Conversations with Adam Fiske

Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Fiske.

Hi Adam, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always wanted to make movies. When I was eight years old, my mother was an actor and I got to visit the set she was working on. From that day forward, I knew I wanted to be involved in filmmaking, no matter what it took.

Over the next few decades, I worked on film sets in any way I could while writing screenplays in between. I worked in every position I could find, paid or unpaid. I worked as PA, camera assistant, sound mixer, cinematographer, producer, writer, and director. I just wanted to learn every aspect of movie production.

These days, I’ve worked enough and made enough meaningful connections that I’m able to earn a living as a Script Supervisor while putting together my own projects that I write and direct.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As with all creative pursuits I think my main struggle is a simple one: how do I pursue my dream and still pay my bills and survive? For me the answer was to remain persistently creative no matter what. I’ve lived through many periods where I had to work a job I didn’t want just to put food on my table, but I always put in work creating as well. Even if I could only write for 15 minutes a day, I would do it. All progress is progress.

Another big challenge is simply finding people that you work well with. You could put a crew full of amazing creative geniuses together on a film set, but if their styles of working don’t mesh, the experience and the finished film just won’t be the best. I always say the work is important, but how you work and who you work with is just as important.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I write/direct films and I work professionally as a Script Supervisor.

As a writer/director I try to tell stories that aren’t the obvious ones. I like to focus on characters and pockets of society that normally wouldn’t get much attention. If you’ve ever seen a film with an interesting supporting character, that’s who I want to make my main character.

I’ve written 10 feature screenplays and directed four short films. I’m currently putting together a short film that will serve as a proof of concept for a feature screenplay I’ve written.

The short film I wrote and directed “Lace Monster” played 24 international film festivals and won 14 awards, so I’m quite proud of that one.

A Script Supervisor essentially keeps track of and records every important thing on a film set. From which takes the director liked, what goes on the slate, making sure the actors get their lines right, to editing continuity, I basically make sure the script is filmed and footage is ready to be edited in a way this will make sense to the audience and be effective.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I like best is that LA is full of “doers”. No one here feels lazy. Everyone is always putting together something interesting. From making films, art, food and everything in between, LA has a feeling of being a collective force that’s pushing forward at all times.

What I like least is the traffic. Depending on the time and day of the week, the same drive could take 15 minutes or an hour. That can definitely be a challenge.

Contact Info:

• Email: adamfiskepro@gmail.com
• Instagram: @adamfiskepro