Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Sponseller.
Katie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’m a Midwest kid with a love for film and theater. I was always creating projects for myself – videos, stories, photos. Even one of my first jobs was at a movie theater as an usher and projectionist. I have been privileged to have educational opportunities that allowed me to study media production, gain professional internships, and eventually earn my master’s degree in Cinema Art + Science.
I moved to Los Angeles in 2015 and after some time, I managed to get started in film and television production as an office PA. Since then, I have been working simultaneously to get some of my own work off the ground. This has recently resulted in the completion of my short film, Alone Together.
Has it been a smooth road?
As a transplant, I have found Los Angeles to be a tricky place to grow into. This city is fast and dense and goes on with or without you. Add on the especially demanding nature of a career in the entertainment industry and you have one of my biggest struggles — finding a work-life balance.
I haven’t figured out what that looks like for me yet but this journey and the challenges that have come with it have been critical in figuring out who I am and what I want.
Another struggle is the cost of living in this city. There are a lot of barriers to entry in starting a life here, let alone earning enough to sustain it. For artists, I oftentimes find that it can be an incompatible lifestyle.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am a freelancer within film and television production. I lend my crafts of producing, directing, and editing to both larger-scale projects as well as independently-made projects.
Independently, I am co-producing a documentary series called Inspired. This series sets out to elevate the voices of young people around the world who are working to make the future a better place.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love that this city has just about anything you could want. Museums, music concerts, incredible food, the beach, the mountains, hiking — Los Angeles really does have it all. It’s really hard to be bored here.
I wish our city was more bicycle and public transport-friendly. Less cars, less traffic, less pollution.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.katiesponseller.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamk8ie/
- Other: https://www.inspireddocuseries.com/
Image Credit:
Sandra Emmeline, Alexis Garcia
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
