Meet Chae Talley | Film Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chae Talley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chae, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
I think that the most important lesson I ever learned was just how important actually living your life is for your art and your career. We have been raised in a culture that encourages workaholism and admonishes those who choose to be iconoclasts and pursue the nonconventional.

One year I was laser-focused and hell-bent on joining one of the house teams at the Upright Citizens Brigade. I was on 3 different improv teams, taking 2 classes simultaneously and doing boot-camp/drop-in workshops with whatever time was left over. You’d think this is the part where I became a master of the craft, rocketed to the top and became a paragon of success in the world of comedy — well it’s not. I completely stalled and bottomed out.

Not only was I not getting better, I got worse. Quickly.

Finally, I pulled one of my teachers aside after class. I explained to them my day-to-day routine and asked what more I could be doing. “More?!” he laughed, “You need to be doing less. So much less. Really what you need is to go live your frickin’ life.”

What he helped me to understand is that by entirely consuming myself in the institution of learning, that was all that I could ever tap into when it came time to create. Theory, practicums, lessons. Everything I created was a hollow regurgitation of what the “ideal” result should be, lacking any semblance of depth.

Inspiration comes from experiencing life in its fullest.

The simplest way to demonstrate this is to imagine trying to explain a sunset to someone without ever having seen one yourself.

The long and short of it is this: go out and live your life.

Put your phone away and go get lost in a neighborhood or city you have never been in before. Look up at the architecture, try to hear every single sound happening around you, strike up a conversation with a stranger with no other intention except getting to know them.

These are the moments that will shape you and your art — moments you will hold on to forever.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My passion for storytelling started at a young age, and over the years, it’s blossomed into a career that’s fueled by creativity and a desire to connect with audiences.

My directorial debut, “Goodbye to Yesterday” (2021), was a defining moment in my career. The film took the awards circuit by storm, earning over 50 accolades, including “Best Short Film”, “Best Director”, and “Best Original Story”. It was an incredible honor to see my work resonate so deeply with audiences and critics alike, and it definitely set the stage for where I am today. I continue to push boundaries with my unique vision, always looking for new ways to tell stories that move and inspire.

Before diving into filmmaking, I spent my teenage years honing my creative instincts as a stand-up comic, starting at just 15 years old in NYC. That experience taught me so much about timing, storytelling, and connecting with people — lessons that continue to influence my work behind the camera.

My first real taste of the industry was creating “Thank You For Your Patients”, a made-for-TV comedy pilot that won “Best TV Series” at the LA Film Awards. Whether I’m working on a film or a TV project, I always strive to create engaging, multi-dimensional characters and stories that leave a lasting impression.

Every project is a chance for me to push myself further, and I’m excited for the journey ahead.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people who have played a pivotal role in helping me stay grounded and pushing me forward in this industry.

First and foremost, my girlfriend Shaina has been my unwavering support throughout the incredibly challenging years of graduate school. Not only has she been my rock, but as a fellow artist, her relentless dedication to her craft motivates me to push myself every day. Her influence in my life goes beyond just emotional support—she’s helped shape my perspective on what it means to be truly committed to your art.

My family has also been a constant source of encouragement, especially on the difficult days when I consider leaving it all behind for a more stable corporate job. Their belief in me, even when I doubt myself, keeps me on track and reminds me why I started this journey in the first place.

I’m also incredibly grateful for my collaborators, both in front of the camera and behind it. Their willingness to take risks and dive into any project I bring their way keeps me inspired. They challenge me to be better, and they’ve taught me that great work is a product of trust and shared vision.

But most importantly, I owe a great deal to my cohort at USC SCA. To be surrounded by such raw talent and ambition is a blessing. Every day, I’m amazed by their creativity and work ethic. They are the hardest-working people I know, yet they balance that with kindness and compassion. Being part of this group keeps me focused on pushing my own limits, and I’m constantly learning from their unique voices and perspectives.

I feel lucky to be surrounded by people who are more talented than I am, not as a source of competition, but as a benchmark for greatness. They inspire me to keep striving for the next level, and I’ll always consider myself fortunate to be in such incredible company.

Website: https://vimeo.com/650966839

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaetalley/

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6883563/

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/how-a-server-at-la-sushi-spot-katana-cast-40-workers-his-tv-pilot-1160823/