My Artistic Voice In Society (The Owen Hollander Experience)

Written: February 2023

Legendary director Robert Altman once said “Filmmaking is a chance to live many lifetimes.” That quote always greatly spoke to me as an aspiring filmmaker. It’s inspiring to believe that my artistic voice could survive long after I have passed on. After Altman’s service in World War Two he decided to chase his dreams of creating movies. However, Altman’s outstanding career began at a very slow pace as he directed 65 films before finally obtaining some successful notoriety. Altman’s perseverance is motivational for me as a student filmmaker because it shows me how important it is to not give up on my goals. I’m excited to grow my artistic voice as I continue to be a student of film and an evolving storyteller, influenced by my artistic inspirations in order to one day creatively impact society for generations to come.

Now these goals may sound very ambitious which is why it is important to understand who I am. I am a student of film. I study cinema like they are my textbooks in order to gain a better comprehension on filmmaking techniques. Everytime I view a film I am constantly thinking about how and why the creators made all of their choices. This is a key part in my journey as an evolving storyteller. I have always loved to tell stories to anyone who would listen. The art of the narrative is one that has existed since the beginning of time and I wish to take it even further. My portfolio thus far consists of numerous documentaries, short films, and music videos that I have produced, written, directed, and edited myself. I can easily see that each project is just a little bit better than the last as I continue to develop my artistic voice and discover who I am as a creative individual.

My artistic inspirations are obviously a large factor in my own style. I was raised on the movies that my parents had long adored like Back To The Future and Indiana Jones. These early inspirations made me become interested in pursuing filmmaking as a possible career. From Steven Spielberg to John Hughes to Robert Zemeckis, I learned how my artistic voice could elevelate mediums. These were filmmakers that accomplished their objectives showing that it is possible for me to do the same. Nowadays, I view more mature and dramatic films that are inspiring me just as much as those early examples. From Paul Thomas Anderson to Spike Lee to Agnes Varda, I have grown into new inspirations as I’ve aged, only causing me to rediscover my passion for film. I also find a lot of value in viewing the creations of my peers. It’s inspiring to see what other student filmmakers are creating today who are in my same position. Those projects give me new insights and ideas almost just as often as the legends do.

I couldn’t express to you enough how excited I am for my artistic voice to impact society. In a way I feel that I am already impacting society with my films on a small scale. My low budget projects at the very least bring people entertainment which I believe is one of the biggest purposes of an artist. My biggest dream is to hopefully one day inspire the next generation of filmmakers like my inspirations did for me. I wish to emotionally speak to audiences and present them with new perspectives and opinions on life. I want my art to be someone’s breath of fresh air and newfound inspiration.

When I think of how daunting it is that Robert Altman had directed 65 failures before his big break, I also think about how he was able to pass on with 7 Oscar wins, an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement in filmmaking, and a solidification in cinema history. Altman was an inspiration to myself and many others. I too hope that my artistic voice in society will positively impact pop culture and peoples’ mindsets as I stay rooted in who I am, an inspired student filmmaker that wants to leave an unforgettable mark in my field.