We recently had the chance to connect with Seth Dunlap and have shared our conversation below.
Seth, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
I sometimes feel like I lose too much time on YouTube. I’ll get excited to watch a new film a creator just released and—boom—I’m pulled straight into the algorithm. An hour or two later, I realize I may have just picked up a new lighting technique, so I try not to be too hard on myself. Watching these videos also inspires me to experiment and push myself as a filmmaker. In a way, it feels like an education—and I love it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an indie filmmaker based in Los Angeles, and I’m currently the DP of an exciting new show called Mt. Mystic Rangers—a mashup of Reno 911! and The Office. It’s improv-driven but carefully outlined, with a story that’s fully fleshed out and full of heart.
I’ve been working as a DP, editor, and producer for about 10 years, and it’s been one hell of a ride. About four years ago, I met the love of my life, Lauren Starr. She’s a powerhouse creative who challenges and inspires me every single day. Living life with a true partner has been my greatest adventure, and I feel incredibly lucky to share it with her.
My filmmaking journey started with weddings. I traveled the world capturing love stories—which is still wild to me, considering I’d never been on a plane until I was 19. I grew up in a family of 10 kids (yes, 10!), and that experience gave me a deep desire to do something meaningful with my life. Weddings were beautiful and fun, but after about five years I knew I was destined for something bigger. As rewarding as the work was, traveling alone from one celebration to another eventually grew isolating.
That path eventually led me to commercials and music videos, and now my focus is on what I love most: narrative storytelling and making movies. In 2019, I also stepped into acting and have since appeared in a number of short and feature films. Acting is more of a creative side adventure for me—I don’t pursue it full-time—but when the right role comes along, I love stepping into character.
I recently started a YouTube channel to share tips, inspiration, and behind-the-scenes insight with other indie filmmakers. It’s been a fun and challenging way to keep learning, experimenting, and pushing myself to grow.
Another passion of mine is music. Alongside my brother, I started an indie pop-rock project called Foreign Signals. Creating music together has been another amazing creative outlet, and you can check us out on Spotify.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
When I was younger, I felt pretty lost. I was homeschooled, and I never really paid much attention to my studies. That left me feeling like I wasn’t smart enough or adequate enough to go to school, and for a while I carried that weight.
Things started to change when I got my first job at Chick-fil-A at 17. For the first time, I realized that if I dedicated myself and worked hard, I could actually become great at something. That was the spark—I began to see that I could grow into someone stronger and better than the kid I had been.
Hard work and determination became principles I’ve carried into every part of my life. When I stepped into filmmaking, I applied those same values, and people noticed. They hired me not just because I was driven, but also because I was someone they genuinely enjoyed working with.
I’ve learned that kindness goes further than most people realize. So no matter where I am or who I’m with, I try to treat everyone with respect.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
When I was 12 years old, my father passed away unexpectedly. Having so many siblings helped with the healing process, but I often wonder what my life might have been like if he had been there as I grew up. It’s still a challenge I carry, but I’ve been fortunate to have many people step into my life who’ve made a fatherly impact in their own ways. I’m deeply grateful for the love and support that surrounded me, but losing him is still a big part of who I am.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I think one of the biggest lies the industry tells us is that if you just “do your time,” opportunities will eventually come your way. Putting in the time matters, of course—but what truly separates filmmakers like Christopher Nolan from the everyday director is mastery of the craft. Original storytelling will take you much further than waiting around for a break.
With our TV show, we self-funded the project, and it’s already taken us farther than any other work I’ve done before. That experience taught me that success comes from being bold enough to break the mold and tell stories no one else is telling. I believe the reason we’re finding traction is because we’re focused on originality—not remakes, not rehashes, but something fresh and authentic. Watch Episode 1 on YouTube!
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What will you regret not doing?
One thing I know I’ll regret not doing more of is traveling. Every time I travel, it expands my perspective as a human being. Especially when I go outside the country, it pulls me out of my bubble, fuels my imagination, and deepens my awareness of humanity.
The challenge is that travel is expensive, and with the career I’m pursuing, I can only do it so often. Still, my hope is to see more of the world so I won’t look back with regret at the end of my life. We only get one shot at this—so why not see as much as we can?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sethdunlap.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sethdunlap
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/sethdunlap
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7yUF2kzIa0qoZ3SGtjMvq7?si=uu3tK0TIS3C6k8zp1HX_iQ
