We asked some of the most inspiring folks we know to tell us what they are inspired by.

Paulo Pérez | Director & Writer

What don’t I get inspired by? I even get inspired by certain album titles. Movies are a mesh of art and that keeps it endlessly fulfilling. There’s tremendous expression in movies but if the only thing I enjoyed was movies then all of my movies would just be about movies. My passions are boundless and they get funnelled into my writing. Though I don’t do it all for myself, I do it for y’all. That’s the true fuel. With people clamoring for creativity in cinema, with people saying that there has never been such a lack of inventiveness, something had to be done. I picked up the crown I found in the gutter so to speak. Why not me? Read more>>

Tim O’leary | Filmmaker

I’m constantly inspired by the many creative people I meet in this business, but particularly my fellow queer writers and filmmakers who don’t shy away from who they are when they’re creating. I’m old enough to remember a time in American history when being gay was controversial… because it was, like, three minutes ago. When I first moved to LA, I founded the Los Angeles LGBTQIA+ TV Writers group, and through that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a litany of writers across the queer spectrum who are absolutely crushing it and never, ever apologizing for who they are. They inspire me every single day. Read more>>

Robert Wright | Film Photographer

I find my greatest inspiration in the creativity and process of other photographers. I’m particularly drawn to how they approach their craft such as choosing the perfect location and timing, deciding between artificial and natural light, selecting wardrobe and poses, and even determining the ideal lens focal length. Photography is a delicate balance of countless factors, all working together to create a compelling image. Watching how others experiment and bring their visions to life deeply inspires my own portrait and editorial photography. Read more>>