Ditching the Playbook and Building a Sustainable Creative Career

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 & Timestamps00:00 – 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 space06:00 – The challenge of being spread thin across multiple creative ventures09:00 – Feeling like an outsider in the film industry while pursuing diverse interests14:00 – The frustration with editing other people's work vs. creating your own passion projects16:00 – The Hudson Valley creative community: talent is everywhere, but connection is key19:00 – Two years of HBO production boom post-COVID, then the 2024-2025 slowdown22:00 – Plans for No Set Path: building in-person community events and brand expansion24:00 – From UMass Lowell recording school to New York City music production27:00 – The pivot moment: buying a Canon 7D at B&H and teaching himself cinematography30:00 – Starting No Set Path during COVID as a vehicle for meaningful conversations33:00 – The unexpected impact: random emails from people inspired by the show37:00 – Why Drew asks "how did you get here?" instead of "what camera did you use?"40:00 – The realization: storytelling is the thread connecting everything44:00 – Storytelling as a buzzword in tech startups and why humans gravitate to narrative45:00 – The Goonies, Spielberg, Lucas, and movies that shaped a generation50:00 – Easter eggs, film scores, and the magic of eighties adventure filmsTakeawayBeing 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 & LinksCinema Kingston!: https://radiokingston.org/en/broadcast/cinema-kingstonDrew's Website: www.drewenglish.comLights and Years Media: www.lightsandyears.comUpstate Podcast Studio: www.upstatepodcaststudio.comNo Set Path Podcast: Search "No Set Path: Creative Entrepreneurship Stories" on your podcast appNo Set Path Newsletter: https://thedrewenglish.substack.com/Drew's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drewenglishh/Drew's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewenglish/