Meet Terry Gingles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Terry Gingles.

Hi Terry, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
After graduating from Clark Atlanta University with a degree in film, I was a production assistant in the locations department on the motion picture, Drumline. Drumline was filmed in Atlanta during the winter months, from November of 2001 – February 2002. In January of that year, Atlanta had a snowstorm, which is very rare for that city. This caused production to scramble and find interior scenes to film, hoping the snow would melt away in a few days to get back to the exterior shots. Well… it didn’t. And if you know anything about the story of Drumline, having any trace of snow in any inch of the frame would not have fit the narrative.

The producers tried everything to remove the snow from the exterior set, which was a football stadium. I remember there being an attempt at some point of using a blow torch to melt away the snow (that didn’t work). They finally landed on shoveling the snow. Did I mention that this was a college football stadium? And not only the stadium, anything else that would be in the frame. Streets, rooftops, parking lots, etc. And guess whose task it was to shovel the snow? You guessed it! The production assistants.

So, while I’m shoveling the football field, I uncovered the 40-yard line marker, stuck my shovel in a pile of snow and looked around. I couldn’t believe what I was doing. I grew up in Indianapolis and I used to hate shoveling my parent’s driveway (which was ten yards at the most) and here I am shoveling a football stadium. I said a couple of choice words (to myself, of course), and at the conclusion of said choice words and I yelled, “I’m moving to L.A!” At the time, Atlanta was not the filmmaking hub that it is today. Then, the city would get a handful of pictures a year. I figured, if I was going to struggle finding a way into this business, I may as well be in a town that is known for making films. That night after work, I looked at our filming schedule, found the date we wrapped the picture, logged onto priceline.com and bought a one-way ticket to Los Angeles.

Not long after moving to LA, I was Taft Hartley for a speaking role in the motion picture S.W.A.T. My scene made the cut, which was a cool experience! This also made me a member of the Screen Actors Guild which allowed me to work as a stand in or photo double on a number of projects. One day, while working as a photo double on a project, I was pulled aside by one of the best television directors of all time. He asked what I wanted to do in this business. I mentioned to him that I have a film degree and that directing was my passion. He then said, “people will remember you, how they met you.” Well, I knew I didn’t want to be remembered as a photo double (no disrespect, because that’s actually a cool gig), I want to tell stories. That was the last time I worked a gig like that. I went and got a job in the industry far away from production and began my journey as a writer/director.

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?
Nothing has been smooth about this journey but I won’t say that is has been a struggle. My “challenges” have all been lessons that I’ve grown and learned from. I’ve had a couple of setbacks but I tend to look at the brighter side of things. I’ve sold a television show to a network but it was not picked up. I’ve been hired to direct a feature film but the project fell apart after a year of preparation. There have been countless other experiences where many may have thrown in the towel but for me, they were all fun rides that brought me to where I am in today.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a director and writer. I believe if you ask any creative person what project they are most proud of, they will say the current project they are working on and I am no different. Currently, I am wrapping up a short animated film titled Take The Lead that I wrote and co-directed with Chezik Tsunoda. Malcolm Barrett, Chezik and I also produced it. It’s a story about a boy whose dog runs away and he finds his dog weeks later, living with a person experiencing homelessness.

I wanted to tell a feel-good story that also shined a positive light on humanity. Take The Lead is a story geared towards kids but I believe adults could take away a lesson or two as well. I am proud of the fact that we were able to get a number of talented people involved to tell this story, including Hill Harper and Emmy award-winning composer Greg O’Conner. Having artists I respect to connect with anything I have created, is a feeling that will never get old and is what keeps me going!

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
As far as any trends or shifts that I see coming in the film industry… I don’t chase trends. By the time I’d get done writing a trendy story, the universe is on to the next. I just try to write stories from the heart that move me. I will say there is a lot of room now, especially with the growth of distribution outlets for more personal stories to be told. I’m a huge fan of film noir stories from the 1930s – 50’s and the neo-noir films from the 1970s. That’s an arena I love playing in and I don’t see why we can’t tell those types of stories now, especially in climate we find ourselves in.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terry_gingles/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scribeslife/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nomadicterryandcarmen/featured

Image Credits
Profile picture and picture of myself in the blue short: Photographer Eugene Byrd.