Daily Inspiration: Meet Isaac Izard

Today we’d like to introduce you to Isaac Izard.

Hi Isaac, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started making films in high school as part of class projects. I consider this my earliest work because this was where I fell in love with the process of film making. Meeting up with friends on the weekends, raiding our parent’s closets for costumes, writing and rewriting all spoke to me in a way that nothing else ever had before. The films were terrible, but I was entranced. By the time I graduated high school, I knew what I wanted to do with my life. I went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and majored in Communication-Arts with a focus in Radio, Film, and Television (a fancy way to say Film major). While there, I continued developing my tastes and skills. I took every film production course as early as possible and managed to graduate within 4 years. The last semester of my senior year, I shot Janus Part I entirely independently. It was the first time that I made something solely reliant on my own voice. It has some technical issues, but I look back at that film fondly. Without Janus, I wouldn’t have made any of the 6 other short films that I’ve directed since graduating from college. I wouldn’t have packed up and driven myself all the way from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Los Angeles. I wouldn’t have volunteered thousands of hours at AFI. I wouldn’t be working on Janus Part III with an entire team of people who also value my voice and vision. I wouldn’t have met all the blessings in my life. Because that campy, ambitious, over the top, indie project, made me a director.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road at all. The road is long and winding and full of peaks and valleys. Since graduating, I’ve been working as a freelance filmmaker. The most consistent struggle has been making enough money to stay afloat. And as a freelancer, I never know what the next day will bring much less the next week or month. Plenty of days are full of stress, long working hours, quirky people, quirky places, and few moments to really relax. There has been nothing about this journey that has been easy, but I also wouldn’t give up a single day of it. The projects that I write and direct are a synthesis of every long, wacky, and unpredictable day of my life.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a writer and director. I’ve directed 7 short films and a handful of music videos to date. I have spent the last few years honing my skills as a director, but I’ve been writing for almost as long as I can remember. As a child, I was always writing short stories to show my mom or doodling away in notebooks creating characters and world to explore. I also spent a lot of time reading, watching television, and obviously movies as well. I was always fond of telling stories, but what drew me to film making in particular was the act of production itself. I knew I was going to be a writer from an early age, but it wasn’t until I discovered film as a medium that I acquired a real direction for myself. I learned to appreciate how complicated and nuanced every department’s job is while in undergrad. Since graduating, I’ve dedicated countless hours into every department to learn more in depth what makes them tick. What sets me apart as a director is that I take a bottom up approach. I’ve learned to value and appreciate everyone’s job by putting myself into their shoes. From PA, to DP, and even Sound and Editing, I’ve put in the hours towards learning how to best execute every facet of film production.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
There are countless people who deserve credit for who I am. My parents, camp counselors, teachers, friends, and colleagues have all contributed in shaping me into who I am today. Without that foundation, I would have nothing. Bill Roach and Bob Trondson took a shot on me early when I was freelancing in Wisconsin. They showed me the ropes and helped get me ready to break out on my own. Erik Gunneson and UW-Madison played a big role in allowing me to explore what it takes to make it in each department. Lastly, my mother and father have supported me every step of the way. They raised me to work hard and pursue my dreams. They’re both responsible for everything I have and will accomplish in life. Both of them even appear in Janus Part I!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepowerzthatbe/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@isaacizard6141

Image Credits
Erik Kollasch
Fernando Ramos