Meet Arcane Haze Boles | Filmmaker & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Arcane Haze Boles and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Arcane Haze, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
I think leaving my hometown in 2021 and moving from Lincoln Nebraska to Los Angeles California to attend the New York Film Academy to pursue my dreams of being filmmaker was the most important decision I have had to make so far in my life.

LA has definitely been an adjustment. The food, the people, the traffic, I don’t think visiting here to LA really does justice to how diverse this city is. I enjoy it here in LA – it has presented me with new friendships, connections, and opportunities that I likely wouldn’t ever have been able to get if I was not out here. The term “its about who you know” is true. Network, network, network.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to come out here and further my education, do something I love and immerse myself in my new home.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I grew up in Nebraska, the heart of the Midwest, in a free-range artistic home, with no shortage of creative influence. I was born into a family full of artistic talent that built the foundation of my visual style. My upbringing emphasized taking time to be present in each moment, full-immersion in everything, appreciating details and never-wasting the time we have.

I grew up in Nebraska, the heart of the Midwest, in a free-range artistic home, with no shortage of creative influence. I was born into a family full of artistic talent that built the foundation of my visual style. My upbringing emphasized taking time to be present in each moment, full-immersion in everything, appreciating details and never-wasting the time we have.

I’ve done commercial projects too. The most enjoyable has been promotion & performance videos for Boots & Cats (an acapella group from The University of Nebraska – Lincoln) and designing dynamic record covers for a local rapper, Jakobii Miller. Project-based work has challenged me to work within the bounds of someone else’s vision while still producing something true to myself. Since coming to Los Angeles. I have crewed on 13 short films, and directed a commercial and 2 of my own films.

Rounding out my list of education, skills, and experiences is my 16 years of competitive tennis. I attribute my determination, grit and discipline to the years I spent on the tennis court. I learned to fail. And I learned to go right back to the drawing board and find a way to succeed. I played my way through the individual competition and the team and player dynamics in high school. Our team ultimately won a state championship. In college, I navigated through organizational politics, fundraising for charity, and in the end, we won our conference championship for the first time in 38 years. If I could pinpoint one thing tennis has taught me, I would say it’s shown me that there will always be mental and physical obstacles that you may encounter in life, but if you keep focused and dig your heels in, hard work always pays off in the end.

All of these things help make up who I am and direct my future path. I believe that time is the most precious, nonrenewable commodity, more than money or material possessions. This belief shapes my approach to life and learning: Why waste time on anything that doesn’t make you happy?

Getting to know who I am as a person and artist will be a lifelong pursuit, but I learn more each day. I want to pursue my passion over a paycheck, apply a hard work ethic and enjoy the grind. My style is driven by abstract, gritty, full-sensory design that leans towards intense hues and varying tones to express movement and depth. Rarely subtle, my work hopes to grab you by the shoulders and wake up your senses. My visual perspective thrives on change.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Great question, I get asked this a lot now that I am out here. A week long trip in the city. hmmm.

I would start with breakfast at Fratelli’s Cafe on Melrose, I would then hit up the thrifting and vintage stores around melrose and hollywood. “Due Date” has a lot of quality tees. After that I would show them a hike around Westwood, maybe explore UCLA. Finally I would say we should eat dinner at The Cara Hotel off of Hollywood Blvd. Some of the best food and service.

The next day, definitely make your way down to Thousand Steps beach in Laguna Beach, to die for. The sunsets are unmatched.

A few other spots to grab some great food, specifically Thai food. Check out the Thai Patio in Thai Town and Ruam Mitr on melrose. A great spot. For American cuisine check out Hillstone in Santa Monica, always lively and always delicious.

Lastly, if youre into the night life and late nights. Sound Nightclub is always hitting on the weekends, as well as the Moroccan Lounge for a more intimate feel.

Honestly you cant go to wrong here in LA. Every night there is something to do. The world is LITERALLY at your fingertips.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have so many people to Shoutout the list is endless. I could go with my parents who have been instrumental in creating a path for me to grow as a person, artist and man, but I think my Grandmother Jan takes the cake. She was my first inspiration. She showed me the world in a different way, through art and genuine love. From the moment I was old enough, we were coloring, drawing and painting. By grade school, we were taking trips to the art gallery to find inspiration. She guided me to recognize and develop my personal artistic style. Like her mother and grandmother before, Grandma was a painter, but she also was a middle school teacher and later a guidance counselor. I watched as she consistently chose to work at underfunded schools and with the most challenging kids because she saw them as untapped potential. She taught me that in art and in life, everything doesn’t have to be perfect; beauty is in the imperfections. I found this hard to learn at first, but she was always there to point me in the right direction. I can now appreciate the imperfect details that make each creative piece unique. When she passed away, I found myself stuck and struggling artistically in her absence. Remembering what she taught me helped me find my way back to my art and continues to influence my filmmaking today.

Website: arcanehazeboles.com

Instagram: @arcanehazeboles

Facebook: Arcane Haze Boles

Youtube: HAZE

Image Credits
photos by https://www.instagram.com/antonsinitsyn_/