Meet Meredith Smith | Director, Cinematographer & Screenwriter

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

Hi Meredith, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I pursued an artistic or creative career because I’ve always been drawn to the arts. It brings me a lot of joy and I wouldn’t want to be in any other field. I have a huge imagination, and as a kid it always ran wild. I was always writing short stories and imagining how they would look if they were on the big screen. I remember a specific instance where I was imagining and cutting a movie trailer in my head. It was complete with a score, voice over and credits. I still do that to this day as I imagine scenes when I’m writing screenplays or making a shot list. I have, and still do express myself through art and the visual medium. I feel at home in the creative field and I am deeply passionate about it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am still developing who I am as an artist, but what sets me apart is the sense of intimacy that’s present in my films. I strive to shrink the viewer’s world down to only the screen and place them in the room with the characters. I also try to make the character’s relationships with each other deeply personal, as I find the most interesting stories are the ones about people, and how they interact with others. I’m proud of a particular scene in my most recent short, Comeuppance, which was also accepted and screened at SXSW, in which the protagonist and the antagonist have a tense confrontation in the kitchen. It was a quiet, personal scene that unnerved viewers. Their reaction to the interaction was exactly what I had set out to achieve when I wrote the scene and later when I shot and edited it. I’m very glad my intention shone through and made an impact on people. Professionally, my journey started with a film studio class run by Xai Homechan that I attend every Saturday. Xai and the studio have been instrumental in my development as a filmmaker, and through it I have begun to build a network of colleagues as well as participate in film races. Xai also served as a producer on Comeuppance and my fellow students at the studio were also my crew. Making Comeuppance wasn’t easy, as there was a lot of growing pains. It was my first time making a short in the “professional” way, as the previous experience I had was rushed productions on 24 and 48 film races or informal school projects. I was also juggling the stresses of my senior year and COVID. There was a lot of firsts in preproduction, but I had the help and support of Xai, as well as my parents, I was able to set myself up for a successful shoot. I have also found that opportunities tend to snowball, as the opportunity to enter into DIFF’s high school short competition lead to receiving special recognition through the President’s Award and the opportunity to direct a commercial. Both experiences were also filled with firsts and it was difficult and scary trying to navigate them, but I have grown so much by doing. A major lesson I have learned through both of these experiences is a simple one: put one foot in front of the other. Every production is a large undertaking and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Instead, take a small piece and start somewhere and keep working. Eventually, you will discover that you’re almost done with a scary task. I’ve also learned how to talk and communicate to people in a professional manner. I’ve sent tons and tons of emails on my productions and I learned how to be efficient but kind in my messages. Ultimately, I want to study the greats, pick up where they left off and advance the art form. I want to be seen as a pioneer and someone who is able to make an impact on people.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would want to show them around downtown Dallas, and walk around with them in the Dallas Museum of Art. We would also be able to catch a delicious lunch through the food trucks that hang out nearby and enjoy our meal at Klyde Warren Park. Later, I would take them through Deep Ellum and enjoy the art that decorates the building’s walls as well as the interesting shops. I would also want to show them the Fabrication Yard, a place that is covered in interesting graffiti. We would be able to have a mini photoshoot or simply look around. Finally, I would want to hike Arbor Hills with them. Arbor Hills is a small but heavily wooded park that has a small winding river that incredibly fun to explore. The river is fun to splash in and some of the hiking trails lead you to a tower that allows you to look over the entire park.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents deserve a huge shoutout. They have supported me and have fostered my growth from the very beginning. I love reading, and they have always been there to put the next book in my hands. I love movies, and they have always been the ones with recommendations that would help me grow and be a better cinematographer or director. Unprompted, my mommy made me a list of notable cinematographers and their greatest work so we might sit down together and watch them with a critical eye. My mom has been on many sets and has helped move equipment, acted and assisted in anyway she could. They’ve signed me up for classes, camps, weekend races and have helped me on multiple film projects. They have been there through my self doubt and have been my greatest cheerleaders from day one. I could go on for hours about the things they have done for me and I am so incredibly grateful for their never ending support.

Website: https://meredithsmithcinema.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/meresmithcinema

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meredith.smith.56027281/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoVgNJCMI1-2UevCz7_fPTg/featured