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Daily Inspiration: Meet Alex Kessler

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Kessler.

Hi Alex, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started wanting to be a filmmaker at the end of my high school years. I attended Oakland Community College for their cinematic arts program. Having to work to work full time as well as attend school took a long time to finish. The next summer I began my search for work as a filmmaker. I found myself working on some student films from other schools and various short films by professionals and amateurs alike. I finally found myself on a feature film set for a few days working as a production assistant. While I was on that set I discovered my knowledge didn’t come close to success. So I worked and saved enough money to attend Motion Picture Institute full time. It was worth the work. Now that I’m about to graduate, I’m ready to make the journey of making my own feature film and gain as much experience working on other films.

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?
There hasn’t been a lot of feature films being shot in Michigan since the film incentive is gone. So finding projects has been difficult to gain experience. Having to work full time as well as attend school made it a slow going process.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an independent filmmaker. My passion is to tell stories that will motive others to create and inspire. I want to write and direct my own films as well as be a director of photography on other projects. I am most proud of the progress I’ve made between from my start until now as well as some of the ambitious goals I’ve set for myself. Filmmaking is what I will be doing for the rest of my life, there is no plan B. I love telling stories and motivating people to pursue their passion, so I want to strive to make something that can inspire others to create. It has taken me almost a decade to finish school, I am dedicated to the craft and hope to be a part of the most well known filmmakers.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success as being in a place that can inspire others. For example, Steven Spielberg has been one of my inspirations to become a filmmaker. Success can also be measured in how much of your personal goals you have achieved. Starting a family or getting the dream job you are a few examples of success. To sum it all up, success is the accumulation of accomplishments that the individual wanted to have and obtained.

Contact Info:

Man with glasses and short hair looking at a camera, holding a smartphone, in an indoor setting.

Two people stand near a picnic table outdoors in a park with trees and a slide in the background.

Three people outdoors, two women and one man, looking at a camera on a tripod, with trees and fallen leaves in the background.

Person in black suit standing outdoors near a large tree, with one hand touching their glasses.

Person wearing a black cap and black sweatshirt holding a vintage camera, against an orange background.

Child wearing a cap uses a video camera indoors, with people and furniture in the background.

Person wearing glasses and a cap, standing near a camera on a tripod, in a dimly lit room with a brick wall.

People sitting at a table with a person standing and holding a script, in a room with wooden shelves and decor.

Two people stand watching a man operating a camera at a table in a room with patterned wallpaper and a framed painting.

Person using a drill at a workbench in a room with wooden furniture and framed pictures on the wall.

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