Meet Robert Kurt Fenske | Casting & Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Robert Kurt Fenske and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Robert Kurt, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
In the most concise way possible, I think risk is the act of breaking away from the status quo. While certain ideas may fumble it’s important to remember that whatever is embraced will be your calling card.

In terms of risk in my writing and casting career I think it’s important to tap into authentic experiences that really speak to niche audiences. It may seem like a novel idea now, but we are going against decades worth of cultural language that does not define audiences. In some ways we’re still in the ‘Wild West’ days of diversity in content creation.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The main element I enjoy about filmmaking is just how different the conditions are on a daily basis and the ability to concisely adjust to them. A smooth running set is made only possible from the hours or meetings in pre-production where everything that could go wrong is considered and a contingency plan is made for it. Over the years I have worked in almost every department and that in turn has allowed me to really understand the needs and wants of every department.

I originally come from a tight nit group of independent filmmakers in Arizona where everybody was working several positions at once. As our ideas got larger with each project we realized that it was important that we focus on specific skill sets while filling in the gaps with new members. So I ended up being the one to schedule shoots and fill out permits.

Most recently, my spare time is consumed with film festival submissions for my most recent short film that I wrote and produced, “The Postcard”. It follows a dive bar waitress and frequent patron drifting through life hoping to reconcile their past lives in order to move on. It’s my most vulnerable story so far, with a tender look at the human connection many of us are yearning for.

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 come from a smaller city in northern Arizona so it’s really impressive that there is always something to do here! A smaller theater screening an old movie, art instillations, tons of concerts, and the amount of restaurants with a long history. You name it and it’s probably going on somewhere here.

When I moved to Orange for college I took the metro up to DTLA almost every weekend to visit Little Tokyo. My of friends are nerds so that might be the place to go first. First stop is Tea Master for some matcha ice cream with Marugame Monzo for lunch. I truly appreciate The Little Tokyo Community Council’s efforts in keeping that area vibrant and refreshing with a consistent flow of events!

Although I’m a sucker for a good burger so we’re definitely going to Amboy and Burger 99 at some point!

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?
As a recent alumnus of Chapman University I feel like I have to give a shoutout to the community I made at Dodge College! The facilities that were provided really emulated the big studio experience and was consistently hands on with its learning. I met such a large diverse group of friends and faculty here that contributed to my time here in California.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rkfenske_/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rkf-film/

Image Credits
Yinghui Li, Rhea Damani, Chaewon Suh