Have you ever stopped to think about what your purpose is as a filmmaker—like, zoomed all the way out past “making cool videos” and into why you got into this in the first place? In this video I talk through how I’ve been thinking about style and purpose lately, and I start with something really practical: pay attention to what resonates with you when you’re consuming films, commercials, or any kind of content. I share an experience seeing the film “Hamnit” in a theater by myself and how the emotional impact of that viewing reminded me how powerful filmmaking can be—and how important it is to notice what actually moves you. From there, I get into asking yourself the hard “why” questions. Are you doing this to prove something to someone, or are you chasing a direction you genuinely want? For me, it always comes back to feeling—I want to create imagery (as a DP) that elevates story and gives an audience a real emotional experience. Lastly, I talk about not getting distracted by what’s trendy or what other people like. Your taste is your compass, and the more honest you are about what you like to watch versus what you actually want to create, the faster you’ll find your own stamp and direction.