Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathaniel Canfield.
Hi Nathaniel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m originally from a small town called Frankenmuth located in Michigan. I come from a family of artists, so the likelihood that I would wind up doing something creative with my future was always very high. As I started to grow up, I quickly realized that there was something a little bit off with my ability to academically succeed the same way as the other kids. It wasn’t till I was seven years old that I was diagnosed with dyslexia witch would render me illiterate until I was a Sophomore in high school.
Throughout that time, I noticed that painting, music, and especially creative writing were not my strong suits. I did, however, seem to absolute love the idea of telling a visual story, and that’s when I fell in love with filmmaking. It would be a difficult road to pass high school, but I did make it. Looking to what lies ahead of me, film school seemed to be my natural progression.
When I was young, I told myself that before I graduated from high school, I would do two things. One, be able to take a test and have a teacher read it for me. Two that would publish my own book. I graduated my senior read for the first time at the same level as my peers, and I published my own poetry book, All The Hidden People, which is available on amazon.
I had the first idea that movies might be for me when I was about seven years old, I was in the car with my mom. I told her that I liked movies and that I think I want to make them. So I asked who was in charge of actually making them. She told me all kinds of people make the movie from writers, producers, actors, and etc. But then she said something that shift what I would do for the rest of my life. She said, “What you are looking for is the Director”.
Today, I find myself working on my first film outside of the little ones I made with my friends when I lived in Michigan. This film, “Lucid” has a modest budget but it wouldn’t be possible without the help from my producer Hannah Schierbaum and the rest of the cast and crew. I am also working on my second book, Lost In Paradise, which I will be seeing publishers for around next year.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The main thing would be overcoming school and dealing with the mediocrity of my hometown.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Well, what I trying to do no matter what I’m creating is to convey The Human Experience the best way I know how whether that is through the form of poetry or through Visual storytelling such as photography and motion pictures. I would say that I am known for trying my absolute best to capture life as we see it and make it entertaining but also show someone a perspective that maybe they hadn’t considered before they saw a piece of my work.
What were you like growing up?
My mother says I was a very compassionate child and empathetic one as well. Growing up wasn’t always the easiest, wasn’t exactly the worst childhood either. I was extremely fortunate in my life to be given the parents that I was given. Even with their flaws, they’re still incredible people that are trying to do the best they know-how. Without some of the negative experiences that I encountered as a child, I would not be the person that I am today.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @nate.filmmaking @nate.poetry_
Image Credits:
Hannah Schierbaum François Elbourne
