How painter and filmmaker Dan Covert built his creative career
"Nothing's going to happen on its own," Dan says. Dan. "The fastest way to establish your own business is to continue creating things. If you're providing a range of products and services to those who create items, you must be in the role of director."
It is this philosophy that has lead Dan to have a career that is remarkable and a myriad of accolades including AFI, SXSW, and selections from the staff. " Our careers have been shaped by this philosophy,"" Dan tells Dan. "That might sound crazy, but it's the truth. There was no public audience to watch these events. We bought cameras and learnt the art of creating objects."
Just a few days after the publication of his first feature film " Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life," which won the Audience Award at this year's SXSW We got the opportunity to speak with Dan about his process and the techniques that he employs. Dan discusses his process along with his unique work with the north star. Check out the some of the highlights from the interview below as well as listen to the whole conversation.
You started out in the art field. What was the route you went down to progress to feature films?
Dan The company was founded by Dan company in the year 1996. It started out as a design business and then evolved into a motion graphics business and then an production firm. It's been a long-term evolution. Along the way we created shorts and a lot of these were staff Picked on .
It was a simple test and figuring out the culture of the industry as well as the roles of directors. When I turned 40, I started contemplating, "I'm going to make films in the near future." The thought was, "Maybe I'm not going to make films unless I get started." Then I started searching for stories and the idea for this film began to form.
16 years could be an extended period to develop in the industry. The reason why you remain?
Dan The truth is that it's really fun to make this. In the past, I wasn't thinking "Oh I'm going to be a major event which my work life changes and I'll get to be a part of the Oscars." It's not an aspect. It's just me thinking "Am I having fun right now? Have I enjoyed the trip?"
If you announce a strategy out into the world, it's impossible to predict how people are going to respond to your plan. It's just like "Did I come up with the most incredible thing I could? Do I spend time with and collaborate with those I am awed by and admire? Do we try to be honest and real?" It's always a lot of irons in the fire kind of person. I run a business. I am a commercial director. I've produced this feature-length film for a while. I'm pretty successful in my art work. It's about patience and creating things I am enthusiastic about. In the end, I'll tell you, "We'll see where they lead us."
The thing is, I'm not too concerned with the "in the direction in which they go' aspect because it is a terrifying experience. Since, at time's end, do you really care about your fame or how accomplished you are? It's not what you'll be remembered at age 80.
What is you North Star of inspiration?
Dan The team is constantly striving to make this better. The real thing is the telling of stories. Craft and visual art. They are unclear terms, yet they do have lots of importance. Like "Can you tell a tale?" There is often a false concept that storytellers are at the point of telling the tale.
Commercials are a concept which has a lot in common with art. The reason is the fact that they're fundamentally two opposing forces. But they're not on the top of the line. A little more about emotions and how to express it through breathtaking cinematography. Each of us has our individual voice. What I really love is character and story.
What are you able to do to work with brands and not hinder your goals to your business?
Dan When I first heard about HTML0, I always thought "Oh I'm hired to complete the tasks they want." However, I eventually was able to realize that "No They're actually hiring me to assist them, and I'm fully aware of the tasks I'm capable of doing." So it was a big change to seek out the requirements of the company as well as the vision they had. Still, it's an essential aspect but the more and greater my experience as director as a director, the more I've come to realize that people have come to you seeking your personal view, an opportunity to get through the maze of issues and say, "What you guys need to achieve are these."
Do you have any brands that you're hoping to work to work
Dan The reason I'm saying it's difficult is because I'm not one to take interest in that type of matter. It's about "Is it a fun and exciting task?" Some of the dull projects I've worked on have turned out to be the most interesting work. I created a short video about a type researcher from Syracuse and is an Staff Pick video we did. A man who was living in a basement discovered this font which Pentagram then turned into the official logo for Syracuse University. The man is fantastic. I would love to meet people who are like him.
Anyone would love to work for Nike along with many other fantastic businesses. Sure, it's fun but I also like hearing these fascinating stories and the idea of sharing these stories on stage.
I've never had the chance to direct. It was an amazing affirmation for me as an artist to have 300,000 people in just two days watching the documentary that we created. And it's like "Oh, my God." Do you know what is the meaning of that? The film was not made as a short film. It was made for the client's work. We only slightly edited it and then I noticed this group of people.
Dress Code is in use for a considerable amount of duration. What is the reason you stay in this dress code?
Dan: It just seems that it's the only where creators of all sorts have the opportunity to see what we've made. The majority of the projects are short films. It's entirely self-funded. It's like making these small test balloons. Then other artists get to look at the balloons. It's always shocking. Someone from an advertising agency could call you say "Hey we found this project. Could you create this commercial for us?" It's akin to a one-to-one. If we're doing things this method, then the appropriate people will be seeing it, they're increasing the visibility of our work, and also giving us the chance to share our ideas.
What is your inspiration source?
Dan The greatest motivation for my artwork is the inspiration I get from it. Actually, I don't go to many videos nowadays. It's been a bit tiring, and I'm always looking for ways to make things more alike, so I just look for methods to create something different when compared to the content is on the market or take a look at documentaries made for commercials that feature features or look at the fine arts to frame and use visual techniques.
What's the best advice that you've been given?
Dan The quotation from Steve Martin where he says, "Be so good that you won't be able to avoid anybody." The way I've experienced it is that I've been awestruck by this. Much like many other people, I want to have the ability of creating more beyond one, and complete. It's to me nothing less taking effort and the time required to construct the foundation of your work. Then, you'll be so happy that somebody will discover your task.
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