Meet Melissa Kirkendall | Texas based Filmmaker

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

Hi Melissa, how do you think about risk?
Risk taking is an important step in both the creative and entrepreneurial process. You must willing to risk failure in order to succeed.

I have always been a risk taker. In my early twenties I took risks in order to own my own business’ first with an art gallery, then with a punk rock club and eventually with a music production company. As I took each risk, I learned more. I had to keep taking bigger risks to grow my business and be successful.

I feel like my journey in the film industry is a constant series of risks. Early on it was accepting one job and turning another down hoping I made the right choice for the one that would actually happen. Over the years, my risks in film have become more creatively based with my own projects. I took a big leap of faith risk to jump on a plane to Ecuador on a hunch that there was an interesting story there… and now my short film “You are Me & I am You” is evidence that I was right. The Vast of Night was a little film that took a lot of risks along it’s journey and it turned into a huge success. All indie films are a financial risk, but not all are creative risks. I am drawn to the ones that have a creative risk element to them. Risk creates challenge. Challenge offers opportunities to learn. I love learning therefor I love risk taking.

I’d definitely say I take risks in my personal life. In my opinion, if you aren’t willing to risk a little here and there on whatever journey you are on, then you are living an adventure-less life and that’s not for me. Risk invites adventure as there is always an element of the unknown outcome when you are a risk taker. In my opinion, this adventurous element of risk taking is what drives a lot of creatives. For me, it’s almost like I am conducting an experiment every time I really jump out into the ether with a new idea. Not knowing what will come back is the exciting part. That excitement is what drives me to do it again once the opportunity arises.

Without risk, I would not be whom I am today nor would I be where I am physically let alone career wise. I don’t imagine I will ever live a risk-free safe life. The thought of that sort of existence terrifies me way more than the risks themselves.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a filmmaker or really a story teller. I’m not sure what makes me unique compared to other filmmakers. I do know that I get accused of often working and thinking outside of the box. For me, filmmaking is a magical experiment in discovery. We really are making magic, but to do so means we are always attempting to answer questions and learn new things while telling a story. It’s a unique medium full of self expression and also creative collaboration.

How did I get here? I think my deep rooted curious nature got me here. I am curious about just about anything. This attracts me to both scripted fiction and also the raw realness of documentary. I love them both. As a documentary filmmaker I approach everyone with a curiosity as I genuinely believe that everyone has a good story in them if you’ll just take the time to know them. As a scripted fictional filmmaker I am curious about the process and all the diverse characters it takes to successfully execute a film. For both mediums I love the problem solving aspect. To me all problems or obstacles are just orange cones and puzzles to be solved or dealt with. And a challenge is simply an opportunity to grow and learn something.

I believe my success thus far is owed to having this ingrained natural curiosity and sense of everything is solvable.

What do I want the world to know about me? Gosh, ummmm…. I am not “just” anything, no one is. I come in a rainbow of colors and I am always up for adventure.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am assuming this is where I live in Austin, TX…..Hmmmm… well, when folks come to visit I try to take them on a day trip to Enchanted Rock and Luckenbach as that’s a great day of nature, history and music in the hill country. I also like to take folks to tour the capital as ours is quite impressive. Greenbelt hiking is usually a must with a dip in Barton Springs if it’s summer time. Food, gosh.. so much good food to offer, but one of my favorite spots is El Alma on Barton Springs road as it’s upscale Mexican interior food with unique items such as duck renello or lamb tacos. Of course in Austin we have to go see live music and there are so many places to choose from, so it depends on my guests interests. More than likely there will be an outdoor event of some sort we might go enjoy as Austin seems to have 1-3 festivals happening every weekend.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh man… what a big ask. SO MANY people deserve a shout out for helping me succeed on my journey so far.

Kelly Parker early on in my 20’s helped me understand that risk taking and pushing the envelope is key to success when you are an entrepreneur. After he and I split, I had so many people encourage me to keep on going. I have been blessed to always have supporters, cheer leaders and collaborators to always back me up even when one my ideas turns out to be a really bad one.

I could list out 100 names or more of who all these people and orgs are, but I fear I’d forget someone. So instead I’ll just say giant big THANK YOU to all the folks who have supported me and my crazy ideas in the past, present and future. Without all of these people, I’m not sure where I’d be and I am forever and always grateful to have them in my life. I only hope that I am also a supporter, cheerleader and collaborator to all them as well.

Website: https://www.littlevillagebigmountain.com/

Instagram: littlevillagebigmountain

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissakirkendall-498aa526/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littlevillagebigmountain