Location: PeeDee and Grand Strand

  • Jamison Mady Kerr

    Jamison Mady Kerr

    “As long as I’m still learning and growing, this is as good a classroom as any.”


    Jamison Mady is the Director of Art Town Development at Artfield’s in Lake City, SC. She’s redefining community growth through creativity and connection.

    About

    Jamison Mady’s journey to arts leadership began not in galleries, but on stage as a ballet dancer. When she realized she couldn’t physically sustain that path, she pivoted to design, then art history, where she discovered her passion for connecting with the world through artists’ perspectives. A history degree from Francis Marion University and a transformative internship with Artfield’s opened doors she never expected.

    What began as an unpaid internship quickly turned into a full-time calling? Jamison fell in love with Artfield’s’ mission and Lake City’s creative potential. A decade later, she’s helped lead its transformation launching artist programs, engaging local students, and driving the development of ACT On Studios and other year-round arts initiatives.

    Her defining moment? A wildly ambitious idea to create a mini golf course designed by students across South Carolina. With no budget and a borrowed van, Jamison made it happen bringing people together to experience art playfully and accessibly. “They were viewing artwork, whether they realized it or not,” she says.

    For Jamison, success is about expanding access, inviting unlikely audiences, and building trust through art. Her advice to young creatives: stay open. “No connection you make is wasted,” she says. “People are waiting for you just show up and do the work.”

    In a state where artists often feel they must leave to succeed, Jamison proves that building something meaningful is not only possible, it’s transformative. Lake City wasn’t on her radar at first. Now, it’s her home, her mission, and her masterpiece in progress.

  • Carla Angus

    Carla Angus

    “Be the coffee bean, don’t let the water change you. Change the water.”

    Carla Angus is a youth advocate and arts leader from Lake City, SC, empowering young people through education, performance, and community transformation.

    About

    Carla Angus wears many hats but each one is woven with her passion for youth development and creative empowerment. As Director of Community Engagement for ArtFields and founder of the statewide ArtFields Jr. competition, Carla brings young voices to the forefront of South Carolina’s arts scene. She’s also the visionary behind Dramatic Coffee Beans, a youth organization that uses performing arts to help students navigate life’s challenges with confidence and purpose.

    Originally an educator and school principal, Carla left behind a path to school district leadership in search of deeper, more personal impact. Through her consulting business, Transforming Minds, and community engagement work, she now supports students, educators, and volunteers by creating space for creative growth especially for those who might not otherwise have access to the arts.

    Carla’s defining moment was launching ArtFields Jr., which has grown from a local youth art competition into a statewide, traveling exhibition that celebrates the talent and stories of students from grades 1–12. “If you get them when they’re young,” she says, “maybe they’ll keep going as they grow.”

    For Carla, success means building inclusive spaces where creativity thrives especially for young people in rural communities. Her leadership style emphasizes listening, stepping back, and sharing the spotlight. Whether mentoring volunteers, producing youth theater, or shaping state-wide arts programming, Carla’s mission is clear: help young people become the kind of bold change-makers who don’t just survive the heat, they transform it.

  • Brandon Goff

    Brandon Goff

    “I put in 30 minutes of practice every day, whether it’s guitar or composing. It’s like exercise 30 minutes a day goes a lot further than five hours once a week. It keeps your brain engaged.” 

    Brandon Goff is a composer, producer, engineer, performer, and professor of Music Industry at Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina. As a Memphis, Tennessee, local, he attended Rhodes College where Goff’s creative path began. This path has taken him through academic and professional music spaces across the U.S. and abroad. With a PhD and a background in music composition, he believes in celebrating every step of creative growth, whether that’s writing an album or landing a gig. His career is a witness to persistence, curiosity, and the value of creative support systems. 

    About

    Dr. Brandon Goff is a composer, producer, engineer, performer, and professor of Music Industry at Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, he brings decades of professional experience to the classroom. Although he comes from major music hubs like Memphis and Nashville, Goff believes in the creative potential of South Carolina: “The talent pool is just as big as it is anywhere else” he states that there is less exposure here than big music hubs, yet there are “chances you can take even if you don’t realize it.” 

    While many students aspire to break into big-city music scenes, Goff sees value in the grassroots nature of local music. South Carolina’s cultural variety and fresh perspectives help shape his own compositions. Even without the traditional infrastructure of the industry, students can gain real-world experience in unique settings like running sound and lighting for large-scale worship services. “We’re still a big production state,” Goff says. 

