Today we’d like to introduce you to Cade Burk.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Cade. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born and raised in Bedford, Texas, attended Trinity High School and graduated from Texas Tech.
Acting was something I knew I wanted to do my entire life, but I was too hesitant to commit when I was in middle school and high school.
When I got to college, however, I was able to take acting classes to fulfill my art credit. I ended up failing the class. The professor emailed me and told me I should be trying out for school productions and then failed me right after, haha. I didn’t blame him though, I never went to class, unless it was a day where I had to stand up and do a scene. I was too focused on rushing a fraternity and drinking margs at Chimys at the time. It worked out though because I had to retake it and ended up approaching it in a lot more serious way. It was truly a wake-up call. After I retook it (and passed this time) I knew, with a great deal of conviction, what I wanted.
My first film, Jeepers Creepers 3, was in theaters and is now on Netflix and cable. I think they run it a lot on TV during October for Halloween. I also filmed a Tom hanks movie for over a month in Baton Rouge. It’s called Greyhound. Sony is releasing it in 2020.
However, the project that’s been taking up most of my time these days is a film I wrote, produced and starred in, titled Central Standard. I wanted to make an indie film with my friends, sure, but if I’m being honest with myself, I really was just tired of not having more opportunities to work in the types of projects I wanted to – so I made my own. I love Texas and wanted to be able to shed a little more light on the film industry here. I also was able to shoot the majority of principal photography in my grandparent’s home in Stephenville, Texas.
It meant a great deal to me. I spent so much of my time in that house growing up. Now that they’ve passed away, my family will be selling it soon, so I’m incredibly grateful to be able to always have this film.
I learned so much from this experience. Most of all, as we head into post-production, I’ve come to realize what experts mean when they say “the movie you write, the movie you shoot, and the movie you edit” are all three different things. Regardless, we have a lot of really talented people involved (thankfully. most of them are Texas too) and I’m anxious to see the final product.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not smooth, haha. Working in this industry makes you feel so neurotic. High-highs and Low-lows! One minute you could be feeling so down, then five minutes pass, you get a new audition you’re pumped about, and suddenly you have a new lease on life!
For me, I can get really methodical in terms of approaching a goal. I line everything out in my head and think if I tackle A and B then it will result in C. With acting, it’s far from being that linear. Because of that, it can be challenging. You could knock out A through Z and still come up empty-handed. Hearing myself say that out loud feels weird and a little daunting, but there is nothing in this world I would rather be doing.
Making your own film comes with an arsenal of challenges in itself. I was fortunate to have Jency Weeks and Raymund King in my producing corner. I also am so indebted to the flat out kindness and generosity of good small-town Texas people. Especially the community of Stephenville, Texas. A lot of strangers were so helpful along the way during our shooting schedule and it alleviated so much hassle at times. Big thanks to Jake and Dorthy’s and Rocking P!
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
Central Standard:
A young man longs to grow and move forward in Brooklyn, yet still finds himself cherishing, with a great deal of loyalty, his hometown Texas roots. He’s torn between these two worlds, feeling the weight of southern shame and the pressures of idealistic New York success, “Central Standard” is a story of acceptance and the miles we are willing to go to feel it.
When we venture out to pursue our dreams, who are we leaving behind?
Is it worth the sacrifice of losing shared experiences with our family and the ones who know us best?
In Central Standard, we follow Canyon Riggs in the deep buzz of New York City living when he is called back to his home town in Texas. Pausing his life of auditions, his 9-5 office job, and the rush of the Big Apple, we dive into Canyon’s past life and learn what he might have been running from all along, and what he might be forced to revisit upon his return to Texas.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Authenticity.
I can get a little hard-headed when it comes to creating something. If it doesn’t feel like me or if it’s not something I am fully excited about -I’m out.
I think it takes a lot of trust in yourself and your team to try and keep in mind that what you’re doing is in a style that you believe in. If other people like it, cool, but it’s important to stay true to what you know and want in terms of art direction. I think being super hyped about an idea, working alongside hardworking people to bring it to life, and being proud of what you created is without a doubt how I would define success.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.centralstandardfilm.com/
- Email: cade.m.burk@gmail.com
- Instagram: @cadeburkinc
Image Credit:
Kaitlin Scott
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