We’re looking forward to introducing you to Faith Dismuke. Check out our conversation below.
Faith, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I think people are struggling with envy either with celebrities or people in their circles who may be succeeding in ways that they might not be at a particular time. I think people hide envy because the envious person is always the bad guy, the “hater”. Jealousy and envy are as natural feelings as joy and excitement. I think if people allow themselves to acknowledge their jealousy, they could possibly translate it to admiration or inspiration or motivation to work towards being like the person they are jealous of if possible.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Professionally, I am a Product/UX Designer. I’ve worked on features for large organizations like Sprout Social, a social media management platform and LINQ K-12, an ERP system for school districts. My success as a designer comes from being detail-oriented and having formal education in Communications and Marketing.
Outside of my work in design, I am filmmaker. My heartfelt and comedic scripts leverage empathy and my past experiences as a competitive track and field athlete and growing up in New Jersey in order to create worlds and stories that resonate with audiences. My heartfelt, animated short script, “I See You”, has received numerous recognitions in screenplay competitions including winner of the 2023 Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition and runner-up for the 2022 So Cal Screenplay Competition. My comedic, adult-animation half-hour TV pilot, “The Great Balgair”, has also received recognitions including semifinalist for the 2024 Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition and finalist for the Screenplay Pitch competition. Most recently, I produced my first comedy short film, “The Hotel Concierge”, which has been accepted into the ATL Comedy Film Festival, Urban Mediamakers Film Festival and the LA Comedy Film Festival.
I love to connect with others through visual and narrative storytelling and design. I believe a key factor in my success is that I am not afraid to try, fail, ask questions, and try again. This mindset holds me accountable and enables me to collaborate with others efficiently and effectively. I am confident in the things that I know and am unashamed in admitting the things that I do not. Regardless of the role that I hold in a project, I strive to produce the highest quality output that I can with the information and resources available to me.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I had to release the idea of giving 120% of myself in everything all the time. This was a mindset instilled in me both during my years as a competitive athlete and growing up as an anxious perfectionist. I was taught “quitting was for losers”, “never give up”, “give everything you got”. For the unhealthy obsession of track and field, I gave up time with friends and family and in many instances my sense of self worth and confidence. My entire identity was rooted in being an athlete which made me feel bitter and stressed.
In reality, life is about balance, and it is okay to prioritize some things over others. It’s also okay to let go of a dream in order to make space for a new one. Had I not quit track and field at the time that I did, I would not have met my wife. I would not have self-published my young adult novel, Sprint Dreams. I might not have explored screenwriting. I have had to learn that being tired is not a sign of weakness or laziness. It just means that time is needed to recharge or pivot. This lesson does not apply to everyone, but it was definitely needed for me.
Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
I miss a lot of old, childhood friendships. Like many other adults, I’ve lost a lot of friendships to time and distance. I think about some of those kids who are now adults like me. I miss having the energy after school to go and just hang out with whoever was around at the time. Now, things need to be scheduled and rescheduled in order to connect with others. It’s a natural progression in adult relationships, but it is sad to lose that spontaneity and levity of just hanging out.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
For the most part, it is. I may use fewer or no curse words depending on my audience. I code-switch at work, especially when answering phone calls. However, my values in showing respect to others remains the same. I enjoy listening to people share themselves with me, until my social battery runs low. Then, I retreat to my own work. I rarely lie because they go against my personal values and I am proudly too lazy to maintain them. I guess the way I present myself changes often, but my core self does not.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I am doing what I was born to do. From as early as I can remember, I loved reading stories and writing stories. While I released the idea that I have one calling that I must fulfill or my life is incomplete, I do believe that I am doing the thing that naturally aligns with my gifts and abilities.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dismukefaith.wixsite.com/faithdismuke
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithdismuke/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faithdismuke/
- Other: https://filmfreeway.com/FaithDismuke
Image Credits
On set photo by Sidhartha Wakade
