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

Hi Charles, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
This is a great question for me because I deal with it on a daily basis. First, on the personal side, let me say that I’ve been married for 23 years this November. I also have a daughter that just graduated from College this past Spring. For LA Standards, my wife and I had our daughter “early” in our life, but I can honestly say that having a family has helped my career, but I could never get my single or childless friends to understand that. Second, on the Work side, I am an Independent producer / writer / director, as well as a Hollywood editor in the Motion Picture Editor’s guild. I work on films and TV Shows. Finally, I also teach filmmaking, editing and film aesthetics in both four-year Universities and community colleges, full-time and as an adjunct. Okay, so now you know both sides of who I am. Let’s talk about how I’ve balance them throughout my career.

In my twenties I had “all the time in the world” to work and boy did I. I had “no life” but that’s okay at that age. I worked around the clock as an editor and independent producer. I made my first feature at age 27 and by the time we finished post-production on Mr. Lucke, I was a husband and father, so timing was key! I think the universe gives you just as much as you can handle and life has a way of saying “okay, you’ve pursued your dream, not look at your personal life.” I would vote that one helps the other. Here’s a perfect example, let’s go a little back in time. In many ways, meeting my wife in the mid nineties gave me the confidence to pursue my dream of my first feature, In fact we were shooting Mr. Lucke just after 7 months our our meeting. Paula helped me too as a producer and costume designer. So, if you’ve got a passion for something you’ve got to find someone that helps you and knows how important it is to you. I would not have married if I felt she would resist it. Then, knowing that our daughter was “on the way” gave me an incentive to finish the film, producing an indie feature with no money is not easy, just in time for her birth. Again, life and work complement each other, they complete you and I don’t believe that one has to be sacrificed for the other.

The last thing I’ll say is that our jobs, throughout our lives, change a lot more often in life than “they” told us we would. I think the secret is to see each job as a way to shift the balance back and fourth between personal life and work. For example, when I am directing my independent films, or editing a big Hollywood film, I have no personal life, and I accept that, but I know it’s short-lived. My family understands. However, when things slow down, I make up for the lost weekends by spending more time with them. When I was teaching I had more time at home, which was also nice. In fact, during a recent guest lecture I gave, the instructor asked me to share with his film class what my secret was for being married for so long, ha, ha! He felt that information was more important to the students than how to write a script. When I write my scripts in the morning I do it when they are sleeping, so I don’t take time away from them, that’s another trick too. My daughter has even helped me on my last two feature films, both Come Together and My Apocalyptic Thanksgiving, so now both my wife and my daughter are involved, which is important. I feel truly blessed to been able to balance both a career and a family.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a filmmaker but I started exploring the other arts when I was younger and still do to this day. I got into a specialized art high school, I took acting lessons, I played guitar and piano and I’m always writing. I enjoy learning everything I can about film and I think that helps “expand your pallet.” I’m most excited about my feature films, Mr. Lucke, Come Together and the soon-to-be-released My Apocalyptic Thanksgiving. All three films took years to make and seeing my films released domestically and in six countries across the globe is awesome. I don’t make a lot of money but the little checks I get mean a lot because it validates me, yes, I am a professional filmmaker.

I’ve learned a lot along the way. Follow your instinct and trust your gut, even if it seems crazy. Get back to that young spirit we all had when we were kids where we did something just because we wanted to. Ha, it’s never easy, but then it would not be worth it if it was. I want others to be inspired by their individual stories and their own experiences.

I think a person’s experiences is a reflection of their art. I grew up an army brat so I lived in many places and saw some wonderful things that all shaped how I see the world. Many times artists compete with each other but it doesn’t make any sense to me because we’re all so different, therefore how we see things is different. Don’t compare yourself to others, compete to be the best version of yourself. The key that has always driven me is this, “find something that bring out your strengths and hide your weaknesses.”

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.
Ha, well, I guess I’d have to say “what kind of friend is this?” Everyone is different and I’d have a different Itinerary for each friend, because I know they’d all like to see different things. I’d take some for a walk, some would go with me to work at the studios, we’d see movies of course, and then hang out at restaurants to talk about those movies. Sorry, I hope that answers it.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would first have to say that my dad and mom were great inspirations as far as life and work. They both helped me in their own ways to become a filmmaker. My dad inspired me with drawing pictures (storyboards) and my mom helped me type up some of my scripts and both helped me shoot my early super-8 shoots. Finally, my brother who was there to encourage, help and inspire. Additionally, I’d have to say that studying up on other filmmakers with books helped me to realize that I could have both family. Finally, I got to work with my talented editors who also had families. We all need mentors to show us the way and I was fortunate to have many.

