Meet Georgia Snow Nicholas | Director/Writer/Actor/Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Georgia Snow Nicholas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Georgia Snow, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
There is nothing easy about pursuing a creative career. Most of the time I feel like I am failing or worse plateauing. I credit this to the warped way in which we are all taught to think about success. What is success really? Is it fame? Winning an award? Making a lot of money? The definition of success according to the New Oxford American Dictionary is “the accomplishment of an aim or purpose”. So one way to measure success as an artist simply comes down to making the art you want to make. That said, there is no shame or harm in wanting to win an award or make a lot of money but that shouldn’t determine whether or not you are succeeding in life.

I do not have enough fingers to count how many times I have considered giving up on my career as a filmmaker. I look at my peers and it is so difficult not to compare myself to them. Everyone’s path is different and that is what makes each of us unique. Why should I, at age 27, have already created my magnum opus? I mean wouldn’t that be so boring? When I want to give up I remind myself that one day I am going to die. The intent isn’t to be morbid or existential but rather to inspire myself. Time is often the artist’s enemy, but it doesn’t have to be! Time is all we have! And I know that in my final moments I will feel so much more fulfilled knowing I pursued my dreams than I would be knowing I gave up.

Take it day by day my people. Instead of beating yourself up because your friend won an award, celebrate them! As long as you remain passionate and true to yourself I believe that you will end up right where you need to be.

Please tell us more about your art. 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 think what sets me apart from others is my willingness to change. Growing up my family moved a lot. By the time I’d graduated high school I had lived in five different states and three countries outside the US. At one point I had been to seven schools in eight years. Consistency wasn’t a part of my life vocabulary, and there were times when that was really challenging. But today, I could not be more thankful for my childhood because it made me the filmmaker that I am today. I learned to adapt, to embrace change and to pursue adventure.

A lot of my friends get caught up trying to figure out who they are as a filmmaker. I’ve heard so many people talk about the importance of having a specific voice and knowing exactly what it is you want to say. There seems to be a lot pressure around having a clear and cohesive brand… and it’s stress inducing! In my opinion, branding exists to put people in a box. Branding makes you easier to digest as an artist, easier for other people to stereotype you and know what to do or say about you. In a way, branding exists completely for other people and has nothing to do with yourself. That said, don’t get me wrong, branding is super important and can be essential when pitching a project or trying to make money. I just think that as an artist, if I’m constantly trying to be cohesive with my brand, I am really just limiting my potential.

I could lose sleep over the question “what do you want to say to the world?”. I mean, I’m 27 and I feel like a baby and every day I want to say something different. So that’s what I do, I try new things. Every movie I have made has been completely different. If I really wanted to, maybe I could draw some similarities between them, but really I’m just learning. I’m experimenting and expressing myself and figuring out what works and what doesn’t with every new project I take on. Sometimes I want to make something raw, other days I want slapstick comedy, and sometimes I want dreamy magic and whimsy. I take a risk and choose my own adventure, I let myself play.

It is so easy to worry about what people will think of your work and that sort of anxiety can be crippling or even creatively paralyzing. There have been periods of my life where I have had to fight off ego and fear every single day for weeks and weeks and weeks. But if I’ve learned anything in my short time on this planet it is that the projects I’ve been most proud of are the ones I made as wild experiments, free of constant doubt.

People talk about having trusting your gut – would say hell yeah, definitely do that. You have to believe in yourself to get anywhere in life and as an artist that belief goes a long way. Trusting your gut allows you to have your unique voice effortlessly, it is inevitable. Inviting change into your work can be intimidating and challenging and often times I can be my own worst enemy, but at the end of the day I believe in me. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for my willingness to change and I’m only at the beginning!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am an Eastside girl through and through. LA can be a difficult city to navigate as a tourist, the best spots are not obvious and the city overall is not the most user-friendly. Below is my “Newbies Guide to the Eastside”.

E C H O P A R K:
Eat: Bacetti
Drink: Bar Flores
Hang: Stories Books & Cafe
Shop: Cookbook

S I L V E R L A K E:
Eat: Pine & Crane
Drink: Pharmacie du Vin
Hang: Silverlake Meadows
Shop: Lake

L O S F E L I Z:
Eat: Kismet Rotisserie
Drink: Pinky’s
Hang: Barnsdall Art Park
Shop: Y Que Trading Post

H I G H L A N D P A R K:
Eat: Amara Kitchen
Drink: The Goldline
Hang: The Hermosillo
Shop: The Bearded Beagle

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 dedicate my shoutout to Sarah Ruhl who’s style of writing and wit deeply resonate with me. To Gabriel Garcia Marquez for his magic and ability to see beauty in life’s subtleties, drama, and even darkness.

Lastly I dedicate this shoutout to a quote I first heard in high school:
“Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion, you must set yourself on fire.” -Arnold H Glasow

Website: www.georgiasnownicholas.com

Instagram: @georgia_snow_nicholas

Other: Instagram for creative direction/writing etc: @ggrockstar