Today we’d like to introduce you to Darcy Bly.
Darcy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I remember the first time I got my hands on a full-size VHS camcorder in 4th grade. I was shooting music videos to my favorite songs, asking my friends to do crazy stuff because I needed talent, and building weird props around town. It didn’t really make sense to me at the time why I felt compelled to do that. About a year after I graduated film school in 2011, it hit me. Making motion pictures has always been my calling. And because I love people, telling their stories is my passion. And the music ties it all together. I shoot candidly and edit cinematically to create custom handmade movies.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
During college, I worked hard to find my niché. With so many people shooting video, how would I stand out? It can be scary when you first start something, a career, a relationship, whatever it may be. But over time, I learned fear was an illusion and if you take time to look inside yourself, all the answers to how you’ll be unique or stand out are already there. You can do anything through drive and passion.
After I graduated, I hit the road to LA to join up with a major studio as a Production Manager, but a year of 5 am call times, eating like crap all day (thanks a bunch craft-service), and losing touch with my family due to an unbalanced lifestyle, I quickly learned that wasn’t for me. I had to trust my gut and follow my instinct. My heart wasn’t in it, so it was never going to work out.
I’d like to give some credit to meditation for helping me find my calling. I started going to Self-Realization Fellowship in Encinitas every Sunday. It helped a great deal. Also, I started writing down all my thoughts and my goals. Writing things down makes them like 10 times more likely to happen. Look it up!
A bit of advice I’ve got on note-to-self repeat:
If you go with your gut, you can’t go wrong.
Please tell us about Darcy Bly.
I recognize the power of video. And I appreciate the rawness in every present moment. I then weave that together through capturing the day in constant motion and then edit all that footage into a movie that can be watched again and again.
The creative process, every step of the way, has me moving and shaking and smiling. I know what I do is important because I’ve made couples cry happy tears!
Currently, the best compliments I’ve received have been, “I love your wedding videos. They are unlike any other wedding videos out there” and also “I feel like one day soon you will be recognized for your unique style”
For me, as an artist and video creator, there are no greater compliments. I aim to shoot rad couples, all over the world, with as much unstripped authenticity to capture their true essence as possible. I want to make them laugh and cry and never forget how much they love each other.
Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
There are quite a few barriers in the motion picture industry as a woman. The strong female leaders in the past year who’ve stood up for their values and stood up for other women have brought those barriers to light in the media.
I work in a male-dominated field. After lugging around sometimes 65 lbs. of equipment, I now see why! All jokes aside, I think these barriers that have been looming for much too long are finally moving towards an end. I feel the momentum, not just in my field, but in politics and economics as well. We are making power moves by joining together in our womanhood and I like that. I like when WOMAN are directing films and joining the congress.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.darcybly.com
- Phone: 760-707-4766
- Email: hello@darcybly.com
- Instagram: @darcybly
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darcyblyvideo/
Image Credit:
Darcy Bly
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