    A high school dropout who once worked in a factory, Goff believes success is about growth and persistence, not fame. “Even if you’re just someone who has actually sat down and written an entire album worth of material, and that’s not what you do for a living, that’s still incredibly successful.” he says. That mindset has guided his journey, from early breaks with recording software to composing Full on Rumble, a guitar concerto that unexpectedly became one of his most performed works. 

    Goff’s creative life is grounded in daily discipline. Mornings start with emails and invoicing, followed by teaching, and afternoons filled with studio work. “Thirty minutes a day goes a lot further than five hours once a week,” he explains. For Goff, consistency matters more than flash: “You don’t always know what you’re building while you’re building it. But if you stay in motion, keep making, keep believing you’ll look up one day and realize you’ve created something that lasts.” 

  • Eugene Rocco Utley

    Eugene Rocco Utley

    “I would rather fail at pursuing a passion that I love rather than playing it safe, and never truly pursuing it.” 

    Eugene Rocco Utley is a freelance creative professional based in Myrtle Beach. By day, he manages marketing and advertising for Coastal Carolina National Bank (CCNB), blending strategic communication with local insight. Outside his 9-to-5, Utley pursues freelance work in film production, with experience in both commercial and narrative projects.

    About

    After studying at Clemson University, and shortly at Coastal Carolina, Eugene Rocco Utley now splits his time between a 9-to-5 role in marketing and advertising at Coastal Carolina National Bank (CCNB) and a robust freelance career in film production. From commercial shoots to creative narrative projects, he’s carved out a path that balances the professional with passion. 

    Though the freelance world can be uncertain, Utley embraces its challenges. “I would rather fail at pursing a passion that I love,” he says, “than play it safe and never truly pursue it.” His creative journey began right out of college, working on low-budget films and slowly building his network in South Carolina’s creative community, a space Utley describes as both “versatile” and “closely knit.” For Utley, success is defined not just by recognition but by collaboration: “If someone wants to work with you again, that’s a real success.” 

    A defining moment came when his short film A B gained significant recognition, marking as a pivoting point in his personal and professional career. The project, which explores the balance between mental health and artistic identity, reinforced Utley’s belief that “Failures are something to learn from, not just failures.” 

    Whether writing scripts or handling design work at the bank, Utley stresses the importance of time management and living a life outside of work. “You have to experience life to reflect on it,” he emphasizes. “You can’t define yourself only by your art.” His advice gives creatives to give yourself freedom in the process, use note cards, not full pages and face your fears head-on. 

  • Paolo Gauldi

    Paolo Gauldi

    “It’s a good thing to bring beauty to this world…leave it a little bit better than you found it”

    Dr. Paolo Gualdi is a musician, and a full-time professor at Francis Marion University, as well as a part-time professor at University of North Carolina at Wilmington. When performing, regionally, nationally, or internationally, Gualdi plays the piano both as a soloist and chamber musician.

    About

    Dr. Paolo Gualdi began teaching music at 16 and has been a performer his entire life. He has been involved, long-term, in the cultural arts scene, which is why he sees so much potential in the Carolinas, and South Carolina more specifically, because “there’s a lot of talent in South Carolina,” he stated in an interview with our team. For Gualdi, South Carolina has a boiling pot of opportunities.

    In Gauldi’s opinion, a creative needs their own personal definition of success, or else “it’s a lifetime of frustration because you don’t feel you’re good enough forever.” He believes that one needs to remain engaged and interested in their career. Gauldi recalls Pablo Casals, a famous cellist, who, at 93, was still practicing because he believed that he could still make progress and Gualdi says that “it’s the best feeling in the world…always being interested and curious and digging deeper.”

    Gauldi also emphasizes the community and networking needed in this career. A lot of his commitments are because of this. He also says to “be kind to each other,” which can determine one’s career path.

  • Terry Roberts

    Terry Roberts

    “If you persevere, if you really believe in yourself then something will happen.”

    Terry Roberts is a conductor, professor, and lifelong musician in Florence, South Carolina. He leads with passion and perseverance across every stage.

    About

    Terry Roberts is the Coordinator of Music at Francis Marion University and Music Director of the Florence Symphony Orchestra. A seasoned conductor and former solo French hornist in Europe, Terry’s global experience now shapes local culture in South Carolina.

