Following a Creative Passion with Patrick Riley

Art allows us to express our views, hopes, and experiences. For many, following a creative passion may seem daunting due to financial stress, a lack of time, or other personal pressures. In a fast-paced world where artistic expression is not always a priority, how do we continue to nurture our creative side? Tech entrepreneur, film producer, and musician Patrick Riley has managed to find that balance. In this interview, Patrick shares his experiences, insight, and advice for creatives hoping to find the balance between their creative endeavors and their professional development.

After selling a software company and working in consulting, Patrick took a risk and produced the film Tuscaloosa. He shares his experience during the making of the film, how he collaborated with the cast and crew, and shares hilarious stories about making the best of situations that are going all wrong. Patrick comments on the complexity of creating an accurate depiction of 1970s Alabama for a 2020 audience. Patrick offers advice for creatives and provides examples for how to nurture creativity while working in a professional career. Finally, Patrick discusses the innovations developing in the film industry and their impact on the way we consume, create, and find films.

Patrick Riley is a veteran technology entrepreneur, producer, and musician. As a technology entrepreneur, Patrick co-founded and was CEO of Modern Survey. Over the course of his career, Patrick has directed and produced dozens of music videos, documentaries, and short films.

Topics Discussed in Part One: Getting into the film industry, becoming a musician, working in tech and becoming an entrepreneur, becoming involved in Tuscaloosa, using art to comment on current issues, finding the cast for Tuscaloosa, translating creativity as a software executive to being a producer, using sabbaticals to work on creative endeavors, producer vs. executive producer, changing roles, shooting a period piece in Minnesota in October, unexpected problems while filming

Topics Discussed in Part Two: The creative process while making Tuscaloosa, collaborating with the director to cut and create the film, grappling with sanitized language, the philosophical debate around license as white filmmakers, showing Tuscaloosa at the Nashville Film Festival, watching how an audience receives your creation, innovations in the film industry, expanding options for watching films, advice for following your creativity, the importance of having mentors

People, Organizations, and Resources Mentioned: Prince, Walt Disney Studios, 2016 Presidential Election, Phil Harder, Bess Fifer, Natalia Dyer, Devon Bostick, Stranger Things (2016-), Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010), The 100 (2014-), Tate Donovan, Argo (2012), Manchester By the Sea (2016), The O.C. (2003-2007), Jennifer Aniston, Friends (1994-2004), Modern Survey, Laird Hall at Carleton College, Shoney’s, Little Oscar’s, Green Book (2018), Nashville Film Festival, Marvel films, Netflix, Showtime, HBO, Sundance Film Festival

You can learn more about Patrick Riley at @patricktriley on twitter

Learn more about Tuscaloosa online at Tuscaloosamovie.com

Follow Tuscaloosa on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

“I had this moment on that day, it was probably about 2pm or 3pm, and we’re going to start shooting at 6pm that day. We didn’t have the motorcycle, we still didn’t have the right car, and I remember sitting in my backyard literally with cell phone in hand. I had been on the phone all day… and I put the phone down. I talked to my wife Jennifer, I said, ‘I failed. It’s just not going to work. I have like 60 people who are going to show up to a parking lot tonight, I have stunt guys in from LA, and I don’t have cars for them to drive.’ ”

Following a Creative Passion - An Interview with Filmmaker Patrick Riley