Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Rivera-Davison.
Hi Austin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I found my love for filmmaking accidentally through skateboarding. I was obsessed with skateboard videos as a kid, which were a blend of skateboarding, low-fi sketch comedy, and just sort of all-around degeneracy that probably wasn’t the best influence for an 11-year-old kid. My parents had a video camera that they shot home movies on. You know, kid’s birthday parties, dance recitals, footage from soccer games, stuff like that. I borrowed the camera from them to record videos with my friends, and I just ended up getting really obsessed. To the point where I always brought my camera with me to hang out with friends because I didn’t want to miss out on some amazing moment to add to our movies. I edited my first — I guess you could call it — “feature film” together when I was 12 by using a VCR, CD player, and the video camera, staying up all night one night and putting it together. Ever since then, I’ve sort of been addicted to that creative rush you get when you make something. And I’ve just been following that over the past almost 20 years.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has definitely been anything but smooth — but I also think that it sort of depends on how you frame it. Up until this point, I have independently financed all of my creative work, and I’ve had to wear like every hat on all of my productions. Which really isn’t that far off from what I was doing when I was a kid. But also, this is originally what I fell in love with, so I know I’ll be happy working independently even if I never receive a real “shot” in Hollywood. I think that since I am comfortable with that fact, I feel less pressure about pushing my way through the door in the entertainment industry because I’m already doing what I love. But, with that being said, it would be great to make a living writing and directing.
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?
Well, I’m a writer and director. Most recently, my short film Talk Outside was featured at the 2020 SXSW film festival — that was very exciting. It’s hard to say what sets me apart from others because I would like my work to speak for itself — and I think that as a creative person, comparing myself to other people can be a recipe for disaster. But I feel like I’m really proud that I’ve included my family in a lot of the projects that I’ve made so far. On my last short film, my youngest sister helped me with the casting process, my middle sister helped PA, my mom helped me with location scouting and my dad cooked dinner for the crew and helped me make a bonfire at 2am for one of the scenes. I think I’m most proud of welcoming people I don’t really know into my family for each production that I do. Or sort of creating a family with each production. And I love to bake for the crew before I start working on any project. I had an audio mixer tell me that a pie that I baked for everyone was the best pie she has ever had in her life, so honestly that might be what I’m most proud of.
How do you define success?
Success is different for everyone. I feel like I define my success by the fact that I’m consistently doing what I love and working on projects that I find interesting. Success for me is loving what I do and being comfortable with myself. And celebrating that work with the people who helped create it. And also, impressing friends with my baking and making people laugh. It’s sort of a combination of things that only filmmaking can satisfy.
Contact Info:
- Website: stindavison.com
Image Credits:
MARISSA MOONEY