    His career is built on resilience and artistic exploration. Roberts has performed in major opera houses across Europe and the United States. Fluent in multiple languages and rooted in a deep love for learning, he brings cultural and professional richness into the classroom and the concert hall.

    Terry’s legacy is measured not by a single pinnacle moment but through mentoring young musicians and commissioning original works many by his former students. “It’s like having your own children be successful,” he reflected.

    In a field that never stays still, Roberts thrives on structure and inspiration. “The first thing I do every day is play some music,” he shared. Time management, introspection, and joy fuel his work. His advice to future artists is unwavering: keep going. Don’t be discouraged. And above all, stay flexible because the path might surprise you.

    Transcripts

    00:01 | Emma Plutnicki 

    Okay, so first, what do you do for work and where are you currently working from? 

    00:06 | Terry Roberts 

    I’m the coordinator of music at Francis Marion University, and I’m a professor for various different classes and ensembles, and I’m also the music director of the Florence Symphony Orchestra. So, this is all in Florence of course. I’ve been here, I’ve been a conductor since 2003 and with the University for about 16 years. I believe. 

    00:31 | Emma Plutnicki 

    Amazing. So, what is one thing that you love about working in South Carolina, specifically? 

    00:37 | Terry Roberts 

    Well, normally, you can play golf year-round, but not now. Well, I was raised in the south mostly. I’m from Oklahoma originally, but, yeah, most of my life I’ve lived in the South. It’s a lot nicer, calmer. I had friends, one friend of mine, who’s a soloist, said “The only reason to go to New York is to get the check and leave.” So yeah, I was in Europe for a long time. When I moved back, people asked why I didn’t move to New York. I said, “Well, I can get to New York really easily. I don’t need to live there.” So yeah, and I get up there to do some gigs. But, yeah, one week about all I can stand in there. 

    01:25 | Emma Plutnicki 

    Fair. So, what does South Carolina bring to your work? Does it have any unique influence on your work compared to working anywhere else, working in New York? 

    01:37 | Terry Roberts 

    Well, like I said, I’ve had, I’ve had the good fortune to live in several different places. So, I’m more like trying to bring what I’ve learned culturally in different countries, different places in the United States, to impart that information, if you will, to my students and to the public, and culturally speaking simply. South Carolina obviously has a lot of history. One of my professors was a famous composer from Latta, just up the street here, Carlisle Floyd, and I studied with him when I was at Florida State University, and I played some of his works and things like that. 

    02:28 | Emma Plutnicki 

    And how would you describe the kind of working community in South Carolina? How is your local professional community? 

    02:38 | Terry Roberts 

    Oh, well, Florence especially is sort of booming. To be quite honest, when I moved here, I wasn’t going to stay, but things changed you know. That’s fate, as they say, and this particular community has just blossomed. I mean, we have two major hospitals, several major companies have moved here, and culturally, it’s just a gold mine. There’s a lot of culture going on here, and there’s a lot of talent within the community. So, it’s great. I mean, it’s very refreshing, and everyone loves to take part in the arts here, which is great. And I try to be diverse as possible, which is a hard thing to do anyway, but to include as many people as I can in the arts. So, I mean, when I had hair, long hair, I played in rock bands and all that stuff. So, you know, I’ve sort of done everything, if you will, so just a classical player. 

    03:46 | Emma Plutnicki 

    Amazing yeah, so within your working in a creative field, how do you define personal success and professional success? 

    03:57 | Terry Roberts 

    Oh, wow. Well, for me, personal success is being able to learn more every day. You never stop learning music. There’s always something new to learn and to hopefully to grow a bit every day. Professionally, I’ve been blessed to have done a lot of different things. I’ve played in all the major, I played French horn, solo horn in Europe for 16 years, and I played in all the major opera houses, concert halls in Europe and the United States. And that was, I was very fortunate. I was able to learn two more languages, you know. So, all those things are because of music. I got to see a lot of the world. So, it, I’ve been very fortunate. And it wasn’t easy at first, I have to admit, you know, but I think everyone who’s successful has to persevere. 

    05:08 | Emma Plutnicki 

    Yeah, amazing. So, you said it was difficult. Were there any fears that you had when you first decided to step into a profession in the arts? 

    05:18 | Terry Roberts 

    Well, my father has a PhD in music education. He was a chairman of music for years at universities, and so I was sort of raised in that environment. And I thought about actually becoming a pilot, that really intrigued me. But then I would have to stop playing, and I really wanted to play. And I mean, I’ve been playing some instruments since I was six years old, so, you know, and playing music is almost mathematical too, so that sort of tied in. I thought about piloting or architecture and things that, and my father encouraged me to do that because he didn’t want me to be a poor musician. But, anyway, it worked out. So, it was hard at first. I mean, when I got to Germany, I was going to study for one year, and I had like, $250 in my pocket and a horn and two suitcases, and I didn’t know what was going to happen. And it just sorts of blossomed from there. So, I was very fortunate. Right place at the right time, so to speak.  

    06:24 | Emma Plutnicki 

    Yeah, it’s great how it works out that way. Were there any people in your life giving you advice? Do you remember the best advice or the worst advice that you ever received? 

    06:39 | Terry Roberts 

    Well, I mean, gosh, there’s so many different people. My teacher, he was very famous horn player, Erich Penzel in Germany. He gave me a bunch of tips about how to handle conductors and now I’m a conductor, so it’s funny. And I would talk to a lot of different conductors, I worked under some very big names, and I would ask them how they went into the field. And all of them, all of them, talk about perseverance, and talk about, when you’re starting out, how hard it is, and it is. You just have to be in the right place at the right time. You know, there’s, there’s plenty of people out there that can do my job, but I just happen to get lucky, you know? I tell my students, “There’s always someone waiting to take your place.” You have to think that way. You have to, you have to practice. You have to always continue to get better. You can’t just sit and do nothing. And that, I believe that still to this day. I mean, the orchestra could say one day, “oh, come on and get someone else,” you know, with different ideas, you know. 

    07:46 | Emma Plutnicki 

    Makes sense. And within your career, has there been one particular project that has made a significant impact on your life or a project that you think really showcased your creativity and kind of was the pinnacle of your career? 

    08:15 | Terry Roberts 

    I don’t think I’ve reached that yet. To be quite honest. I hope I haven’t. I’m very proud of some of the works I’ve commissioned to be premiered with this orchestra, and I’m doing another work next fall, in October, that a former student of mine is writing. So, I’m always very proud when former students are successful. It makes me, you know, it’s like having your own children be successful. You know, which I do have children, they’re somewhat successful to me. 

    08:58 | Terry Roberts 

    I mean, it’s always good when you see someone succeed and you’ve been nurturing them and sort of mentoring or whatever, you know. So, yeah, I mean, I like helping out young people, and I think that’s probably one of my best things around. 

    09:18 | Emma Plutnicki 

    I love that. So nowadays, what does a typical workday look like for you? What’s your work process and what’s expected of you on a daily basis? 

    09:32 | Terry Roberts 

    Well, one thing about the arts, it’s never the same every day. I mean, obviously at the university you have your schedule. But, like, I’ve just done three days of rehearsals with three different ensembles, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. And today, I gotta regroup. I’ve gotta get ready for a different ensemble. Yeah, so and then I’ll teach a bit. I always have one day, and this is my day actually. I always have one day during the week where I try to regroup, and that’s Thursday this semester. But normally I come into the office, I start answering emails, which there’s plenty of, and stuff like that, and then I’ll start studying whatever music I need to be studying for the next concert I’m doing, or next project I’m doing. And at the same time, I’m doing budgets for the orchestra, budgets for the music program, things like that and people are asking me for money and all that neat stuff, a lot of paperwork. I mean, everyone goes, “Oh, so it must be so great be a musician.” I say, “Well, you know, when you spend 75% of your time doing the other stuff, you can be a musician, yeah, it’s really great when you make music.”  

    10:53 | Emma Plutnicki 

    So how are you able to keep that work life balance where you’re able to work on your professional responsibilities, but then also have time for personal creativity? 

    11:07 | Terry Roberts 

    It’s, actually not that hard. It’s all about time management. And, you know, teaching my students about that, that’s the one thing that you know, ever since I was, gosh, since I don’t know “it,” or whatever. The first thing I do every day is play some music. You know, whether it’s practice, listen, study or something, that’s the first thing you want to do every day. That sort of life gets you going, then you can take care of all this, other things like that. So, I don’t think it’s hard to balance it out. I like to play golf, I like to watch sports, crazy about the football stuff right now and, you know, I try to have other interests. And everyone you know, sort of, you know -I hate saying this. Everyone thinks that I’m just focused on music. I said, “You know, I have a normal life,” you know, and that’s what you must have, is a normal life. So, you have to shut it down sometimes. And I get, you know, nervous or excited, whatever. But you have to learn how to turn it off, too. And that’s, that’s difficult, and some days I’ll get pretty perturbed, you know? But you always have to look for a solution. You can’t stay perturbed. You have to figure out what you can do. After every rehearsal, I like to sit down for a second and just think about what I can do to make something better. You know, after when I teach something, did I teach it correctly? Or can I make it better? Make it more understood, if you will. So, it’s, it’s a, you know, different lifestyle. It’s not going into the office, clocking in, doing your work, there, go to have lunch. It’s not that. You’re sort of married to music, but you have to, just like with your spouse, you have to spend a little time away from it. 

