Meet Michael and Jaala Easterling | Filmmaker Duo

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael and Jaala Easterling and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael and Jaala, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
As filmmakers and parents, balancing work and family life has been an amazing journey for us. When our first daughter Gia was born, we were set to direct our movie Deltopia when she was just 3 months old. It was intense shooting all day, then doing the night shift with a newborn. But we made it work.

It was all about fitting everything in wherever we could. We’d be on set one minute and back home for bedtime the next. But the beauty of independent filmmaking is that it gives us flexibility, so we can still be there for the important moments while pushing forward with our film projects.

Our kids inspire us, and they’ve even become part of our creative process. It’s not always easy, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. Being parents has made us better filmmakers, and being filmmakers has made us more resourceful parents.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Each film or music video we’ve created represents so much more than just a finished product. We look back on the memories, the energy on set, the blood, sweat, and tears that went into making each one, and we cherish the whole process. What really drives us is seeing how audiences connect with our work. We aim to create immersive, authentic experiences that move people, make them think, and maybe even see the world in a different way. It’s all about pushing boundaries, embracing the real and raw, and making art that matters. When someone connects with a character or story we’ve brought to life, it’s the best feeling in the world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If our friend was visiting and we wanted to show them a good time we’d plan the week based on the weather. If it’s hot we’d head to the beach. Afterward, we’d grab some drinks and dinner at Cross Creek, where there’s many restaurant options. On a cool day, we’d go for a hike on one of the beautiful trails in Calabasas.

Afterward, we’d stop by Sun Life for a smoothie bowl to refuel. If we’re feeling up for a game, we can grab our rackets and hit up a tennis court, then cool off with a swim at the Calabasas Tennis and Swim Center. In the evening, catch a movie at The Commons in Calabasas. We’re all about good vibes, great food, and a mix of outdoor fun and relaxation.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
We’d love to give a special shoutout to all our family and friends who have supported us along our journey. Also shoutout to all the filmmakers that inspire us and the artists we’ve collaborated with.

Website: www.talkboytv.com www.guerrillastylefilmmaker.com www.deltopiamovie.com

Instagram: instagram.com/talkboytv instagram.com/talkgirltv instagram.com/guerrillastylefilmmaker instagram.com/deltopiamovie

Twitter: x.com/talkboytv x.com/talkgirltv x.com/deltopiamovie

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkboyTV/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/talkboytv

Other: https://vimeo.com/talkboytv

Image Credits
Allea Ruffman