We had the good fortune of connecting with Lowel Pierce and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Lowel, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I think the willingness to take reasonable risks is important in any career but even more so in a creative and artistic career. While working as a TV news photographer for Ch 13 in Colorado Springs I got an offer to take a job in Saudi Arabia shooting film for an American/Saudi media company in Riyadh. I had been planning to apply for a job at Ch 9 in Denver and stay in the local TV news biz but decided to roll the dice and accept the Saudi job instead. I had never travelled outside the US so I wanted to go see the world. It turned out to be a great opportunity and adventure that changed the course of my life.
Later, when I decided to go freelance, one of my first big jobs was being a director/cameraman on a documentary about 50 US kids traveling to the USSR in on a peace mission in 1987. Things were still tense between our two countries and I was a bit nervous to go but once again it turned out to be a life-changing experience. John Denver was part of the mission and we got to film a joint concert he did in Moscow with our kids, 50 Russian kids, and a Soviet rock band. Several weeks later we shot an interview with him at his home near Aspen and our documentary went on to win a regional Emmy award. Reasonable risks are a common theme in the life of a freelance cameraperson.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I enjoy any creative activity where I can express myself. For me, this includes video production, still photography, creative writing, playing guitar or writing songs. It makes sense to me that creativity comes from our Creator. I think it’s a gift from God and we’re all given a certain amount, which we can choose to use it in different ways. Some people use their creativity in business, or as teachers, doctors, researchers, scientists, landscapers, house painters, carpenters, plumbers, chefs, health care workers, real estate agents, etc. I love the variety of freelance video production because it’s always different from job to job. We’re constantly dropping in on a different business or activity and learning new things. There’s also freedom and flexibility in the freelance lifestyle, which is appealing. The downside is a lack of a steady paycheck, company provided benefits and a sense of security. You’ve got to be willing to live on the edge and keep the faith that another job will be coming in soon. Keeping a positive mindset is very important in any freelance endeavor!
Since I’ve worked in various parts of the film and video production business for many years I would say experience is my forte. My main passion is shooting and lighting but I can also put a team together to handle just about any type of video needed. From business marketing and promo pieces to documentaries and TV spots. I also work as a consultant and teach a 5-day video certificate workshop every three months for Boulder Digital Arts.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Since I live in SW Denver and assuming it’s summertime, I’d start by taking a visiting friend to Red Rocks Amphitheater in the morning to hike some of the trails or climb up the stairs to the top of the venue and see the views. Then drive down to nearby Golden and have lunch at the outdoor patio of the Table Mesa Grill and Cantina. After walking down Main Street to check out the riverfront area we could drive up to Central City and either take the Hidee Gold Mine tour and pan for gold or tour the Central City Opera House and grab a coffee or beer at one of the casinos. We’d drive back down the canyon and have dinner at the Fort Restaurant near Morrison. Another day’s activity would be an early bike ride along the Platte River with a stop at Nixon’s Coffee right off the trail near Hudson Gardens. After more trail riding we could pull over and have lunch at the Breckenridge Brewery. To work off lunch we ride up to Chatfield Reservoir State Park where they have 26 miles of trails to explore. By then it’s time to cool off at the swimming beach, complete with changing facilities. If we’re not too exhausted after all that we could go to Old Town Littleton in the evening and choose one of several good restaurant/bars there.
Another day trip could be driving to the top of Mt. Evans, Colorado’s highest 14er, then stopping for lunch at Beau Jo’s Pizza in Idaho Springs on the way back down. Next stop would be relaxing in the large Indian Hot Springs pool before returning to Denver.
Still another day could be driving to Colorado Springs, stopping at the Garden of the Gods visitor center for a coffee, snack and great views. Then driving slowly through the majestic red rock park enroute to the road that takes you all the way to the top of Pikes Peak, another 14er. They recently opened a surprisingly awesome cafeteria/visitor center at the very top so we could enjoy a light-headed late lunch. By the time we get back down the mountain (assuming our brakes hold up) and back to Denver, all we’ll want is sleep.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have been influenced and supported by so many people in my life starting with my amazing parents, Lowel E. and Annie May Pierce. Some career mentors include Fred Shook, my film teacher at CSU; Paul Franklin, who gave me my first film job and got me to Saudi; Randy Kunkel, Ole Larson, Luis Cordoba, my wife, Adriana, our daughter, Sophia, and so many others. Impactful co-creatives include Ellin Todd, Catherine Corona, David Kantor, Brian Malone, Ed Done and Rich Golish to name a few. Three very influential books in my life have been have been the Bible, the Perennial Philosophy and the Urantia Book.
Website: www.lowelpierce-dp.com
Facebook: Lowel Pierce Productions LLC
Other: Vimeo.com (search for Lowel Pierce)