Dean Taylor shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Dean, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I get up at 630am everyday, I feed and care for my kitties, I eat a banana or an apple and make hot tea—then I go for a walk in my neighborhood, sometimes that leads to some more exercise after I get home, sometimes it doesn’t, I eat breakfast then get ready for work.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Dean Taylor (she/her). I’m a filmmaker, cinematographer, the owner of Evening Film, a production company that caters to intentional filmmaking and film education and I share my skills as the Multimedia Videographer at Capital University. Im interested in creating narrative, branded and documentary films. My work is rooted in care, intention, and a commitment to holding space for underrepresented voices in film, and mentoring those willing to learn and grow without any experience in the film industry.
I am currently working on a documentary series project titled Blue—Hour, where I am capturing intimate portraits of local Columbus artists and makers.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I used to think adults had it all figured out — that they didn’t have bad days or need comfort. As I grew up, I started seeing them as human, trying their best, and growing while doing so— realizing that this was their first time living too.
It made me more empathetic and curious about people, which I think shows in how I observe and tell stories.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I had one kind thing to say to my baby self—it would be that, it’ll turn out better then you could ever imagine and that the hard times you face are going to shape, harden and soften all the parts of you that need it, and if you believe in yourself your experiences will carry you along the way and land you right where you need to be.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
Instead of naming a specific person, i’d like to respond by saying—I admire people who carry themselves with calm, quiet strength — the ones who seem to have it all together, who are nurturing and mature, who make the people around them feel safe and seen. Underneath that composed exterior, you can still see that they are human just like everyone else, facing challenges and doubts, yet they navigate it with grace. That balance of vulnerability and poise, with a lil’ fire, unapologetically themselves and passionate about their work.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What pain do you resist facing directly?
In film, I’m always observing, framing, capturing others’ emotions, but rarely sitting with my own. There’s a part of me that fears what might surface if I stopped creating and staying busy long enough to feel the weight of it all. So I stay in motion — editing, shooting, building the next thing for my future — when maybe what I really need is to be still, sit still, every once in a while. It’s easier to care for the image than to tend to what’s underneath, you know.
I resist facing the quiet fear that no matter how much I do, it might never feel like enough and its exhausting. My career feeds that hunger—for near perfection, for validation—and it’s soo hard to admit how much of my self-worth has become entangled with my work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://deanetaylor.wixsite.com/mysite
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/water___bed/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-taylor-890b49b3/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/evening____film/
Image Credits
Kendra M. Lee,
Lonnie Le,
Emily Laine
