We had the good fortune of connecting with Charlotte Kennett and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Charlotte, please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I’m a queer writer and director based in Los Angeles, California. Originally from a small mountain town in New Hampshire (population 2,410) I’m an expert at all things redneck, driving in inclement weather, small town gossip, and breaking for moose! I’d like to believe what sets me apart from other filmmakers is my specific set of lived experiences. A lot of my work is in a comedic vein. I’m the most drawn to writing and directing dark comedies because they allow the film to become a sneaky vessel for all the complex feelings I’m trying to unpack. So much of filmmaking, for me, is therapy. With every project I create, I’m purging something. Film has become my religion. I don’t give up anything for lent but I’ll give up everything for my film.
I’d say I’m the most proud of my queer dark comedy short Psycho Baby that I’ve been tirelessly working on during the pandemic. I’m excited to announce it will FINALLY be done this summer (July 2022)! The short film sits at roughly 24 minutes in length and I can’t wait for everyone to watch. I really took my time working on Psycho Baby (arguably too much time) but I finally feel ready for the world to see it. And of course, I’m already moving forward with other narrative projects (as every director must) and I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be directing two features next year (the first one will be my feature debut)!
Recently, I’ve been directing a lot of music videos for Sony and Columbia Records — and that’s been super rewarding. It’s really nice to have your visual work viewed and appreciated on a larger scale. I also love the quick turnaround of a music video, unlike a narrative film, you get to see the end result of a music video within a couple weeks (at most)! The immediacy of a music video is the perfect scratch for my impatience.
It would be tremendously difficult to pin down an exact reason, event, or job that led me to where I am today. I feel like I got to where I am by working extremely hard — and when there were no opportunities for me anywhere… I made them for myself. Such a big part of making it as a working “director” is the ability to go find the work for yourself. The secret is pitching yourself to everyone you meet and hoping that one of those people remember your name when an opportunity pops up. And when the opportunity does pop up… you gotta do a damn good job. Blow them away. You only get a few chances to really blow people away.
The challenges of working as a director and writer are many and even though I’ve had a lot of amazing jobs and gigs, I always feel like I’m somehow still falling behind the 8-ball and wondering how I can do more at a higher level and get further. I’ve wrestled with it for some time now — but I think part of being an artist is constantly questioning yourself. Nearly driving yourself crazy like: “Am I good enough?” Then going out there and proving to yourself that are. You’re good enough and you deserve to be here.
I’m always learning hard lessons… I swear I’ve never had an easy one! Some lessons I’ve learned and rules to live by: Always show up on time and with a great attitude. It takes years to gain a good reputation and only a minute to lose it. As a leader you need to make sure everyone on your team and in your crew feels valued. Don’t ever leave a set not knowing everyone’s name and something important about them.
Working in the entertainment industry has its glittery moments… but truthfully there are more dark and dull moments than glittery ones (at least in the beginning of one’s career). This might come as a surprise to hometown friends and family who see Hollywood as a land full of glitz, glamour, sun, opportunity and ease. But the bottom line remains true: Hollywood is a tough place. Many creatives (myself included) constantly play mental Russian Roulette with ourselves: Do we keep going? Or do we give up? Should we go home and just chalk it up to a decade of our life? The gun is always loaded. But waking up in Hollywood means seeing another day. Another day where we go out there, give our all, and try. All in the name of creating art and magic! And on the days that we wake up and we feel like we’re all out of “try” well then it’s time to take a nap or go on a vacation.
In short, I don’t really allow myself to consider “giving up”. I don’t have a back up plan. All I’ve ever wanted to do is direct and write. If the time ever should ever come that Hollywood isn’t for me anymore well… I don’t see that as giving up.
Hollywood makes you a fighter. So if you leave Hollywood… you leave a fighter. And I hope you don’t give up but if you do it wasn’t because you weren’t good enough for this place. This place wasn’t good enough for you.
In Hollywood the cards are always stacked against you… unless your name is Cooper (not a real person) and your uncle is a Partner at WME. But most of us are dreamers without nepotism helping us along — and dream we will. You must make your own luck in Hollywood. And if you want to beat all the Coopers’ of Hollywood… you must never give up.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The trip would start off with us hanging out on my front patio and catching up for hours over tea and coffee. I want a full recap from my visiting best friend! I’m sure I haven’t seen them in forever! WTF! After a full 3-4 hour catch up we would embark on an afternoon of adventuring around Los Angeles. We’d go walk around the Huntington Gardens in the early afternoon (one of my favorite spots). Walking around the gardens there makes me feel like I’m in Europe and living in Los Angeles … one needs to find what I call “fake escapes”. After walking around Huntington, I would then take my BFFL to lunch at either Sqirl or Monty’s because those are two of my favorite places to eat (both in Silverlake/ Echo Park area). After lunch we’d go do a little bit of thrifting because I’m a thrift queen and love a good deal (who doesn’t)! One of my favorite vintage stores in all of Los Angeles is called Revival (it’s in Highland Park) and it’s only open on the weekends. Once we thrifted for a while (2 hours or so) I’d take my bestie for an afternoon coffee at Maru in Los Feliz #creamtop.
Once we were feeling alive again from our coffees we would head up to Barnsdall Art Park where we would picnic, lay on blankets, talk and read. A total MOMENT. We would wait for the sun to set because it’s absolutely magical up there when the sun goes down.
After sunset, we would head back to mine for a COSTUME CHANGE and get ready for an evening out on the town. If driving wasn’t a thing and we could teleport we would go for dinner in the valley at Ernie’s Mexican Restaurant (a hidden gem) and then we’d hit a few fun bars like 4100 Bar or Black Cat. If there was a cool comedy show at the Lyric Hyperion maybe we’d swing in there. But most likely we’d head home early because we love to sleep more than we like to party. So glad my BFF is in town! <3
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to formally thank every piece of art, literature, book, magazine, film, tv show, song, or zine I’ve ever experienced. I’m sure I forgot an important category. But seriously… I want to thank every person who considers themselves an artist (and even those who don’t)! The works of other artists are what inspire me and keep me moving forward. I’ll read a poem and suddenly know how to fix a scene I’m writing in my feature. I’ll go to an interactive museum show and suddenly feel alive again… quickly snapping out of a depressive period. I wouldn’t want to be alive on this planet (especially right now) without other artists. We all need each other. And maybe we aren’t grateful enough for each other… but god would the world be a lonely place without dancers, painters, filmmakers, writers, singers, etc. I’d also like to thank my community of film creatives in both Los Angeles and Chicago (you know who you are). We all raise each other up. Without community you don’t have much of anything. It’s impossible to make anything of much value without a great team or people who are eternally in your corner. There are far too many people to thank in a single paragraph (seriously way too many) but I’ll start by thanking Adele, Madeline, and Kelsey. My cinema girlies (all of us are writers and directors) but regardless of our similar career pursuits we love, support, and always have each other’s backs. AS IT SHOULD BE. But I’ve never known that kind of non-competitive love until I met them. Thank you all for showing me what that looks like and making me an even better leader.
Website: https://www.charlottekennett.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlotte.kennett/?hl=en
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/sleeplate
Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7993335/