Christopher Sims shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Christopher, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
Honestly, the thing I’m most proud of is something almost nobody knows exists. It’s this little side project I’ve been building for years — a bottled water concept that’s less about the product and more about the idea. On the surface, it’s just water, but at its core, it’s about sustainability, rebellion, and giving back — a way to use something simple and universal to create real impact, like funding clean water wells in underserved parts of the world.
It’s been a slow build — I’ve designed packaging, run numbers, and even started some early conversations with partners — but I’ve been intentionally keeping it low-key. No investors, no hype. It’s my reminder that not everything creative has to be transactional or loud to be meaningful. It’s this quiet little engine of possibility that I revisit when I need to remind myself why I create in the first place.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a director and creative who’s spent most of my life telling stories — whether it’s through commercials, documentaries, music videos, or brand films. I came up in the Southern California skate and music scenes, just shooting everything I could and teaching myself how to turn raw moments into something cinematic. Over the years, that DIY start turned into a career where I’ve been lucky enough to collaborate with global brands, platinum artists, and even new space industry companies — but at the core, it’s always been about telling stories that feel honest and human.
Right now, my world is a mix of big commercial campaigns, some really exciting documentary work, and a handful of passion projects that keep me sharp creatively. What makes my work unique, I think, is that I still approach every project, whether it’s a scrappy indie piece or a multi-million-dollar shoot, with that same curiosity and urgency I had when I first picked up a camera. It keeps the work honest, and it keeps me in love with the process.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One moment that really shaped how I see the world was my first international job — a Gucci campaign in Rome. Up until then, most of my work had been rooted in the energy of Southern California, and suddenly I was halfway across the world, standing in these historic spaces, collaborating with some of the most talented artists, stylists, and photographers I’d ever met.
It cracked something open for me. I realized how much there was to learn from other cultures and creative voices, and how collaboration at that level could push me to see my own work differently. That experience still echoes through what I do today — it made me hungrier, more curious, and more intentional about bringing a global perspective into my storytelling.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell my younger self to take life a little less seriously — to stop gripping everything so tightly. I spent a lot of years thinking that every decision was life or death, that every setback was the end of the world. What I’ve learned is that life has its own rhythm, and if you can stop fighting it, you start to see how much beauty there is in just letting things unfold.
The work, the art, the opportunities — they all come and go like waves. What matters is learning how to ride them without drowning yourself in expectation or fear. I’d tell him to keep the curiosity, keep the hunger, but don’t let the weight of it all rob you of the joy of actually living.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Honestly, that bottled water project is the one. It’s not about timelines or market pressure for me — it’s about building it with the right intent and letting it grow in a way that feels true. I know it might take years before it’s fully realized, but I’m okay with that.
Every time I revisit it, refine the concept, or have a conversation about its potential impact, it reminds me why I started in the first place. It’s less about creating a product and more about creating a platform for good, and that’s something I’m willing to take as much time as it needs to get right.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I’m most at peace when I’m near the ocean or out in nature. There’s something about being close to the water or standing in a quiet space that just clears out all the static. No emails, no deadlines, no noise — just room to think, or not think at all.
Those are the moments where I feel grounded, like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. It’s simple, but it’s the one place I can really exhale and reset before stepping back into the chaos of everything else.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://simsdirector.com
- Instagram: @simsdirector
Image Credits
Karim Kanfoudi, Vast Inc.
