Ditching the Playbook and Building a Sustainable Creative Career

Written By Drew English

Drew sits down with Blake Pfeil & Jeremiah Wenutu on Cinema Kingston! to explore his winding path from music production to becoming a sought-after director of photography, podcast studio owner, and host of No Set Path. They unpack the reality of being a multidisciplinary creative, building community in the Hudson Valley, and why storytelling matters more than the tech behind it.

Key Topics & Timestamps

  • 00:00 – Drew's introduction and impressive client roster (Adobe, Netflix, HBO, Disney+)

  • 02:00 – How Upstate Podcast Studio evolved from a basement setup to a professional Kingston space

  • 06:00 – The challenge of being spread thin across multiple creative ventures

  • 09:00 – Feeling like an outsider in the film industry while pursuing diverse interests

  • 14:00 – The frustration with editing other people's work vs. creating your own passion projects

  • 16:00 – The Hudson Valley creative community: talent is everywhere, but connection is key

  • 19:00 – Two years of HBO production boom post-COVID, then the 2024-2025 slowdown

  • 22:00 – Plans for No Set Path: building in-person community events and brand expansion

  • 24:00 – From UMass Lowell recording school to New York City music production

  • 27:00 – The pivot moment: buying a Canon 7D at B&H and teaching himself cinematography

  • 30:00 – Starting No Set Path during COVID as a vehicle for meaningful conversations

  • 33:00 – The unexpected impact: random emails from people inspired by the show

  • 37:00 – Why Drew asks "how did you get here?" instead of "what camera did you use?"

  • 40:00 – The realization: storytelling is the thread connecting everything

  • 44:00 – Storytelling as a buzzword in tech startups and why humans gravitate to narrative

  • 45:00 – The Goonies, Spielberg, Lucas, and movies that shaped a generation

  • 50:00 – Easter eggs, film scores, and the magic of eighties adventure films

Takeaways

  • Being multidisciplinary isn't a weakness. It's your unique advantage in a changing creative economy.

  • Community over hustle: the Hudson Valley has incredible talent, but genuine connection matters more than networking.

  • Storytelling transcends medium. Whether it's cinematography, podcasting, or coaching, story is what connects with people.

  • Most successful people don't actually know what they're doing. They're "failing upwards" and figuring it out as they go.

  • Name things well: Upstate Podcast Studio succeeds organically because of smart, searchable naming.

  • Your creative path will look like a lot of different things. Let it evolve naturally instead of forcing a single direction.

  • The tech doesn't matter. People care about the emotion and story, not your gear list.

Resources & Links

Drew English
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