Meet Lucas McGowen | Film Director

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

Hi Lucas, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I believe one’s greatest strength is often one’s greatest weakness, a double edged sword. In my case, that’s relevant because I tend to see story and art in every moment of my life, which means I rarely stop working and creating. Over time, I would say that what has changed is my ability to embrace this quality about myself, and use it to my advantage, as well as to surround myself with people who understand and value me for the way I am.  Every day I seem to be drawn into the creative process of telling stories, whether I’m shooting, writing, drawing, coaching actors, socializing, traveling, or just receiving inspiration from being alive. I have very little separation between my work life, social life, and personal life. It’s all just a big swirl. And while that can be frustrating at times, the journey of constantly creating brings deep gifts into my life as well. It is a way of continuously exploring myself and refining my relationship with my own story or journey, as well as deepening my connection with the human experience on a collective level. For better or worse, I see my work as an intrinsic part of who I am. It’s what gets me out of bed every morning and what helps me make sense of the complex world we live in.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
All forms of artistic expression, be it film, music, visual art, or writing, are what dominate my professional pursuits. One of my favorite quotes is from Picasso, “art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”  I think this is the most efficacious explanation of the abstract powers and purpose of art that I’ve come across. It’s followed closely with this one from Plato: “Human beings are meaning seeking creatures.” To me, this really speaks to the purpose of storytelling, and why we as humans have such a need for it: it helps us find meaning, which is crucial for a sense of wellbeing. My films are most often described as dark comedies, or serious comedies, and that accurately reflects my perspective on life, which I find to be as hilarious as it is harrowing. There is no life without death, no light without the darkness.

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.
I live in the mountains northwest of LA, and in my opinion these mountains and the stretch of coastline running from Santa Monica to Big Sur is some of the most beautiful terrain in the world. Topanga Canyon, Malibu, Ojai and Santa Barbara have magical spots for hiking, surfing, camping, mountain biking, and hot springing, but even just a day spent lounging on Zuma beach is a must. I would balance that with some of what LA has to offer culturally, like restaurants, galleries, and live music. I love the Laemmle movie theater in Santa Monica for their curation of independent cinema. The pizza at Gjelina, the pasta at Uovo, and my favorite sushi spot Big Brother’s in Woodland Hills. I also love the Gagosian, Jeffrey Deitch gallery, and Hauser and Wirth in the DTLA Arts district.

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?
Over the years I have had many teachers and friends who saw my potential and helped me realize it, and there’s a small handful of individuals that jump to mind at this question. My mother, Lindsay, a painter, who always supported my total freedom and unique expression. I don’t know who I would be if I hadn’t been exposed to the creative process at an early age. My first acting teacher, Zisan Ugurlu at The New School in NYC, who helped me realize that performing was an intrinsic part of my artistic expression. My first professional film job was as Beyonce’s personal videographer; being thrown into that mix and seeing firsthand how her tireless work ethic and dedication to her art is the backbone of everything she creates, really forged within me an understanding of the rigour and devotion that being an artist requires. An entrepreneur named John Zelenka, with whom I started one of the first cinema drone companies in NYC. That venture lasted about five years, and in that time I piloted heavy lift drones for many major feature films and learned how real movies are made, which was an invaluable part of my journey. A man named Aaron Royers, at the time the EP of Russell Simmons’ production company ‘Narrative’ gave me my first commercial directing opportunity with an unwieldy spot for Oreo that involved several 200 foot barges and the Guinness Book of World Records. The inimitable Mehdi Zollo, EP of Fat King Films, who was, and continues to be, a big support in my life. The last shoutout goes to my ‘uncle’ Josh Horwitz, a PEN award winning non-fiction author who is actually my grandfather’s third wife’s sister’s son. Josh has supported my creative endeavors from the very beginning, and is always engaged with and curious about what I am up to. He’s one of my central sounding boards when I have new ideas and new pieces of work to share.

Website: http://www.lucasmcgowen.com/

Instagram: @lucasmcgowen

Other: https://vimeo.com/lucasmcgowen