Website: https://www.myapocalypticthanksgiving.com/. http://www.cometogetherfilm.com/

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

Hi Charles, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
This is a great question for me because I deal with it on a daily basis. First, on the personal side, let me say that I’ve been married for 23 years this November. I also have a daughter that just graduated from College this past Spring. For LA Standards, my wife and I had our daughter “early” in our life, but I can honestly say that having a family has helped my career, but I could never get my single or childless friends to understand that. Second, on the Work side, I am an Independent producer / writer / director, as well as a Hollywood editor in the Motion Picture Editor’s guild. I work on films and TV Shows. Finally, I also teach filmmaking, editing and film aesthetics in both four-year Universities and community colleges, full-time and as an adjunct. Okay, so now you know both sides of who I am. Let’s talk about how I’ve balance them throughout my career.

In my twenties I had “all the time in the world” to work and boy did I. I had “no life” but that’s okay at that age. I worked around the clock as an editor and independent producer. I made my first feature at age 27 and by the time we finished post-production on Mr. Lucke, I was a husband and father, so timing was key! I think the universe gives you just as much as you can handle and life has a way of saying “okay, you’ve pursued your dream, not look at your personal life.” I would vote that one helps the other. Here’s a perfect example, let’s go a little back in time. In many ways, meeting my wife in the mid nineties gave me the confidence to pursue my dream of my first feature, In fact we were shooting Mr. Lucke just after 7 months our our meeting. Paula helped me too as a producer and costume designer. So, if you’ve got a passion for something you’ve got to find someone that helps you and knows how important it is to you. I would not have married if I felt she would resist it. Then, knowing that our daughter was “on the way” gave me an incentive to finish the film, producing an indie feature with no money is not easy, just in time for her birth. Again, life and work complement each other, they complete you and I don’t believe that one has to be sacrificed for the other.

The last thing I’ll say is that our jobs, throughout our lives, change a lot more often in life than “they” told us we would. I think the secret is to see each job as a way to shift the balance back and fourth between personal life and work. For example, when I am directing my independent films, or editing a big Hollywood film, I have no personal life, and I accept that, but I know it’s short-lived. My family understands. However, when things slow down, I make up for the lost weekends by spending more time with them. When I was teaching I had more time at home, which was also nice. In fact, during a recent guest lecture I gave, the instructor asked me to share with his film class what my secret was for being married for so long, ha, ha! He felt that information was more important to the students than how to write a script. When I write my scripts in the morning I do it when they are sleeping, so I don’t take time away from them, that’s another trick too. My daughter has even helped me on my last two feature films, both Come Together and My Apocalyptic Thanksgiving, so now both my wife and my daughter are involved, which is important. I feel truly blessed to been able to balance both a career and a family.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a filmmaker but I started exploring the other arts when I was younger and still do to this day. I got into a specialized art high school, I took acting lessons, I played guitar and piano and I’m always writing. I enjoy learning everything I can about film and I think that helps “expand your pallet.” I’m most excited about my feature films, Mr. Lucke, Come Together and the soon-to-be-released My Apocalyptic Thanksgiving. All three films took years to make and seeing my films released domestically and in six countries across the globe is awesome. I don’t make a lot of money but the little checks I get mean a lot because it validates me, yes, I am a professional filmmaker.

I’ve learned a lot along the way. Follow your instinct and trust your gut, even if it seems crazy. Get back to that young spirit we all had when we were kids where we did something just because we wanted to. Ha, it’s never easy, but then it would not be worth it if it was. I want others to be inspired by their individual stories and their own experiences.

I think a person’s experiences is a reflection of their art. I grew up an army brat so I lived in many places and saw some wonderful things that all shaped how I see the world. Many times artists compete with each other but it doesn’t make any sense to me because we’re all so different, therefore how we see things is different. Don’t compare yourself to others, compete to be the best version of yourself. The key that has always driven me is this, “find something that bring out your strengths and hide your weaknesses.”

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.
Ha, well, I guess I’d have to say “what kind of friend is this?” Everyone is different and I’d have a different Itinerary for each friend, because I know they’d all like to see different things. I’d take some for a walk, some would go with me to work at the studios, we’d see movies of course, and then hang out at restaurants to talk about those movies. Sorry, I hope that answers it.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would first have to say that my dad and mom were great inspirations as far as life and work. They both helped me in their own ways to become a filmmaker. My dad inspired me with drawing pictures (storyboards) and my mom helped me type up some of my scripts and both helped me shoot my early super-8 shoots. Finally, my brother who was there to encourage, help and inspire. Additionally, I’d have to say that studying up on other filmmakers with books helped me to realize that I could have both family. Finally, I got to work with my talented editors who also had families. We all need mentors to show us the way and I was fortunate to have many.

Website: https://www.myapocalypticthanksgiving.com/. http://www.cometogetherfilm.com/ http://mrlucke.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ungerfilms

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charles.unger.77

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpaKw0Zs62ddysQdgSJqYYg

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0881135/

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