Today we’d like to introduce you to Neal Tyler.
Hi Neal, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My father was a professional photographer, so I grew up with a deep appreciation of what it means to be a working artist. Once I realized filmmaking was actually an achievable career, there was no turning back. Early on, I set out to hold every crew position so I’d be a better-informed leader as director. In the Philly/NJ film scene, I worked alternately as Camera Operator, Art Director, Audio Operator, Key Grip, and more. Even tried my hand at acting for a bit, but realized quickly that wasn’t for me. After producing a few features back East, I realized it was time to make the move to LA.
Ever since I’ve worked steadily producing and/or shooting a variety of documentaries and reality series while carving out time to pursue my own passion projects as writer/director. About six years ago, I decided to double down on those efforts. It’s easy to get complacent and comfortable when work is steady, but I didn’t leave friends and family behind on the East Coast just to make a living. Call it “law of attraction” or anything else, but by re-aligning my own goals, more opportunities immediately came my way. In addition to directing my first feature film, I’ve also now DP’ed and produced three other features and directed/DP’ed several award-winning shorts. The best part of this process has been expanding my circle of friends and collaborators. It’s easier to put in the long, hard hours when you know you’re not alone in this pursuit.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
There is no success without struggle, least of all in the arts. Every creative high is usually accompanied by a dozen or more crushing lows. But that’s how you grow as an artist and a person. As a freelancer, I hit some periods where inexplicably every show I worked on got canceled and every contact I knew suddenly quit the business. As a result, I was forced to completely reinvent myself and start from square one again. Financially that can be pretty daunting, and it can also take a toll on your confidence. You can work steadily at the top of your field for years and then suddenly question your self-value based on a slow month or two. As I’ve matured and grown deeper roots in the industry, this is something I’ve learned how to handle in stride. But I’ve definitely gone through some stretches of white-knuckle panic in the past.
My guiding philosophy now is “you can work or you can worry.” By focusing on what I love about this industry, the passion and creativity, I learned how to embrace slow periods as a chance to advance my own projects. I’m constantly developing new ideas, writing scripts, fundraising, or collaborating with friends on their own projects. There will always be struggles, but rather than worry about how they’ll affect me, I work at how I can overcome them and improve as a result.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As much as I love collaboration, I’ve become something of a one-man-band on set. Having worked nearly every position, I’m comfortable filling multiple roles at once. What I excel at is some combination of directing, DP’ing, and/or producing, but I can also run sound, rig lights, strategize schedules, and more as needed. This proves especially helpful when making indie films and documentaries, as there’s never as much time, money, or crew as the job might call for. That said, I’m always happy to have someone more skilled than myself take over some of those duties.
Success comes from empowering and inspiring everyone involved to dig deep and create something special together. That doesn’t happen if you’re not already giving every ounce of yourself to the project. One thing I cherish from my East Coast upbringing is a strong work ethic. That’s something I bring to every moment of every project, regardless of size or budget. Whether serving as director, DP, or producer, I do my best to remember that I’m lucky enough to be doing what I love. As a result, nothing less than absolute and total commitment will cut it.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Generally, I’m someone who juggles multiple responsibilities at once. Even when working full-time, I’ll wake up before dawn to make progress on my own projects (be it editing, writing, or researching). What the pandemic allowed me was a chance to slow down and appreciate the quiet side of life. I had been working consistently on the road the year prior, so it was refreshing to enjoy time at home again with my wife and dog. This period of quiet introspection didn’t last long however.
Early into the pandemic, I began to question if a future in filmmaking was even still viable. But around the same time, I also had a crazy idea for a feature film. While still brainstorming and writing the script, I began assembling my cast and crew to keep me accountable. Within a few months, I was directing my first feature film, “Driftwood.” We of course took every safety precaution to ensure no one got sick, and I’m proud to say no one did. If this whole process taught me anything it’s that believing in yourself isn’t enough; you have to believe in the people around you. The pandemic wasn’t just a time of introspection, it was also a time of doubt, fear, and isolation. Making “Driftwood” gave us a creative output for what we had all endured. That spirit of community and collaboration was what we had been missing and remains what I love the most about the filmmaking process. We are nothing without the people around us.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.nealtylerworkshop.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nealtylerworkshop/
