Age: 18
Year: Freshman
Major: Political Science
Hometown: Riverside
Can you tell me a little about your production company, Clash of the Artistic Minds, and how it came to be?
The center of my company is all about collaboration. It’s about pulling different creative people together in order to produce artwork on a larger scale. Everyone is showcased through the medium of film. In a world where we consume information visually, that is where I come in. I have had several attempts at building my own production company from the age of 14. I had established myself under a name that was already trademarked even though at the time I did not realize this. I received my first cease and desist letter at the age of 17. After that I trademarked all of my content.
How are you bringing your love of film to the UCR campus?
I am bringing my love of film to the UCR campus by capturing my subjects on the university grounds. I am surrounded by beautiful architecture and wonderful people every day. I get to showcase people in a positive light in an environment that supports creativity. I want to share my passion with others and make art with them. One day I could be filming a song cover with a music major and then the next day I could be filming a video with students who skate at the bell tower.
Are you involved in any clubs/jobs/internships on campus?
I work for the university’s video department under the Office of Strategic Communications. I love working for this department because it allows me to be creative and learn more about the industry in my field. I also enjoy meeting new students in interviews.
What inspires you in your work? What are you most passionate about?
In my passion, my work, my field; people inspire me. I believe that film is the gateway into the mind. It is also the gateway to people. As a filmmaker and as a person, I want to make people change their way of thinking. I want others to consider that maybe what they think and believe isn’t necessarily the only way to think and believe. It’s expanding one’s consciousness about the world around them. However, as Macklemore said, “I am not the conscious rapper.” It doesn’t matter if I’m making a documentary about mental disorders or a narrative about a couple falling in love. I simply want people to ask “why” and “what if?”
What kinds of projects have you worked on recently?
Currently I am working on two short documentaries for the film festival circuit this year. One of my films is about a record store in Riverside called Groover’s Physical Music. It’s actually a couple blocks away from campus. I am also working on a sequel to a film I made when I was 15 called Throw-Away Child. It’s about several kids growing up in the foster care system and how their experiences have contributed to their development as people in society. My film went on to win the Golden Ace Award at the Las Vegas International Film Festival and Best of Selection at the Riverside International Film Festival. For the sequel, I am trying to catch up to the subjects and show where their life has taken them thus far.
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How do you think collaborating with other artists helps to create a different creative process than working on your own?
The creative process is strongly influenced by interaction with other people. No one is really original on their own. We are all connected. It always helps to bounce around ideas and draw from each other’s energy. When I see a skateboarder perform a trick or a singer sending chills to an audience through song, it makes me want to do that much better in my area. It inspires me to see other people in their “zone.”
What do you love most about UCR so far?
UCR is a great school. I really enjoy being here and interacting with the students around me. My favorite thing about UCR is being able to dive into a deep conversation with someone you just met. I feel very connected to others on campus. My favorite physical part about UCR is the bell tower!
What do you wish to accomplish with your work?
I want my films to be seen across the world. But I want them to mean something. They must have a message that the viewers can take with them into their own lives after they step out of the movie theater.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In ten years, I would like to be traveling the world making films about different people, events and ideas. I see myself working on set performing many different jobs. I like to edit, direct, and even do cinematography work.
How has film changed your perspective on life?
I feel like film has made me see the potential in things that most people would take for granted. I can walk down the street and be inspired by the simplest things. It could be a street sign or a blade of grass or the sky. I truly feel like film has made me see the world as a more beautiful place.
Interesting fact about yourself?
Taking away filming is like taking away my ability to breathe.
Words to live by?
“I am who I am, no more no less. A Renaissance Man.”
Check out some of Sterling’s work on his Youtube channels!
http://www.youtube.com/user/SterlingTheFilmmaker
http://www.youtube.com/user/COTAMFORTHECREATIVE