Today we’d like to introduce you to Darrin Bush.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Storytelling is my passion. Whether I am behind the camera directing or shooting, or in front acting, I want to tell meaningful stories. My dad always said to me growing up that if I could make a movie that hasn’t been done before then I would have made something special. Now I believe that to be partly true. Because I believe that telling stories that deserve to be told are the truly special creations.
Growing up I knew I was creative, I wasn’t good at math and science wasn’t much better. I fell in love with filmmaking after watching the behind the scenes special features of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It may sound silly I know, but since then I knew storytelling was in my future. I’m originally from Boise, Idaho and in high school, I sort of fell into acting. I needed a humanities credit and it seemed okay. But from then on I was in love with acting and continued all throughout high school.
College came quickly and I knew I wanted to go to school at USC or Chapman for film production with the goal of becoming a film director. I was ready. But apparently, I wasn’t right for any film school I applied to. I had applied to a number of acting schools as well and state school as my back up. After not getting accepted to the film programs or acting programs I was prepared to brave university life in Idaho. After registering for classes and visiting the campus I was a few weeks away from the start of term when I get a phone call from AMDA: College and Conservatory of performing arts in Los Angeles, CA, and they were calling to ask why I hadn’t replied to my acceptance. I was floored. Goodbye state school, hello LA!
Despite not being in a filmmaking program, I was happy. I was still telling stories and doing it in a medium I adored. I learned so much about how little I actually knew and allowed myself to be guided by the professionals who were teaching me. While at AMDA I began to get restless with the lack of filmmaking I was experiencing, my education was primarily theatre-based, which I love, but I came to LA to be in movies, and damn I was going to be in movies. Myself and a few of my peers started a film company, Tilted Screens Media. We were a ramshackle group of DIY filmmakers figuring it out as we went. We made three short films and a twelve-part web series, all while still in the rigor of college.
After graduating with my BFA in acting and a new found skills as a filmmaker I did what any post-college grad does. I became a barista. Glamorous, I know. But it was honestly one of the best jobs to have. I was up at 3:30 am and out of work by noon at the latest with time in my day to work on projects or go on auditions. Fast forward through two years of hustling like a madman to pay rent with my day job and fulfill that creative itch inside me and progress my career, I was finally able to quit my coffee slinging job. My freelance life as a filmmaker had caught up to me and I could no longer sustain everything. I had become a fairly successful director and director of photography and commercial actor.
Having shot countless music videos, traveled to Switzerland for work, and been in a handful of commercials I was officially a freelancer. Phew! I made it right? Look, mom, I’m doing it! I’m a full-time filmmaker! Well to tell the truth its way harder than it was being a barista. Any freelancer knows the struggles.
When my next job? Damn, that person really screwed me over! Are my rates high enough? Why does no one care about my work! Even as I write this bio I am dealing with insecurities as an artist, and I imagine that insecurity will persist until I’m old and gray. Since I went freelance I have had the great pleasure of working with amazing artists and humans, and my work has been solicited by the likes of Ansel Elgort, Demi Lovato, Belly, The Maine, etc. And regardless of the work I’ve done I will always be learning and growing and struggling. But what I do know is, my experiences leading up to now are what shapes my storytelling.
The people I’ve met and the connections I’ve made will shape my storytelling. And I will never be able to stop. I’m so passionate about telling the stories that are deserving of being told. I myself am a straight white male, I know my story is overdone and really probably not terribly exciting. I want to tell the stories, no matter how exciting or tame, of the people who deserve to have their stories told. And that will always be my mission with my work.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is one I’m sure many artists in today’s world face. It is the awful question “Am I good enough?” This question has so many facets. One is a little on the nose, “is my work actually good?” Growth happens in everyone’s life and that includes careers. Despite how many times I reassure myself that my work is good, doubt seems to find its way back into my mind somehow.
Another facet that I think allows doubt to come running back so easily is social media. I love social media, Instagram is the bomb and Facebook are great! They are both amazing ways to connect and put work into the world, and also just to enjoy seeing what others are doing. But with that comes comparison. “That person is doing more work than me!” “That person has a better camera!” “Why doesn’t that happen for me?” And it is honestly one of the worst feelings in the world. These struggles are some of the most difficult things to overcome, and I’m still working it all out.
Tilted Screens Media / The Creative Magazine – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The company I run is called Tilted Screens Media, funnily enough, it is the same production company that my friends and I started in college. It has now become a fully functional independent production house. We specialize in creating captivating content including but not limited to: narrative film, music videos, commercials, dance videos, and promotional material for companies.
One of the aspects of the company that I am most proud of is out subsidiary The Creative Magazine. The Creative is an LA-based new media production house that creates independent content to disrupt the current societal standards and unify a community of artists. And our goal is to provide artists with a home base. An endless platform to grow and thrive, cultivate ideas and inspire opinions and perspectives to propel others into action. We are a group of young filmmakers and actors telling stories that may not have a chance to be heard.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I used to dream of red carpets and extravagant Hollywood premieres. I used to imagine myself in the limelight, the hottest director/actor/filmmaker out there. But reality has a way of humbling you. After living and working in LA for the better part of seven years I’ve realized my definition of success has drastically changed. Do I still want those things? Yeeeessss… BUT I have a much more measured vision now.
Success, now, is being able to pay my bills, be with my loved ones, celebrate the occasions that deserve celebrating, creating content that really means something, and most of all being happy and healthy. Our world is full of fear and pain and hate, but there is so much beauty in everyday moments that are missed if we tunnel vision and only strive for fame and glory. If someday I do end up in a position aforementioned I will still cherish the small moments, because those are what matter.
Contact Info:
- Website: darrinbush.com and thecreativemagazine.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @darrin__bush
Image Credit:
Alex Harper and Mackenzie Packham
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
