The way filmmaker Scott Lazer took control of his creative career

Creative director and filmmaker Scott Lazer, the joy comes directly from his work. "When I meet with individuals about editing specifically the media, they often think it's a very tedious process, but it's never felt that way for me," Scott says. Scott. "It was always play, and enjoyable."

"I once had the privilege of meeting the editor Greg Finton, whom I received some guidance to never forget, and that was: "You're doing what you've done and you'll never forget it,'" Scott recalls. "It really helped me realize that in order to achieve the type of work that I'd like to pursue I must create it." It's that viewpoint -- along with his commitment to his creative pursuitsand has helped him make a unique voice across his many disciplines.

 What brought you to making films?

As I entered college, there wasn't a film program, but there were courses on film within the English Department. The school provided us with DV cameras, and the whole point of it was to just tell a compelling story. The emphasis was on less the technical production of things. The focus was on editing and writing that I fell in love with. I have very vivid memories of working at the computer lab making two clips and thinking that it was magical, and it was because it is.

This inspired me to explore it further, and then once I started making films and presenting them to the public I received overwhelmingly positive comments. This was just a process of creating more content. I wanted to make stuff so that I could edit it, and then after I had finished editing, I was like, "Well, I've got to come up with something else in order to be able to edit that again."

 How would you approach brand-commissioned work vs. passion projects?

I've done a lot of artistic direction and brand projects. When I'm working in that position, it's an extremely high-level method. It's more than just carrying out the idea which has already been created or written down. I am able to play involvement in its process of development. Actually, I feel that involvement in every aspect, not just film, but the strategy and the writing and the production of it, primed me for making my own films.

In commission work I'm working on behalf of clients, but when I produce my own films, it's my personal client. Those skills that I learned doing commission work for others made me more confident and the necessary skills to realize my own concepts.

 Was one the most challenging creative tasks you've faced?

I think as creatives as well as directors, it's easy to see the world around you and expect other people to see that too, but something I've discovered in my role as a director is that you must be able to convey those thoughts to department heads, to any audience, because otherwise they're just being tossed around by your ears.

I began making videos wherever I could: for a small business or a local artist, or even video art experiments. They were just something I made to play around with. But in order to do more of the type of work I wanted to do, I had create that. This has been an important motivating factor for me in this latest era of my career -- creating original work -- to let both myself and the public know about what storylines and people I'm looking forward to exploring.

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However, it's also crucial to think about what made us excited about making work in the first place. Of course, a Staff Choice and an award at SXSW and an Oscar and so on can be very uplifting and inspiring. Speaking just for myself as a professional I've gained the confidence to keep working. However, it all begins with you. It's crucial to maintain confidence and conviction in whatever you're working on.