Fast Forward Friday with Leslie Cunningham
For this week’s Fast Forward Friday, we interviewed Leslie Cunningham. Leslie is a director, writer and producer with experience spanning documentary, narrative, corporate, podcast and digital video. Her greatest skill is her ability to energize talent and production crews around a collective, creative vision and guiding all creators towards a cohesive and emotionally resonant piece that incites action.
What is your latest creative endeavor? Tell us about it.
I recently finished post-production on a short documentary I co-directed and edited called, Deserted. The documentary is about the cyclical nature and lasting effects of food insecurity in America.
What was the inspiration for it?
I have always been drawn to social justice issues surrounding food. When I was in college I did a thesis paper on food deserts in Syracuse, New York. This really opened my eyes to the structures and functions we have in place that keep low-income families from access to healthy and affordable food. This is especially baffling because the world produces 1.5X the amount of food needed to feed every person on the planet a sufficient diet, so to have people starving and malnourished, especially here in America, is a true blight on society.
What other projects would you like to tell us about?
I’m very excited about some spec commercials I’m working on with my company, Diagonal Media and independently I’m writing a book that I hope to finish next year.
In this current time of unprecedented change and uncertainty, what do you believe your role is in this moment?
This is an interesting question, and I’m not 100% sure how to answer it. I think as it relates to my work, my job is to continue to stay aware of emerging technologies and proceed with care and cautious optimism into the future.
Who are some of the people, artistic and otherwise, who inspire you and have had an impact on you?
When I was young I didn’t realize how rare of a person my mom is. She’s someone who sees life through a very beautiful and empathetic lens. She is resilient and borderline cartoonishly happy most of the time. Life is full of challenges but my mom has demonstrated what it looks like to move forward with optimism.
What keeps you motivated and inspired as an artist?
The people I work with really inspire me. I think when you have a group of artists together, you can’t help but feel inspired and motivated to push the creative envelope.
What is one instance of knowing you are living in your vision?
The fact that if I told little Leslie where she would be now, she would be so proud of me.
What was the best piece of advice you ever received?
If “I love you” are the most powerful three words in the English language, then “I believe in you” are the most powerful four.
What do you do to stay connected to your creative self?
I love to go on long walks or runs. This uninterrupted “me” time allows my mind to wander and come up with fresh, new ideas.
If you could let go of something that holds you back, what would it be?
Self doubt and fear of failure.
What do you do when you feel like giving up?
Sometimes I take a break, step back and reassess. But sometimes, if it’s something that is not and will never serve me, I do give it up, and move on to what’s next.
What surprised you most when you first became a working artist?
How many gigs you need to pay rent in NYC!
What advice would you give someone who is just starting out?
Try a lot of things and figure out what you really love. In my field, which is video production, there are a LOT of paths you can take and you don’t want to get pigeonholed into the wrong one. Take the time to experiment and try things that scare you because you never know what you’ll fall in love with.
What is your idea of success?
Balance. Finding balance in your purpose, time with the people you love and doing the things you enjoy.
What is your idea of happiness?
See success.
Where can we learn more about you and your work?