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Chris Krebsbach | Filmmaker | Film & Television Production
Chris Krebsbach
Filmmaker, Film & Television Production
So, tell us a bit about who you are, and how you first got involved with Epiphany Space.
I’m not sure why telling you a little bit about who I am seems like such a difficult task in this moment. It’s probably because who we are and what we do are so often intertwined and the “what I do” question is not 100% clear to me right now.
I’m someone who has been in Los Angeles for 20 years but is still trying to hone in on what delights her in creativity and career. I haven’t totally found the words to say who I am succinctly. On good days, I remember that that’s because I’m delighted by more than one thing, and labeling myself makes me feel stuck. On bad days, I wonder if I’ll ever “find my way” and figure out how to label myself.
I’m part small-town Wisconsin, part world traveler. I’m an aunt, a great aunt, a sister, a daughter, and a loyal friend. I’m part independent woman and part “please, just tell me what to do”. I’m part actor, part director, part producer, part wish-I-had-cheaper-hobbies-than-filmmaking, part “always looking for the answer”, part happy as is.
I first got involved in Epiphany Space by knowing Melissa, Becky, Erin, Cortney, and others through our relationships at Ecclesia Hollywood (a church we all attended together). Though I’m definitely an on-again-off-again (some might say barely there) participant in the amazing offerings of the organization, I’ve always loved having a place to check in when I needed it. For years, it was a support to me as I worked in a college program dedicated to supporting young filmmakers from all over the country. Epiphany was always a place where I could turn to feed my own need for creative community and they provided great internships and support for my students as well.
I found the seeds of motivation (and one of my locations) to finally direct my third short film while participating in an Artists Way group, hosted by Epiphany. I’ve found a place to process the big emotions that come from not always knowing the direction I want to go. And I really appreciate the female creators and entrepreneurs I’ve found through that space.
Who inspires you? What creative people or creative works make you say, “I want to do that”?
As a 70s baby/ 80s kid, I was really inspired by Steven Spielberg in my young life. I would make a guess that 98% of people I studied acting and film with would have pointed to him and his work as being the thing that pointed us to working in film. E.T. is one of the first movies I can remember watching and will always be a favorite of mine.
One individual I’m inspired by is Epiphany Space’s own Erin Brown. She’s someone who was once a student of mine and has become a friend over the years. She is truly dedicated to her craft and laser-focused on developing her career. She’s definitely a person I think about when I consider a can do/get it done/don’t stop moving forward attitude.
I’m still inspired by sitting in a movie theater and being moved to laughing, crying, or just appreciating something that seems impossible appearing on the screen.
I'm inspired by anyone who tells an interesting story with characters I truly care about. I’m inspired by talented actors who transform themselves right before our eyes. I’m inspired by production designers and set decorators who create something visually interesting out of the most mundane places. I’m inspired by people who are great at putting one foot in front of the other to continue to move in the direction of their dreams without knowing what the outcome might be.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced along the way, and how did you deal with them?
I would say one of the biggest internal challenges I’ve faced in my career has been struggling to put one foot in front of the other to continue to move in the direction of my desires without knowing what the outcome might be. ☺
This is an area in which I continue to grow. As I got into my late 20s and 30s, self-doubt crept in in ways I hadn’t experienced before and I’m still unlearning some of the patterns established then. I could get into the whole psychology and the whys of that but that is way beyond the scope of The Spark and probably best left for the therapist’s chair.
Ironically, I spent those years helping others go in the direction they wanted even as I had a hard time doing it for myself. Having worked with close to 2000 college students in my time in LA, I have a number of people who have said to me that they might not be in Los Angeles had it not been for my involvement in their lives. I’ve never had a hard time believing that others can “do it” and find their way.
That’s why it’s so important for me to surround myself with people who believe the same for me…so they can remind me when I’m struggling to remember myself.
Are you working on anything cool or interesting right now? Anything you’d like to tell us about?
Ok, for those of you dying to work in Hollywood, bear with me on this one. I don’t know whether I would label this cool or interesting but…
I’m working as a production secretary in the production office on a feature film with a pretty all-star cast right now but truth be told, it is a GRIND. Working in Hollywood – especially at a studio level – does not always feel as cool or interesting as one might want it to feel. Some days are simply filled with clashing personalities, excel spreadsheets, and making sure that crew members have drive-ons to studio lots. But once in a while, you get these really beautiful moments of the magic and creativity that drew you to the work in the first place.
The film I’m working on right now is a holiday movie and our sets have been incredibly creative. We’ve got one set that’s really jaw-dropping when you first walk onto it and incorporates some new technology for building large-looking sets in smaller places. There’s a huge “naughty list” set piece that probably won’t be anything to someone watching the movie but for me, it will be this little moment on screen where so many people I’m working with get a little shout-out to say…you were a part of this. I’m on the naughty list for talking back to my parents which is, ironically, something I never really did much of in real life.
Where do you see your creative journey taking you? What would you like to be doing, say, five years from now?
To be honest, I’m really not sure. I’m, in some senses, starting my career from scratch right now but with 20 more years of experience working on lots of different kinds of projects than when I first arrived in Los Angeles. I’m working in the studio system for the first time, which was my original career intention, but I’m also working on a lot of independent non-union projects to fill in the gaps.
In five years, I’d like to have directed at least one more short and at best an independent feature. I’d like to have found my groove and creative fulfillment in whatever I’m doing career-wise. Because I’m someone who has strong leadership and left-brain tendencies, I often get pegged more in producing and managing types of roles…which, to be fair, I studied in grad school. I’m working to find my specific path that allows me to access both my logistical brain (the things that others see as my strongest skill sets) and my creative desires (the things that make me feel most alive). When I find the moments where those things truly merge, I try to take note because those moments give me clues to continue making steps forward.
What advice would you give to other artists and creatives in your field? Any words of wisdom for those looking to follow in your footsteps?
- Surround yourself with people who are kind and supportive of your talents and desires. Not people who will lie and tell you that you are better than you are but people who are invested in your growth and your happiness.
- Don’t stop going after the “thing” and also be open to the windy road ahead. Our desires mean something and can point us in a direction but for many of us, they may feel conflicting or unreachable. I, for one, love a lot of things that don’t always feel in harmony with each other. Our desires/hopes/dreams/decisions may not take any sort of linear form or have a clear path and that can be really hard, especially if you fall into the comparison trap and look at how other people’s lives seem to be. So, take breaks along the way. Learn how and when to recharge yourself and rest so you can keep going on whatever journey you choose. And learn to ENJOY the whole journey and be present in the moment because many so-called destinations are just the beginning of the next leg.
- That said, “giving up” doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It’s okay to change your mind.
- Don’t be a jerk. (This is apparently much harder than it seems.)
- There are so many reasons to beat ourselves up in this creative journey of life (not good enough, young enough, smart enough, talented enough…) and there are always reasons to stop trying new things (money, security, lack of confidence, etc), but I don’t think listening to those messages is what we’re meant for. If you’re someone who struggles with these sorts of thought patterns, know that you’re not alone and trust that there are ways to look them in the face, be kind to the parts of you who believe them, change your mind, and continue on.
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