Daily Inspiration: Meet Cody Theilman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cody Theilman.

Hi Cody, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started making films in high school with a small group of friends. We would often convince our teachers to let us create short films instead of writing essays for school projects, I’ve been hooked ever since. I grew up in the Inland Empire and didn’t have a lot of film-related resources available, I took a few film classes at our local community college and continued to study through platforms like youtube and all the books I could get my hands on.

I got a job at Dave and Busters when I was eighteen and continued to make short films through my twenties while I worked as a waiter. I always believed I had the talent do this professionally, but as the years continued to pass the likelihood that I would ever have a career in the industry seemed to dwindle. Four years ago, I worked a holiday banquet event for Spectrum Cable. It turns out their production department was just miles away from Dave and Busters. I gave my contact information to them as well as some copies of the shorts I was working on, and a few months later I started working on set as a production assistant. This was my film school.

I met so many talented producers, editors, gaffers, grips and learned on the job with real-world consequences and pressure. I’m so thankful for the opportunity and all the knowledge that was passed down to me in just a few short years. I’m entering my fifth year as a producer for Spectrum and I’m now one of the top billing producers in the nation. I’ve won some industry awards and finally feel like I’m coming into my own as a director. The highlight of my short career so far was winning “Best Commercial Camping” at the LA ADDY awards in 2019 for the series of commercials we made for the Riverside Auto Center. It featured a mythological car selling centaur that we dubbed “The Riverside Auto Centaur”. I’m looking forward to pushing the limits of what’s considered a “cable commercial” and I’m excited to see what the next few years will bring my way.

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?
It’s been incredibly difficult. I didn’t go to film school, I didn’t have any equipment or resources available to me. I would get obsessed with an idea and put thousands and thousands of dollars on credit cards to film my projects. The only thing that really kept me going was the confidence my family and friends had in my abilities. People showed up to my screenings, people would ask what I’m working on next, they devoted their time and weekends to help me film stuff. I’m incredibly lucky to have so many people who stood by my side.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Dark comedy is always what has come most naturally to me. I love the anti-hero… these are the characters I always looked up to and It’s so much fun when you can get an audience to route for someone who’s not inherently considered a “good guy”. I’m curious to see how vile I can make a character that people can still empathize with and relate to. I think everyone has dark thoughts and emotions and it’s almost refreshing to see them portrayed on screen in a clever or humanistic way. In addition to making commercials, I’m always proud to share the short films we create for fun also. I was lucky enough to attend my first film festival run last year for a dark comedy called “Rumpleforeskin” about an evil internet troll… who happens to also be an actual troll.

Here are some links to a few shorts I’ve directed over the years.
Rumpleforeskin:

F**K Boy Funeral:

Black Cop White Cop:

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Maintaining relationships. It all comes down to how you treat people. In an industry thats world-renowned for being terrible for the way it chews people up and spits them out, I’ve always made it a point to treat everyone I encounter on or offset with respect and dignity. I would never ask an actor or crew member to do something that I wouldn’t do myself. I feel like once that trust is established the sky is the limit with collaboration and effort. My guys would do anything for me, and I’d do anything for them. It’s family.

Contact Info:

• Email: codtheilman@gmail.com
• Website: www.iaremedia.com
• Instagram: @iarecody