Meet Topher Groenink a filmmaker focused in video production. Topher has worked with Lions and Rabbits on After Dark 20’ and 21’ while also putting together every awesome video we’ve published for fundraising, events and initiatives. We are honored to have him on the team, encapsulating all of what LRCFA does. We invite you to learn more about his work in the following interview.

Q: How did you get involved with Lions and Rabbits?

A: I remember when Hannah worked at the Winchester, we had mutual friends and I loved her art so I probably stalked her a bit. Fast forward 7+ years, I kept seeing the Lions & Rabbits name tied to all of these really cool initiatives and events. I was like, yo I gotta get involved with this squad, they're doing amazing things for our city! I hit Hannah up and we shot a few classes for an art education series. Now, after 3 years, we're still making movies, in fact we're filming a cool video this afternoon!

Q: What themes/ideas are highlighted in your work? Intentions?

A: I think one of the most important themes of my work is that I want people to see my art and think to themselves, "first of all, that was dope, second, this guy looks like he is having a blast doing what he loves." Another important aspect of my work is that I want to showcase the talent we have locally while also sending the message to the global community that art is pivotal to change and progress. The system is designed to protect the rich and powerful; I want to play my part in addressing the inequities in our society and help rebuild the system so that everyone truly has everything they need to sustain a happy life.

Q: Run us through your creative process - How do you start, flow and finish?

A: Starting any sort of art is always a bit scary, and the same goes for making videos. In any art form, but especially video, the most important question to answer is "what story do I want to tell?" I work with a wide variety of clients and my process is always similar. I use a tool called Milanote which allows me to start with a literal blank slate. Through meetings and research I'll brainstorm and jot down any idea that comes to mind. Then, I'll iterate on those ideas until a story becomes apparent, create a shot list, schedule a shoot, and edit. I love all aspects of the filmmaking process, from pre-production to production (filming) to post-production (editing). Over the years I've developed a style that carries over into all of the projects I work on. It makes me happy when people watch a video and they say "This looks like a Topher video.”

Q: What obstacles/struggles have you encountered throughout your career as an artist? Or challenges you face through your creative process

A: One of the biggest challenges lately is simply the cost of equipment, haha. Being a solo filmmaker is not cheap and sometimes it's difficult to convince prospective clients that the cost is worth the investment. Another challenge is focus. Lacking focus can lead someone down a road of complacency. I got into filmmaking because I love to make videos, but once you begin accepting every job that comes your way it can start to feel like a typical 9-5, which is one thing I told myself I never want to do again. It's important for me to work on projects that fulfill my goals of 1. having fun, 2. uplifting others, and 3. not burning out.

Q: How were you introduced into the world of art? Self taught, schooling, mentor, etc?

A: Self taught, ever since I was a little kid I've been running around with any video camera I could get my hands on. I consider myself very lucky to have discovered my passion at such a young age. I've come a long way from pirating editing software in elementary school.

Q: Who/what are your biggest inspirations that play a key role in the work you produce?

A: I take a lot of inspiration from the people around me, especially the local artists making this city cooler every day. I'm also very inspired by music. Often times the part of editing a video that takes the longest is finding the perfect music to complement the story; if the music is off, the whole vibe of the video is off! A few of my favorite directors that have inspired me are Alfred Hitchcock, David Lynch, Lars Von Trier, and Stanley Kubrick

Q: Is there anything you wish you could change about your work?

A: Hmm, if there's one thing I could change about my work I think it would be the ability to spend more time on each project. Often times projects overlap and deadlines are tight, which forces me to make sacrifices I wish I didn't have to make.

Q: What mistakes have you made? What did you learn from them? What are you trying to get better at?

A: I think the biggest mistake I made in my career as a filmmaker was to deviate from my goals in my early 20s. I remember when I was around 20 I said to myself "OK, I've got some cool videos I want to share with the world, so now I need to build a website to promote them." Little did I know that building that website to share my video work would send me into years of designing and developing websites for clients. After years of getting sucked into user interface design and programming I remembered why I learned to make websites in the first place... to share my videos! Fortunately I'm back on track with making videos and not websites. I'm always trying to improve my craft. There's never a day that goes by that I don't learn something new and useful in the filmmaking world. Whether it be an editing tip or a lighting trick, it's all about constantly elevating.

Q: Do you feel supported by your community as an artist? In what ways could you feel more supported?

A: Very supported, I would love to collaborate more with local filmmakers. Maybe even a weekly meetup where we share tips and tricks of the trade or share insights about new trends in the filmmaking world.

Q: Describe a moment when you felt most proud of yourself

A: I made a short documentary in 2020 about the Lions & Rabbits initiative, After Dark. Countless hours were spent filming and editing a video that I wasn't sure would end up telling a good story. It was a passion project of mine, a project I used in order to level up my skills as a camera guy, an editor, and a story teller. I'm proud to say that not only did I finish the video, but it turned out pretty damn cool.

Q: What's most important to you about what you create, and how it impacts others?

A: The most important part of what I create, to me, is that I had a d**n good time creating it.

Q: What's next? What are you currently focusing on or looking forward to?

A: I'm currently working on building my own video production company that I call "Don’t Feed the Ducks." We have a few projects currently in the pipeline and can't wait to spice up the local video production world with our own unique flavor. Throughout my career I've had the opportunity to connect with some super talented filmmaking nerds and it's about time we show the world what we can do. We're about to take this city by storm so watch out!

Q: What does being an artist mean to you? What is the function of artists in society?

A: Being an artist is a practice in self-discovery. The more you're willing to break down walls and be honest with yourself, the more you grow as a human and as an artist. Artists are some of the most important people at any point in history. Artists reveal the true nature of humanity; life, love, and death. A life in which art doesn't exist, isn't appreciated, isn't examined... isn't a life worth living.

Q: And of course, if you could chose any vehicle to travel, real or imaginary what would it be?

A: An old a** Volkswagon Bus (probably lime green or orange)

Follow more of Topher’s work at tophergroenink.com and Instagram instagram.com/toph.g

Thank you for tuning into this week’s Meet the Artist, be sure to checkout more artist stories every week on our blog!

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Topher Groenink: Meet the Artist

Kevin Wolfrom: Meet the Artist

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