Some of the industry’s top creators weigh in on creativity, music, confidence, dealing with criticism, and finding your voice in a noisy world.
Billed as a conversation on creativity, this roundtable from The Hollywood Reporter — featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda, Donald Glover, Issa Rae, and Damien Chazelle — explores how the featured artists find inspiration in music and how music inevitably finds its way into their work. Additionally, and of note to burgeoning content creators, the discussion touches on how resources like YouTube and Vimeo played an important part in launching their careers.
Moderated by Jon Favreau, the panel features a diverse selection of artists in different stages of their careers. It’s pretty inspiring stuff, for sure. The entire discussion plays out in the video below, and some standout moments are featured after the clip. Enjoy — and maybe take some notes!
Damien Chazelle on the Ups and Downs of Creating
Chazelle’s path to filmmaking success isn’t uncommon, with a well-received short film eventually leading to feature film opportunities. He wears his love of movies on his sleeve and is quick to express appreciation for the romanticism and nostalgic warmth that accompanies that love. Here he discusses staying focused while experiencing the ups and downs of making your way in Hollywood.
On how the quality of contemporary television and online content pushes filmmakers to work harder in order to get people out of their homes and into theaters:
Donald Glover on Successfully Navigating New Media
Glover’s acclaimed FX series, Atlanta, offers a surreal, comedic take on the life of an up-and-coming musician and manager. In the Hollywood Reporter panel, the multitalented, Golden Globe-winning auteur discusses music, growing up online, and producing original content in the early days of YouTube.
Glover explains the dynamics of releasing content in today’s world and how to face the reactions you will inevitably receive, for better or for worse.
Issa Rae on Confidence in the Face of Criticism
As was the case with Glover, YouTube played a part in Issa Rae’s early career; she first appeared on the cultural radar with her acclaimed web series, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, back in 2011. Now she creates the Golden Globe-nominated Insecure for HBO. When asked about taking criticism at face value, Rae responds:
Rae has an excellent sense of what she wants her audience to feel. Her confidence shines through in her work, allowing an audience connection stronger than most contemporary cable series.
Lin-Manuel Miranda on Balancing Passion and Opportunity
Above image via Hamilton: An American Musical
The genius behind the Broadway mega-hit Hamilton: An American Musical sheds light on the process of putting your work out and hoping it’s received well. The playwright also discusses the importance of taking jobs that initially sound unappealing and his experience moving on to projects like Moana, Marry Poppins and Star Wars after Hamilton’s success.
Favreau responds with his own story of using Rebel Without A Crew as a guidebook while making Swingers. Miranda then dives into the mentality that comes with live performance and the immediacy of it all.
This group of artists is well-acquainted with the immediate online critical reactions that are such a part of creating publicly in today’s world. Their stories and advice are crucial for anybody looking to take a chance on putting their work out there for all to see. They’re also wildly in tune with the importance of music in the creative process.
If you’re looking for musical inspiration or a soundtrack for your next project, PremiumBeat’s got you covered. From hip-hop and rap as heard in Glover’s Atlanta to the classical influences of Hamilton, to the stellar R&B running through Insecure and the swinging jazz of La La Land, PremiumBeat’s deep library of songs and genres is an excellent resource for film and video creators.