Meet Craig Ouellette | Filmmaker, World Traveler, DJ

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

Hi Craig, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
The definition of success for me is a complex thing and has changed over time. As a filmmaker, it used to be something like “Win Sundance. Sell movie for millions. Break box office records. Win Academy Award” — all with the first film. Welllll…. life doesn’t always work out how we plan does it?
Over time I have realized that success isn’t something that comes from the outside, such as the above, but something that comes from the inside. Success is doing something I love (be it creative, travel, humanitarian) with people I love and admire, and living life on my terms, trying to make the world a better place with each and every interaction.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a huge fan of suspense in movies. That feeling when we are on the edge of our seat, and can’t take a breath until the final moments of any movie, TV show, Book, Play, Song anything. There is an art and a craft to making the audience care and then putting them through hell, so they can come out the other side. And what makes something suspenseful is that we actually care about the people involved.
That they are human’s that are beautiful and terrible, perfect and flawed all at once.

I make horror, thriller, action, sci-fi and other genre films. (On top of documentaries and other stories too!), but I tend to gravitate towards stories that somehow tackle challenging subjects. It would be great if I could just make a simple slasher where everyone dies and we all laugh about it… but I tend to want to dive deeper. I want to explore and challenge what makes people act the way they do. Be it exploring LGBTQ+ stories, PTSD, Mental Illness, Race Relations. Somehow subjects like these are the backbone of the stories that I tell. And the reason I love to tell them in Genre films is that it allows people to explore in more direct ways than a straight drama, while still giving people something entertaining to watch. It’s a balancing act, because getting preachy is not the goal. A movie that preaches often fails as a story, because it is only talking to one side of the issue. Whether I succeed or not is up to the viewer, but it is artistcally fulfilling for me to go for it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Griffith Park. We are so blessed in LA to have such an incredible place in the middle of the city with views, nature, trails and it’s so close (well, at least to where I live in North Hollywood!).
I love the Angeles Crest Forest, TCL Chinese Theater, Westward Beach in Malibu. Recently I hung out in the “Riviera” at the south end of Redondo Beach and into Palos Verdes, I felt like I was on the other side of the world!
LA is great for so much nature!

For cafe’s or drinks, Aroma Cafe in Toluca Lake has the best paio. Idle Hour in No Ho.
The Falls Lounge in Downtown LA is great for Karaoke on Sunday nights. (Okay, I host it, so come on down! lol).

The Ilyiad bookstore in No Ho is an amazing used book store.

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’m grateful for so many people who have been a part of my journey so far, great friends, my family, my favorite directing teacher Judith Weston. Kate NIN Vegas, Daniel Kraus, my Mom. (Do we have pages and pages for this part? 🙂

Website: www.craigofilm.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/craigofilm

Facebook: www.facebook.com/craigofilm

Youtube: www.youtube.com/craigofilm

Image Credits
Craig Ouellette