Chase Baxter’s Drive Has Made Him a Force to Be Reckoned with in Media
Chase Baxter has loved all things media since working for CBS Radio Dallas and as an intern for REELFX, all while attending the University Of North Texas. After graduation and moving to Los Angeles in 2010, Chase began work at Prefect Films, where he was a writer and producer for the feature White T at the age of 24. After leaving in 2013, Chase worked with EZ Productions, coordinating still photography and promotional shoots across the globe with A&E, Lionsgate, History, Universal, and MTV, among others.
Photo Credits: Danielle Gruberger @ www.sedukoproductions.com
Chase is a logistics madman and has coordinated and helped lead corporate leadership events nationally, serving tens of thousands of guests. Chase’s constant energy and drive to tell amazing stories has been put to use at Flashbox Films (www.flashboxfilms.com) in Los Angeles, California. and for the past two years he has helped develop and produce projects internally, and has worked on the launch content for the Queens Gaming Collective.
What motivated you to become a producer and director?
I am a unique person in that I knew what I wanted to do when I was 10. Movies always captivated me, and the chance to tell stories to a large audience, or just connect with an individual, with a story that moves their emotional soul and brings them joy, has always felt like a strange kind of magic to me. I have always wanted to bring happiness and joy to the world in whatever way I can. Movies, art, creativity are all my favorite ways to do that.
What are some of the projects that you are currently working on?
Current projects include a reality series in partnership with Critical Content, writing and developing independent screenplays, reentering the world of performance, and trying to figure out how to keep all my houseplants alive!
Is there a particular story that you would like to direct or produce?
Honestly, anything in the Batman universe or having to do with dinosaurs. I enjoy all kinds of stories, but my favorites are anything that brings in the best of the best of movie magic. Horror, westerns, monsters, magic, superheroes, and larger-than-life tales of wonder are where it's at for me.
How do you evaluate a film in order to direct and produce?
Since my main skill is writing, if the story doesn't hook me, then I'm not interested. You can drop large action set pieces and snappy editing into any film, but if you can't emotionally connect to the characters or story, then the rest is just noise without any feeling.
How do you manage your time?
I work in a number of different verticals in the industry. Writing, producing, performance, and art all pull from the same well of creativity for me. Truth be told, my energy and drive manage my time for me in creative pursuits. The most important lesson I've learned is to manage my downtime. Namely, allowing for it to exist. A rested mind is a sharp mind, and anyone in this industry understands that it can at times be brutal, flighty, and unpredictable. Taking time for myself, stepping away and getting centered allows my creativity to flow and reminds me that I love what I do, so it rarely feels like work.
What was the most challenging time in your career and how did you overcome it?
My most challenging time came shortly after the release of my first produced feature. The world of independant cinema is a tough game. I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to develop, write, and produce a feature film right out of college. The skills and things I learned were invaluable, but the come-down from that experience was not something I was ready for. After all was said and done, and the movie was made and released, there was a great “unfolding” of my expectations and hopes. After such good luck to be in the position I was in, I found myself hitting a wall. More work didn't come, and I was forced to examine myself again and self-reflect to see if this was really something I wanted to continue to do. Luckily, I was able to refocus my efforts and found joy in the work for the work’s sake.
You have worked in different countries and experienced different cultures. What impact did visiting other places have on your artistic career?
Work has taken me to a number of different countries, and I was also lucky enough to get to experience traveling as a young student. Getting out of your own local bubble is something I recommend for everyone. The one thing you will most likely realize is how profoundly lucky you may be to live the life you live. Across the globe, people are all just people. They have fears, hopes, wants, misconceptions, and no one person or place will ever be truly perfect. The grass is greenest on the side of the fence that you choose to water. Gaining that perspective of the world during my trips to Brazil, Italy, Mexico, and other places has shaped me into what I hope is a compassionate and empathetic person committed to finding globally unifying stories that resonate with the hearts and minds of the world.
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What inspires you?
Creativity is a magical thing. I have a spark in my spirit that demands I always be trying to make something. Art, a short video, a written work, it's all a vehicle for me to express my interest and joy at existence. Life is a funny experience. My inspirations can come from anything: a phrase overheard on the street, a bit of trash on the ground, a piece of music by an artist I love. They all act as jumping off points for me, and I follow my instincts and creative flow in whichever direction it pulls me. It's always very chicken and egg for me between the foundation of an idea and the execution. I don't like to say that I create good ideas; I land them. Ideas and new things exist in that magical ether of existence and the trick is to guide them down to the ground, out of your mind, and onto the page or screen.
What would you like to share in this magazine that you have never shared before?
Recently, I have been on my own personal emotional journey and have come out of the closet as a bisexual male (yes, we do exist!). While this doesn't make me any more special or unique in my professional abilities, I am happy to be able to live more authentically by being open to expressing my truest self to the world.
What is your message for our Heart Of Hollywood Magazine readers?
Do the thing! It's that simple. The world is full of people wanting to tell you how to live, without investing any energy in your success. Learn to identify the energy sinks in your life, and then learn to kindly step away from them. The entire world will tell you what you can't do. Most of the time it's nothing more than them projecting their fear onto you. Always allow yourself absolute faith in your own abilities. You have to be your own biggest fan in this industry sometimes, but always keep an eye on those with good, genuine, and kind spirits. Good people are the greatest treasure in the world, so always be trying to gather good hearts and minds around yourself.
Website: www.flashboxfilms.com
Phone: 8174544143
Email:chase@flashboxfilms.com
Social media links: @Flashboxfilms & @Seebaxter on Instagram. Flashbox Films Facebook ( For gear rentals & Production services) & My personal Facebook ( For consultation, writing, and performance)
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