Colin Charles Dale of Santa Monica on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Colin Charles Dale shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Colin Charles, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is a normal day like for you right now?
I wake up at 6am and promptly make myself a pot of coffee. I then sit and read a book for about 30 minutes with a cup of coffee, and after that I go on a short walk. When I return from the walk, I write for 90 minutes to two hours. Typically I’m working on a new screenplay, and screenwriting — perhaps all creative writing, or perhaps even all writing — is really a process of chipping away. So my goal in that two hour window is to chip away at whatever script I’m penning.

Then I turn my attention to managing my business. I run my own production company full-time, and managing the business is a time-intensive undertaking. We provide video content to a variety of clients, and their needs all vary pretty drastically. So the next chunk of my day typically entails meeting my clients’ needs.

Another chunk of my day is usually devoted to finding new clients. In order for my company to grow, I always need to look for new business.

Essentially: my days are, from sun up to sun down, full of business management and creativity. It’s not the easiest lifestyle, but it’s the life I chose.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
So I am a screenwriter and a director, and I run my own production company: Strange Place Productions.

Strange Place Productions has a few core businesses: narrative filmmaking (writing services, directing services), and also general video production and post-production services.

On the narrative filmmaking side, we tend to tell stories about real humans in unusual or strange situations/worlds.

And on our production/post-production services side, we’re full-service. Our goal is to either help our clients’ dreams become reality, or make their lives easier. Most of our clients are business owners or entrepreneurs. They have a lot of ideas, and they have a lot on their plate. And they need quality video content so that they can reach their customer base or audience, so that’s what we provide.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I think my friends and my girlfriend. They’ve always seen me for who I am: a loveable, goofy, earnest, hard-working guy. Sometimes I can get really down on myself and get buried in negative self-perception, but they have always seen something really positive. And my life has been a journey of being able to shift my self-perception and align it with what they see in me.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Last week.

In all seriousness — I think about giving up pretty regularly. Life is hard, the business I’m in is hard. Nothing comes easy. But when it’s all said and done I’m okay with that.

All that being said — the thought of giving up passes through my consciousness with some regularity. I think that’s human.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
Most smart people now (and I’d lump myself into this at times) are far too obsessed with gaining wealth.

I think caring genuinely about the world and one’s impact on it has gone out of fashion among smart people over the last decade or so. Even the smart people who claim to have altruistic aims (they’re often the ones with the least altruistic tendencies; virtue claiming to be virtue is often the lack thereof) are steeped in a culture predicated on the pursuit of wealth. It has hollowed out American culture of late, and it’s something I’m really concerned about. Smart people need to re-prioritize characteristics like kindness and empathy. Instead, it does feel like apathy and selfishness are in vogue.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
Honestly? Everything. I think the most important things in my life would remain. Creativity, friendship, love.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://colincharlesdale.squarespace.com
• Instagram: @colincharlesdale
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colincharlesdale/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@colincharlesdale

Image Credits
Photo cred: Griffin Nagel