Meet Ross Allen | Video Creator

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

Hi Ross, why did you pursue a creative career?
I decided to pursue a creative career because I literally could not stand doing anything else. In my twenties, I chose jobs in retail, service, I.T., etc. Every day I would wake up and dread going to these jobs. For a period of time, I assumed that this was just how jobs worked. You aren’t supposed to enjoy work, I thought. Then I started pursuing creative work on the side. Initially, I was just doing things for fun, with no goal in mind. I would photograph friends, create music videos for 80s songs, and spend hours learning video editing. I didn’t realize at the time I was training myself for my future career. I put in the hours when there was no reward in sight except my own satisfaction. As I began to get better, people started to take notice and offer me money for my creativity. What a concept! I started to realize I didn’t have to be miserable to earn a paycheck. It didn’t all happen at once and there are times when I still have to work jobs I don’t particularly enjoy, but overall, I am much happier pursuing my own goals and making a living along the way.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My video/photo pursuits are directly tied to the psychedelic and spiritual worlds. This was born out of personal experiences which helped me recognize the beauty and connectedness among all things. I love to create art that bridges the gap between the “normal” world and what lies beyond. I got my start creating after movies for music festivals and learned how to tell stories with images along the way. I find these events to be perfect for capturing the magic of the human spirit. From there I expanded my portfolio to include music videos, short films, and portrait photography. No part of this journey has been easy. I’ve been met with plenty of rejection and have felt like giving up many times. I’ve learned that this rejection is as much a necessary part of the journey as acceptance, perhaps more so. Being turned away by others has led me down a more focused path towards my true self. The best advice I can offer someone is to embrace rejection and turn it into fuel. I know that my story is just beginning to be told.

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?
For me, the best parts of Los Angeles are nature related. If a friend was visiting, I’d keep them far away from the tourist spots and show them my favorite areas to “get away”. I’d probably take them up the coast on the PCH and show them the best hikes Malibu has to offer. I love hiking anywhere along the Backbone trail, specifically Corral Canyon. For food, we’d have to hit up one of the taco trucks in Venice and catch the sunset at a secluded part of the beach.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would be nowhere without the relentless support from my parents. They’ve helped me in my creative pursuits since I was a child and have remained patient while I figure things out in adulthood. Whether it was paying for classes, attending sports games or just offering advice and understanding, they’ve always been there when I needed them. It’s hard to imagine what life would be like without such supportive parents, but luckily I don’t have to.

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh2B_jHkxRAn7zKxabskWtg

Image Credits
first pic (girl with lights): @livvychapp