“Go ahead and pursue your dreams, you never know how things will turn out if you don’t try."
— Callie Wills
The Interview Q&A
How long have you been working in the film industry? Where did you get your start?
“I’ve been working in the film industry for 5 years now, beginning my senior year of high school, but I’ve been making my own home videos for as far back as I can remember. It wasn’t until surprisingly later on in life that I realized the silly short films I made with my cousins on my summer trips to Texas were the gateway to an actual career path.”
Who is your biggest inspiration? What have they taught you?
“My biggest inspiration would have to be one of my best friends, and fellow woman in film, Christina Christie. Ever since we were paired together as roommates my freshman year of college I knew she was going places in the industry and her persistent drive and fantastic work ethic are what have consistently pushed me to become a better fellow creative alongside her.”
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
“A lot of my inspiration comes from the narrated books on tape and radio dramas I grew up listening to as a kid, such as Hank the Cowdog and Adventures in Odyssey. Even though such a particular medium cannot claim the added visual elements present in film, I still find being able to tell a complete and comprehensive story with sound alone has always been one of my top priorities when both capturing and mixing sound.”
What are some of the biggest things you’ve accomplished in your career so far?
“The biggest accomplishment of my career always seems to be the project I have worked on most recently, and in this case, I’d have to say sound mixing for the upcoming UCF Masters Program feature film “Egghead & Twinkie”. I’ve been following this project since its conception and was absolutely elated to be invited on set. The work environment is unlike any I’ve ever participated in with such an amazingly talented cast and crew, the film itself speaks to my personal interests and spreads an amazing message, and I can already tell the overall experience of working on a set like this will prove one of the ultimate highlights of my film career.”
Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now? (No dream is too big!)
“In 5 years I actually see myself having transitioned more into the sound design aspects of the industry working alongside my current animator friend Christina Christie in Pixar Studios. I’d also love to continue freelance sound mixing on the side for projects that I truly love and connect with, as well as create a few of my own that are currently just fragmented ideas swimming around in my head.”
If you had one piece of advice for a woman who wants to get started in the film industry what it would be?
“For anyone woman like me just getting started in the industry, the one piece of advice I’d give is this: “You are the only one that matters.” In this industry, and in life in general, there will be a lot of labels placed on you as well as expectations, whether from friends, family, fellow business peers, or society in general, everyone will want to tell you how to live your life and what choices to make along the way. Choose who you listen to wisely, and know in the end that you and your future are all that matters.”