Conversations with Daniel Wyland

Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Wyland

Hi Daniel, 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?
I’m originally from Romania and came here to the United States in 2001. Within four years, I built up a successful construction business, but one day in 2005, I felt that something was missing. I started asking myself if this was it, just making money and spending money. Because of my artistic background of studying arts in Romania and movies being my escape since my childhood, I decided to approach the local theater, Maryland Ensemble Theater, and find out what I could explore in this artistic field. It was not a medium that I was familiar with, but I thought that it would allow me to be creative. The obvious choice for me was to start off as an actor, because it seemed to be the easiest route, but boy was I wrong about that. However, I loved the challenge. While studying acting, I discovered the infinite creative possibilities it brought forth in terms of writing, directing, the overall life understanding, and the universal law of storytelling. I decided to delve deeper into the screenwriting world, through attending Montgomery College in Maryland. As inexperienced and overconfident as I was, I tried to act and direct a short movie written by myself- and I failed miserably. But I quickly understood that I needed to focus on being either in front of the camera or behind it. By the time I won my fifth Best Actor award at Richmond IFF 2017 for my lead role in Condemned; directed by Steven Beaver, I had released my first short film period drama as a writer/director: Last Winter (premiered at Phoenix IFF). Collaborating alongside Maryland Ensemble Theater, I had the opportunity on a weekly basis to pick up my camera and create trailers and teasers to promote whatever play was currently in production there. This helped me to sharpen my skills behind the camera. Growing up in Romania exposed me to Eastern European dramatic literature, and having unlimited access to the movie theater without paying due to the fact that my father worked in the film industry distribution had a huge benefit on me, now when I’m thinking about, as a filmmaker. Two other short films that I want to mention and that are shot, written, and directed by me are: 17 Locust St. (American thriller) and 27 Children (short Romanian award winning drama at Glendale IFF, Studio City IFF, Sonoma IFF, premiered at Sedona IFF, and others). Currently I reside in Southern California since 2018, and am working mostly as a cinematographer/editor and aiming to break into making full-length movies as a writer/director. Although I am not interested being in front of the camera anymore, it guided me to find my way behind the camera and as a director, it helped me to better understand working with actors. Filmmaking has its own challenges and uncertainties, but it’s a powerful tool and a huge responsibility because you can help people do better and understand better through stories.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Self doubt is a killer, I can tell you that. I see obstacles and challenges as something created by the enemy within yourself.
Also, trying to be relevant without being ‘trendy’ and staying true and authentic to myself, is another is challenge.
As soon as you give yourself permission to be whatever you want to be, the sky is the limit.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a cinematographer, director, editor and occasionally (when the inspiration strikes) a writer. Storytelling is such a powerful tool and with every project I worked on, it made me a better person before anything else, and through learning about the hero’s journey I understood the importance of being kind to each other. That’s something I’m proud of. Hopefully through the work I do, my audience will start mirroring that.
On my professional level, I would mention that my last project, “27 Children”, was shot entirely without crew in Romania and made it possible relying solely on my skills and resources, turning it into a winning short drama.
Resilience is what I like to think sets me apart from others.

How do you think about luck?
I stumbled upon a quote once, “Luck is when opportunity and preparation meet.” I truly believe in it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Danielwyland.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielwyland?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Photo credit: Paul Plesa