Today we’d like to introduce you to Lesly Lynch.
Hi Lesly, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Even though I always love making story in my imagination as a child, film came to me later in life. I actually studied law. It took me two masters to accept the fact I needed a creative environment. So I started as a production manager for a fashion TV show in Paris with Sandrine Quétier. I rapidly got promoted to take on a wider scope which allowed me to fully discover the process of filmmaking. In parallel, I started to direct short content on my own and after a year of learning on the ground, I got awarded my first long-form project. I was quite excited: a documentary series for Fox international channels. I went for the first time at the Festival de Cannes and discovering it from the inside was quite an experience.
Shortly after, I came to New York and this was a real boost in my director’s career. This city is a concentrate of energy, bringing together a plurality of visions. It’s inspiring and also challenging, pushing you to go beyond. Over the years, I built a strong network and have been able to collaborate with innovative creative leaders through the film industry. That’s quite an exciting journey!
And as I got more and more experienced, it was important for me to transmit this knowledge. In 2021, I was invited to build and lead a workshop in Burkina Faso with students and young professionals in the media industry in partnership with the US Embassy. Over the course of three months, we were able to produce three films. Going from idea conception to pre-production, to production and post- production. It was such an enriching experience. They challenged me, through their eyes, I was discovering a totally new way of seeing things. It’s perspective. And I love that.
Still in that idea of transmission, I’ve been asked to join several festival, like Webby Awards and BAMV Festival to act as a Judge to review creative works from leading creative in the industry.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Directing is certainly a process. There is so many parameters, to make your craft unique, to express your vision, you have to try things, see if it works. When you fail, it means you tried, so you learn and grow from it.
I remember my first experiences, the most challenging parts was to express my vision, the human component, managing people, learning how to transmit clearly something artistic, conceptual, so it can be well executed technically.
It’s a large component of being a director and you gain it through experiences. Especially because there is no guide of how to and yet there is a large number of rules that are in place. At the beginning, you have to be bold enough to throw yourself in an unknown game. Hopefully, I met amazing people on the road who took the time to mentor me, guide me through processes and open new doors for me.
There is two organisations in particular that I really feel pushed my career forward. Free The Work, an organisation and a curated talent discovery platform of creators, that’s where I met Emma Reeves and Pamala Buzick, they advocated for my work and created opportunities. Then, French In Motion an organization gathering French and American professionals in the movie & TV industry was a very enriching experience, thanks to well curated panel on specific industry topics.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a film director and creative director. I focus on commercials, music videos, experimental, and narrative films, I think as an artist I just love to explore different forms of expression. It’s learning a language.
I come from a multicultural background, so I was naturally drown to research how to communicate what’s in my head in a way that can be understood by many. I’ve been often qualified as disruptive, I think that’s suit me. I’m attracted to this sweet spot, embracing what’s already existant while following my instinct, a balance of freedom and dedication.
The project I am most proud of is probably my first feature film “TRIP”. All my free time, I was with my best friend of the time and we wanted to capture the effervescence of our entourage. Exploring the night of Paris, questioning freedom and love, we filmed people in their raw form, offering a poetical painting of our generation, a slice of our time. It was such an honor when TRIP got selected at the FIFIB Festival in 2019 and then played in iconic MK2 Theater. We then were broadcasted on MUBI.
What sets me apart from others? Hum, I’d say we are all unique in our way, that’s actually why I’m fascinated by human nature. Being an artist, I feel this need to be dedicated to something that burns within me. I want to tell bold stories, to explore a new way of storytelling. When I focus on a vision, a precise emotion and explore each centimeter of it, I feel I obtain a certain essence, something special and unique to me.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
A book that I highly recommend, is The Art of Happiness: The Reflections of Madame du Châtelet. She does a praise of the art of studying that truly resonates to me. It actually helped me a lot on approaching challenges I had in the past, to deconstruct and rebuild new patterns of creation.
Otherwise, I’ve one app that I use and actually really helps me center myself, Synctuition. It’s a relaxation sound program with 3d and binaural beats. It usually starts with guidance, a story and finally a sound bath, plunging you in a hyperreal world. It’s ~20min of commitment, so that’s something I can decide to create space for, so I can then be better at what I do. Either it’s work or personal life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://leslylynch.art/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesly_lynch/
- Space Cowboys: https://www.spacecowboys.studio/
- Other: https://vimeo.com/leslylynch
Image Credits
From left to right, bottom to top: © Danika Casas – Staar x Joe Jonas © Danika Casas – Staar x Joe Jonas © Lesly Lynch © Louis Vuitton – City of Stars © Inkbox – Big Ink Energy © Staar x Joe Jonas © Space Cowboys © Inkbox – Big Ink Energy
