Today we’d like to introduce you to Geneley Childress.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
My first time picking up a camera was when my mom wanted me to record the food she prepared for my little brothers’ birthday. Like many moms, she is the historian of our family. Anything and everything had to be documented, and I was the one who always had to do it.
Eventually I started to use the camera in more creative ways than just recording and taking pictures of birthday cakes. My whole life I grew up dancing. From dancing traditional Filipino Folk dances with my cousins to dancing hip hop on the dance team in middle and high school. Dancing was my number one passion so I turned the camera away from parties and started to record me and my friends dancing and our competitions. Sooner than later I started acting and created short parodies to film.
Fast forwarding to the end of my senior year of high school, I wasn’t sure if I was good enough to purse a dancing career. I wasn’t even sure that I was going to keep dancing after I left high school. I did know that I was falling more and more in love with the camera. I originally wanted to pursue photography as a major however they didn’t have that option at Georgia State, therefore I took film.
At the time I still didn’t know if film was something I was certain about. I wasn’t the biggest movie fan, I was terrible (still am) at remembering actors and directors’ names. I couldn’t tell you when a movie was produced and why it deserved to win an Oscar. I remember sitting quietly listening to my classmates discuss the aesthetics of shot or the precision of the camera movement. I never in my life thought about any of those when I watched a film. I started to question my passion.
Although I had doubts, I never really let it stop me from creating. With friends, I entered short films into movie festivals that was held on campus and then I challenged myself to write, shoot, and produce a short on my own. I called it Survival. Out of 244 films submitted my short was top 16. I remember sitting in the Rialto, anxiously waiting to see if I had what it took to me just good enough and then my short started playing. One of the best feelings I ever felt. That was confirmation.
After discovering and rediscovering my love for film, I still was attached to my first love – dance. I was heavily involved in the Filipino Student Association dance team on campus. We competed every year with other FSA’s in the SE region and every year we placed. I picked up the camera but the lens was back to focusing on birthdays.
After graduating I did what many people do after graduating found a regular job that had nothing to do with my degree. I was working as a gate agent at the airport. I was nervous that dream of being a director was fading because I kept getting rejected from film companies and studios all because I didn’t have the “experience”. I didn’t know how get the experience if no one was giving me the opportunity to gain it, therefore I started paving my own way. That’s when Flatline Cinema started.
I started off small. I did vlogs, dance videos, and traveling video. Eventually I started shooting promotional videos for my boyfriend during his DJ gigs. He doesn’t know this but it wasn’t until I met him that I was truly inspired in my craft. He was one of the first people who truly believed in me and stood behind it vocally and consistently. He always gave me feedback and was always down to let me be creative. His energy and faith gave me strength to quit my job and truly start this road of being an entrepreneur.
Soon enough, I started to gain more clients and Flatline Cinema was gaining attention. This journey lead me to other local artists and creators that have similar experiences which led me to create Real People of Atlanta, a show that highlights all creators from all over Georgia. The shows purpose is to hope to inspire other creators to continue their journey as well as help expose more positivity in our community. I wanted to create a visual platform that artists can come on and share their story.
It’s been a year since I started Flatline Cinema full time, and every day is a new lesson and experience. This journey, through its ups and downs has taught me to get out of my own, help others to create a way, to new friendships, and to even love.
Please tell us about your art.
When people watch a movie, if its good enough, they get lost in it. They feel what the character is feeling and during the climax of the movie their heart skips a beat or feels like it has stopped – like they just flatlined. That’s the purpose behind the name Flatline Cinema. My goal is to create material that the audience truly can involve themselves in – whether its relatable or just understandable. I want my audience to feel something when they finish watching a short, a highlight reel, or a promotional video.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing artists today?
Exposure and opportunity. Especially in Atlanta. I think many people view Atlanta as celebrity central (at least one of the centers) and that overlooks all the local artists. Trying to get an opportunity without a big name or following behind you is tough here and anywhere.
Contact Info:
- Website: Vimeo.com/flatlinecinema
- Email: flcfilm@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/flatlinecinema
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/flatlinecinema
- Twitter: twitter.com/flatlinecinema
Image Credit:
The three pictures without me in them are taken by me – Flatline Cinema
The AD/Wedding Package picture is taken by Marissa – Marissa Rose Photography
The Picture with me and my boyfriend (Julien Virgin) laughing is taken by Josh -IG:@slashedlife
The two pictures taken of me behind and in front of the camera – Julien Virgin
The picture of me and my boyfriend interviewing someone – N/A
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
