Snowcap

- Unfortunately I was busy, having decided to visit my first baseball game ever - bored out of our minds we ended up leaving after an hour and finished watching the game on the television screen at a Italian restaurant. But that’s another story. 

Although slightly delusional, leaving the club thinking he was a better dancer than me (he wasn’t) he had awoken my curiosity. 

As everyone knows the first rule (or perhaps it is the third) for someone in pursuit of her goals, is to find people who they find inspiring and not loose sight of them, in a non-stalker-like way(!). And Trevor being a thirty-something producer and director working, living and eating in New York City, definitely had that inspiring vibe. Perhaps it was partly the seduction of the City he was living in. Either way, it isn’t too often you meet a career focused person who dreams big and really works to make them come true. 

So you’re both a producer and director. Does that basically mean that you’re a complete control freak? 

— I am pretty much a total megalomaniac control freak. That said, I think it's important for any director to listen, assess and incorporate the ideas of your collaborators as much as possible. When other artists are offering their creative energy to make you look good, you are a dummy to not receive it. 

What exactly is the difference between what a director does and what a producer 

does? 

—The definitions are kind of fluid from medium to medium, but for the most part the director is in charge of orchestrating everything that goes on the screen and the producer is in charge or orchestrating everything that goes into the production of the thing. Since my company is still on the smaller side I often find myself doing both, but when I can afford to hire a producer it makes my job an absolute dream. 

What does a regular work day look like? 

— There are basically 3 kinds of work flows. Pre-production, which is about 1 week when I’m on the phone and email coordinating, writing scripts and occasionally stepping out to have meetings and scout locations. 

Production it self is all in all 1-2 days per project. Very long days of about 10-12 hours on set. I wake up very early to plan the day, then spend the remainder of the day trying to execute that plan or react to unanticipated problems/keep everybody happy and finish the shoot on time and not loose my mind. Then I go home and worry about what I screwed up until I pass out. Finally there is post-production which is 1 to 2 weeks per project of me editing from home or at a cafe in my neighborhood (Park slope, Brooklyn). This is generally the most relaxing part, though sometimes a bit monotonous. 

Just like a typical New Yorker, you seem to work a lot. How is your work/life balance? 

— Pretty great. Being a freelancer I get to travel a bit more than most of my friends who are full-time employees. That said, there are some weeks/months where I feel like I am never off the clock. Above all, I love what I do and it never feels too much like work as much as it is a passion. 

Finally, I heard somewhere that you’re into staring. What’s the deal? 

— As a creative living in the city, I think it's important to do nothing whenever you get the chance. A HUGE part of being an artist is daydreaming; seeing the thing you want to make in your head long before you do it. You have to fight to make the time to do this kind of daydreaming, but to me, it's essential to making something worthwhile.

How do you avoid looking creepy? 

— I politely explain that I am a registered sex offender. (<= Does this joke translate in Swedish?) 

For those curious about his debut movie, here is an entry I wrote about the Jane and link to the movie, The Jane. 

 Random facts about Trevor: 

What movie can’t you believe people haven’t seen? 

"Beginners" by Mike Mills, starring Ewan McGreger and Christopher Plummer. It is just so delightful. 

What’s your favorite drink: 

Dirty Bombay Sapphire martini, up. 

Choice of food when working: 

I have a like to eat and edit at an Italian café. Usually eat the salmon and goat cheese panini with an iced double espresso 

Pass-time of preference : 

To go the metropolitan museum and stare at american landscape paintings. 

Favorite milkshake flavour? 

Vanilla.

Sound machine hit of the month? 

Airplane engine. 

 Photo by: Kati Keyes