We had the good fortune of connecting with Mason Cade Packer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mason Cade, is there something you believe many others might not?
I’ve never liked “Don’t give up on your dreams!” There’s already too many people pursuing what they can’t handle. I think there’s too many empty-promise filmmakers, too many unskilled photographers, or tasteless painters. And as Whiplash as it might come across, I don’t think we tell people enough when they’re not cut out for something anymore… Although my advice isn’t the opposite, it’s not just to “give up”. It would just be nice to see more self awareness in the world – especially in the world of young artists. To even know when you’re bad at something is an unsung skill. Then you have to recognize if that core inadequacy is a natural talent or a learnt one. If it’s learnt, go and put in the time to get better at it. Read, study, upgrade yourself. Go back to the drawing board if need be. Too many people think a dream is all you kind of need now, or think of it as some idyllic key that opens all doors, but I guess I just disagree with the blanket “Don’t give up on your dreams” because I’ve personally had my dreams in the wrong spot and re-aligned them for the better, and I think others can too. If you feel like you’re not moving forward, maybe you’re going the wrong way?

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a New Zealand-born, Los Angeles-based filmmaker; writer, director, producer and editor – primarily of horror and sci-fi films now, although I think it’d be hard to find a genre I haven’t tried and failed in. Yet in my 25-years on this planet (12 of them making movies) I’ve been lucky to direct over 25 short films, multiple low-budget features, a handful of award-winning documentaries, as well as a sickly array of music videos and commercials. Just recently I finished my film Safe/Sound, a $100,000 40-minute short thriller, which is currently on the festival circuit. I don’t have a dollar to my name personally, so that money was 18-months of grass roots fundraising, favors, and back alley deals (not true). It was a haul to get it funded, and an even bigger haul to get through making it, but my producing partner Micah Winiata and I have our sights set on a few feature horror and sci-fi outings that we hope to bring to the world soon as a result of making this proof-of-concept-esque short.

I also got to where I am through sheer perseverance I think. I left home at age 16 to jump the gun on university, then moved from New Zealand to the United States after that (age 18) to pursue a second degree in filmmaking in Chicago. I’ve never really slowed down since that first departure, and I’m very proud of that. What it all boils down to (and this is true) is that I remember around the age of 13, about when I made my first film, having these two really inspiring but morbid thoughts. The first is that I knew I wanted to make movies for the rest of my life, no doubt about it, even if I end up making shit ones, and the second is that I knew I was bound to die (not sure when, still aren’t), and that time was my enemy. My Mum hates that sentiment but I really do act as though time is this horrible thing out to get me. I almost drowned when I was 5, and we found out a few hours later that some other kid was taken that day instead, at the same beach, in the same spot. I saw a physic recently who reminded me of that, so I feel blessed with extra time and I know that the harder and faster I work, the more I get to create in my lifetime, and that’s what really makes me happy.

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?
I’ve been begging my best friend to visit Los Angeles for years now – and we spent a few good ones together in Chicago before he dipped back home to New Zealand during the pandemic. Now it’s all FaceTimes and business meetings. So here’s what we’d do if he finally caved in:

Monday: Hike at Griffith Park, lunch at All Time, then an old movie at the New Beverly (the worst seating in the world, charming place though)

Tuesday: Motorcycle ride (cuddly!) through the Forest Lawn cemetery grounds (this is actually my favorite secret spot in LA… great for first dates and hunting for baby names on dead people’s slabs), then while we’re in the area we’d hit the decrepit Los Angeles Zoo for their night hours.

Wednesday: Walk around DTLA doing everything in our power to avoid Skid Row!

Thursday: Sorry I’m bored, next question.

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 want to dedicate my shoutout to my brother, Cody. He was the one who taught me all about filmmaking in the first place, who recommended me the inappropriate watches of my early-teens, who machete’d the path forward, from university to college, from country to country. He’s inspired me from the get-go, and for the longest time this fake competition I had in my head between us, this idea that I had to prove myself better than, or equal, to a man 7-years my senior, provided me with all the drive I needed. It’s hard being the younger brother.

Website: https://www.masoncadepacker.com

Instagram: @masoncadepacker

Image Credits
Micah Winiata, Ryan Winnicki, Darius Mackenzie, Luca Turner, Ben Fransham, Chloe Jaques

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