    13:20 | Emma Plutnicki 

    That’s a great perspective to have.  

    13:23 | Terry Roberts 

    I once told someone, I’ve known my horn longer than I’ve known my wife.  

    13:27 | Emma Plutnicki 

    Yeah, there you go. True. Perfect. So just as we wrap up, are there any other questions you wish I would have asked, or anything else you’d like to add about you, know, your career and your life. 

    13:43 | Terry Roberts 

    I think the most important thing for anyone in the arts doesn’t matter, music, art, theater, whatever, that you cannot become discouraged. And that’s easy to say, very easy to say, because I have been discouraged many times. I’ve done auditions all over the world, and, you know, been disappointed, gotten almost there, and you feel really disappointed afterwards, but you have to persevere. You can’t just stop, you know. If you really love what you’re doing, it doesn’t matter. And I used to say, “the money will come later.” Yeah, you have to pay bills. Yeah, you have to know how to do a budget and all that stuff. But, if you persevere, if you really believe in yourself, then something will happen. It might not be exactly the way you thought. I mean, I didn’t think I was going to be a professor. After growing up that way I swore, I’d never do that. Here I am, you know. So, you just never know the path, you have to be flexible and persevere.  

    15:22 | Emma Plutnicki 

    Well perfect. Do you have any other creatives in your life that you think would be good for us to interview? Can you think of anybody? 

    15:40 | Terry Roberts 

    My wife, she was a prima ballerina in Pacific Northwest Ballet in France, and we met in Monte Carlo. We were both working there, and she does the ballet here. She’s artistic director of the South Carolina Dance Theater. 

    15:58 | Emma Plutnicki 

    Okay, amazing. If we could get her contact information, or I can send you the link to nominate an individual. 

    16:05 | Terry Roberts 

    I’ll just email you her email address and whatever. 

    16:08 | Emma Plutnicki 

    Okay, amazing. That’d be great.  

    16:11 | Terry Roberts 

    She’s seen more of the world than me. She has literally been around the world. But she’s from Wilmington, North Carolina, of all things. And she went to North County School of the Arts and studied. Well, she’d been dancing since, professionally, she started at 17. Dancers have a short lifespan, you know. Then she went into teaching, so I never saw her dance. I met her when she was finished dancing, so. 

    16:41 | Emma Plutnicki 

    She’s got to still be dancing a little bit these days, right?  

    16:44 | Terry Roberts 

    Well, she demonstrates. And sometimes she says, “I shouldn’t have demonstrated that.” 

    16:50 | Emma Plutnicki 

    Yeah. 

    16:53 | Terry Roberts 

    So, she choreographs and runs the ballet here. 

    16:57 | Emma Plutnicki 

    Okay, amazing. That would be great if you could send that over. 

  • Luis Sanchez

    Luis Sanchez

    “I want to grow your business. I want to grow your brand because we’re all a community.” 

    Luis Sanchez blends design and purpose, building websites by day, mentoring youth by night. 

    About

    Luis Sanchez wears many hats, but at the heart of everything he does is his love for people. Based in South Carolina, he’s a full-time Youth Director and has started a web and brand design business. His creative journey has had its ups and downs. After studying computer science in Spain, he stumbled upon his passion for digital arts at Horry Georgetown Tech, and since then, he’s been all about helping others express their identity, whether through mentoring or visual design. 

    During the day, he develops websites, focusing on building relationships rather than just making transactions. “I want to grow your business. I want to grow your brand because we’re all part of the same community,” he explains. On weekends, he puts together youth group programs and makes genuine connections with teens. 

    Balancing two jobs and a new baby isn’t easy, but Luis keeps his creativity alive by intentionally carving out time to learn and experiment. He’s open about dealing with impostor syndrome, wondering things like, “Can I even make a website?”, but his motivation and support network, which includes trusted professors and friends, have helped him push through self-doubt. 

