, but also do short films on the side and I am currently making a mockumentary about baby boomers and millennials. I want to direct Sci-Fi movies and Dramas. I also like doing Horror and Comedy but to a lesser extent. If you want to see more of my work go to www.retroradfilms.com 

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets me apart is my touch of nostalgia with a more modern spin when I make my movies. I like the old-school look of films from the 20th century and I try to emulate those looks in my color grading and production design. Getting to where I am today was a struggle. I come from a family of Blue-collar workers, so the support wasn’t there. I had to work for free to minimum wage after paying for college by myself. It’s been a long road, but it’s starting to pay off. Really what helped me is learning about every position on a film set and doing those positions. It helps me be a better film director. I also try to be easy to work with and a team player. That is a good key way to success and please learn to build connections and a circle of trust of people you get along with it helps.

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.
I would take them to the North Georgia Mountains. I’d especially take them to Helen, GA. I’d take them to Paul’s on the River for drinks and Hobgoblins for German food. I’d take them up there instead of Atlanta because it’s a part of Georgia that they wouldn’t think to see. I feel like it would inspire them for locations for a movie. I’d take them hiking up in blue ridge as well.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d love to give a shout out to my Grandmother for inspiring me by showing me classic movies. I’d also love to say my biggest influences for science fiction are Ridley Scott and Stanley Kubrick. Bladerunner (1982) and 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), are my two favorite Sci-fi Films. My other influences are indie filmmakers from the 80s and 90s including Robert Rodriguez, Kevin Smith, Richard Linklater, Sam Raimi, and Spike Lee.

Website: www.retroradfilms.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retroradfilms/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/retroradfilms
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/retroradfilms
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzjRuAeoogD-AepkD_jcyzw

Image Credits
2nd photo: Madeline Pearson 4th photo: Alexandra Aldrich 5th photo: Kelsey Kirkpatrick 6th photo: Madeline Pearson, Will Millwood 8th photo: Benjamin R. Dover