Daily Inspiration: Meet Liam S. Terlecki

Today we’d like to introduce you to Liam S. Terlecki.

Hi Liam, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in San Diego, California. My interest in media began while hosting gaming livestreams and creating short film projects when I was younger in high school. Using technology to make stories was what drove my move to Los Angeles in 2018 for my undergraduate studies in film school. While in college I took interest in ADing and Producing. Production management was what I focused on with short films, video advertisements and my senior thesis. During my senior year, I worked as an Intern in Physical Production with Hallmark Media where I was involved in the making of shows under the Hallmark brand from Pre-Production to Post. My time with the company made me realize I want to be a Production Executive later in life.

Unaware of how difficult it would be to get a role or even another internship from a studio despite having a past role with Hallmark, I decided to give freelance a try; May 11, 2022 was my first paid PA job. My main issue before going into freelance was the job insecurity and randomness of it all. Meeting people who’d outline abstract jobs, discussed “rates,” or encountering scammers who proposed mailing checks that bounce after you deposit (this never personally happened to me though it’s common) was odd. All of it was new but fortunately, I had friends in freelance I could go to with questions. Despite the learning curves, hard hours and labor, what made me most excited was on how each job seemed to be better funded while being more professional; it made me feel like I was moving in a good direction.

Over the last 8 months, I’ve had the privilege to work on commercials and shows with some of the country’s largest networks and companies including The Walt Disney Company, Paramount, Apple TV+, A+E Networks, Lockheed Martin and Porsche. There are a few milestones I’m particularly proud of, the first being my work last fall on a union TV show now streaming on Disney+. In January of 2023, I worked as a temporary Production Coordinator for the first time with ClickUp on LevelUp, a virtual conference the software company hosts to showcase brand-new features of ClickUp 3.0 to users and clients. This May, I will be producing my very first feature, Kade. I’ll be working with Director Garrett Glassell and our talented cast starring Christopher Yerikian who will be playing Kade and Joey Chase as the villainous Kenichi. I could not be more excited for the project’s potential as we are early in Pre-Production. I want to use every avenue of the project to discover and partner with creatives from the San Diego area.

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?
Working in motion picture and entertainment has been an incredible era in my life and it still feels surreal that it hasn’t even been a full year since I’ve started. One of the things I enjoy most about having a part in this industry is the dynamics of each job. On a weekly basis, in most cases, I’m introduced to new people who will be the face of this industry one day. It’s something that never gets old. So many friends and valued relationships I’ve made play a crucial part in my continued growth as a filmmaker. People have invested and entrusted me with important and sensitive responsibilities which has made me aware and cognizant of how to supervise and run productions. People who want to be in this need to show enthusiasm and a “wanting” to be here; our work is so different from anything else and it demands attitudes like these. Temperament and the willingness to adapt in extreme circumstances is invaluable. I always say, “when filming in the real world, real problems will always be faced.” No matter how good a stage maybe for particular scenes, sometimes that’s not always an option. Sometimes we have to go out into the real world to make our days.

This has only happened seldomly, but some people will try taking advantage of you. The industry isn’t about establishing arbitrary hierarchy or superiority over people hired; it’s to entertain and make great stories. This is important for new talent; when you feel uncomfortable doing something.. to where it might put your own safety at risk, standing your ground and establishing boundaries of respect is important. You are your strongest advocate at all times. On one job, we were in downtown, while heading to my personal vehicle I found someone had tried to break into my car by drilling into one of the doors. Luckily they did not succeed but I informed production about the incident; as it concerned not only my personal safety but everyone else’s. Initially, there were no plans to change what was in place for parking, but after I expressed concern to others, Production reversed their decision and increased security in a different and more secure area; I had no knowledge of any further break-in attempts after that. People won’t always listen and when they don’t, the situation becomes dangerous and volatile. That’s where you walk off and find new work, that’s the ultimate power of being self-employed. We choose who we work for. Never let people intimidate you by the supposed threat of blacklisting; there’s always work and that’s why it’s so important to cherish, preserve and protect ongoing relationships of people who continue to call you.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a lover of Production dept. I specialize in production management. Breaking down ideas and creating a feasible, tangible operations is what I love doing. Something I think what’s distinct in my work ethic is that every department will be hearing from me to ensure everything is in order. Whether they are unsure of something or lack resources, communications between their teams and I will always be active. I never make assumptions on how people do their jobs. I have conversations with department heads to learn how work is done. Understanding their work makes my job easier. Partnering with creatives to understand their vision and collecting the tools to accomplish it is what I enjoy most. Oneliners, schedules and call sheets bring calmness to my day. I’ve worked with so many people through the years and I underline the importance of listening to people on an empathetic level; to realize what I can do to help. I do not believe in micromanaging, I believe in investing in people and putting them in areas I know they’ll succeed in. We need more problem solvers, self-starters and leaders in our world; not managers. Curiosity and empathy are valuable skillsets in any leadership framework; being open to new ideas while believing in the people you’re in business with has positive, long-term impacts. I think one of the things I am most proud is my perseverance and the knowledge I’ve gained through everything I’ve worked on. To summer days in the desert of a city-sized set to the chilly sound stages of BBC Studios America, it’s been a journey that has taken so much and has also given so much. It’s connected me with people who are great at what they do and I’ll be bringing those people with me as I move forward.

What matters most to you?
Making a positive impact in the world. This can mean many things, but for me, it means being true to myself, to not be cruel, not to be ignorant; to listen. I try to be good and believe that I am good. When in a leadership role, I try to remember that everyone started somewhere and they have similarities with how I started too. I don’t want to be the reason people regret their day when they go home, that’s always the goal. Listening to people and having the willingness to change routine or what’s “usual” should be more common. Whether it’s issues related to diversity climate change, mental health, ideas deserve its platform in the world and shouldn’t receive nearly as much pushback as many things do today. The world has evolved so much and we should follow suit.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://livebigtoday.wixsite.com/mysite
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liam.s.terlecki/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liamterlecki/
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10584566/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0