    Luis’s journey is one of hard work, purpose, and creativity centered around people. In this episode of Uncharted, he shares how he found a rewarding path later in life, the value of relational business practices, and why he feels at home in South Carolina. Whether you’re diving into a creative career or starting a side hustle, this conversation is a great reminder that true fulfillment comes from pursuing your passions and connecting with your community. 

    Contact

  • Kelley McDonnell

    Kelley McDonnell

    “You should love what you do, because even if you love it, there are still days that feel a little mundane.”

    Kelley McDonnell is a content manager at Visit Myrtle Beach. She channels her passion for storytelling into promoting her hometown’s creative spirit.

    About

    Kelley McDonnell is the content manager at Visit Myrtle Beach, where she leads storytelling and promotional strategy through media, advertisements, and commercial production. A Myrtle Beach native, Kelley’s journey took her across the country from studying film and media at the University of South Carolina to working in LA, Nashville, and Savannah. Returning home, she brought her creative expertise back to a community she deeply cherishes.

    Kelley’s standout moment came when she directed a promo for FX’s The Patient, interviewing Steve Carell, a pivotal experience that cemented her confidence in leading high-level creative work. “I was the person people were asking questions to. I was the one making the decisions,” she said.

    While her day-to-day now includes scheduling, directing, and content creation, Kelley remains driven by gratitude and joy. For her, success is about waking up excited to work and loving what she does. She advises future creatives to trust themselves and pursue what truly excites them, even if the path is uncertain.

    Contact

  • Brooks Leibee

    Brooks Leibee

    “There is no point focusing on doubt.”

    Brooks Leibee is a media composer for TV, film, and interactive media, currently working out of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He describes his role as “virtually building assets that go into another digital process” and is excited by the growing creative community in the region. Originally a filmmaker, he discovered his love for composition during college and now collaborates with local musicians and studios. Leibee defines success as “being happy doing what you’re doing” and believes strongly in the value of creative work in the digital age. 

    About

    Brooks Leibee is a media composer for TV, film, and interactive media, including games. Based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, this is his first year venturing into the field full-time. As one of the few composers in the area, Leibee says the role is niche and the community small, but close-knit. Myrtle Beach’s scene is mostly commercial (ads and promos) but narrative filmmaking is slowly gaining ground, particularly inland South Carolina. 

    Leibee defines success as simply being happy doing the work. Starting out, he worried about location, resources, and industry connections, but says the flexibility of his job now makes it possible to score a Hollywood film from a home built studio. His favorite project so far was a gothic horror short film he scored last year. It featured a cello choir of local musicians from Calabash, NC, and was recorded at Sunset Beach Recording a highlight of regional artistry and collaboration. 

    Leibee says he “lives in his calendar” and likes to do what is called spotting session, where he and the filmmakers decide how music should support the story. Each project, whether film or interactive, has its own unique rhythm. Leibee, who works from home, sees work-life balance as fluid. For him, it’s about making sure to step outside, reset, and take care of himself. “As long as it works for you,” he says, “you’ll find the balance.” 

  • Daniel Kline

    Daniel Kline

    “Just jump in and just do it and learn along the way. Don’t wait until you’re don’t. Don’t wait until you feel ready.”

    Daniel Kline is a fitness coach and writer/producer for Starling media in Conway, South Carolina. Daniel has been professionally making films for two years now and offers great advice for those entering a career in the arts. 

    About

    Daniel Kline values working with people and the passion of filmmaking rather than receiving awards. He is really passionate about people, and says, “I think if I’ve got an award-winning film, but my film was a miserable experience to work on, then I failed.” He wants his product to show love.

    Kline’s most defining moment throughout his career was thanks to his first short film. After spending two years learning the ropes, Kline was urged to finally just go for it and make his own film. He says: “I wrote something that was accessible, that had like a little creative spin on it, and something that we could film like, pretty easily in a weekend…” Kline explains how his local filmmaking community in Greenville, S.C. were amazed at the film he had created, and that it had been entered into film festivals, and won Best Short and Best Director.

    Kline emphasizes the importance of organization, specifically using spreadsheets in a creative career, which he explains helps him stay organized. He also mentions the importance of noting people he enjoyed working with most throughout the community. This helps him to keep in touch, establish projects and nourish connections within his community.