5 Things You Need to Learn from Self-Taught Filmmaker, Dr. Arshley Emile
In the 3rd episode of IN BTWN ARTIST, I sit down to interview Dr. Arshley Emile who is a Haitian-American director and award-winning cinematographer with a prolific career spanning only 8 years. Here are 5 things you need to learn from Arshley’s creative career and journey so far.
#1 Follow your calling. Do what you are called to do.
Arshley did not submit to his calling immediately. He let fear and self doubt drive him at first. However even then, his path continued to teach him and position him back in alignment with his calling. Arshley is a born filmmaker. His journey is a wonderful portrayal of what it can look like when you submit to the calling, submit to the uncertainty, and ultimately trust the destiny that has always been yours.
Yes, we have free will, and I still believe that we are here for a reason and one way or another your life’s purpose reveals itself. I think our callings are multifaceted. They can manifest in a variety of ways and the choices we make in our everyday lives chart that path ahead. When we move in alignment with our calling things make sense. I won’t say things come easily, because maybe your journey requires some levels of difficulty or turbulence to prepare you for what’s ahead. Nevertheless, when we submit to our life’s purpose, our calling, that gut feeling and idea you’ve carried for decades, we unlock a new layer of potential in ourselves and in our lives greater than we could have ever imagined.
#2 Build Your Inventory One Gig at a Time
This is some practical wisdom. Include rental fees for your own equipment in your contracts. If you have invested in equipment and someone is hiring you to use said equipment, consider that in your pricing. As a photographer, I am the type to use what I got until I am forced to upgrade. I make do with what I have. Arshley talks about investing in what you need and not what you want. He also shares how he made back the money from his new gear investments within months by being intentional by including this in his pricing.
This lesson is beyond practical; it’s a business saver and just makes sense. Rental houses exist for this very reason. If you are going to make use of a particular piece of equipment often you might as well own it.
#3 Hustling Will Only Take You So Far
In the episode we take a moment to dive deeper into Arshley’s relationship with hustling and why he made the conscious decision to pivot away from hustle culture. He shared that when you are hustling you are “Money focused” and willing to do “whatever” comes your way. It’s fair to say that hustling creates an intensity and hyper focused energy on securing the bag by any means necessary. This mentality is anti-rest and not sustainable. Thought leaders like Tricia Hersey underscores the toxicity in hustle culture in her instant New York Times best seller book, ‘Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto”.
Arshley admits that though he was a good hustler that did not translate to being a good businessman. As his career as a filmmaker began to grow he leaned on his wife’s incredible business acumen and support as Executive Producer for their company Timberhouse Films. He shares how he has been learning from her and discovered that hustling is ultimately exhausting. As a busy creative entrepreneur, husband, and father to 3 children and a dog, the pivot was necessary. The hustler in him was all he knew but now he is at a point in his career where that is dying in him.
#4 Make sure everyone has their own LLC
Another piece of practical and smart advice from Arshley and his creative journey is to make sure everyone has their own LLC. This lesson is especially important for creatives who work in teams often. Arshley shared how he doesn’t monopolize opportunities for his crew. Every film project may lead to a member of his crew getting requested for something else and as an independent contractor they are set up to take on that gig without ‘permission’ from Timberhouse Films.
I think the beautiful thing about this is to imagine the number of people Arshley has worked with who now have their LLC because he required it. This small formality is a huge barrier of entry for people who assume it’s expensive or don’t take the time to do the paperwork. You would be surprised at how easy it is to secure an LLC in literally minutes! Also kudos to any business and creative partner who isn’t looking to monetize or ‘gatekeep’ your skills. Arshley is fostering a crew that trusts working with him and would welcome future opportunities knowing that a job with Timberhouse Films can be a path to something more.
#5 Work While You Wait
I saved the best for last. Work while you wait (W.W.Y.W.), has become a mantra of sorts for Arshley and his Timberhouse Films crew. In our episode he shares that he always tells his crew to work while they wait (on God) so that they never get rusty. Keep practicing and honing your craft is the moral of the story here. As creatives we can’t sit and watch paint dry while you wait for your big break.
Boy does this resonate heavily with me especially as I work through a season of transition on the cusp of my next big thing. There is always more to do, more to read, more to practice, more to try. There are plenty of things to do to keep you at the top of your game in whatever field you find yourself in. You can’t expect to land the gig when you’ve been out of touch with trends, technology, methodologies, and more. You can’t start the business without creating the plan, assessing the climate and competition. We all can benefit from adopting this mantra to Work While You Wait.
Listen to the full episode with Dr. Arshley Emile with Timberhouse Films here or watch our interview on Youtube linked below. If you have any questions for Arshley send them in via the comments below or join us live on Tuesday May 13th, 2025 for a live Q&A to get updated on Arshley’s filmmaking career.
IN BTWN ARTIST is a podcast about navigating sustainable creative careers hosted by me, Stephanie Brown, and presented by Next Chapter Podcasts.
Listen to the podcast anywhere you like to enjoy your podcasts. If you feel compelled leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us grow.
