Meet Talon Reed Cooper | Filmmaker, Photographer, and Creative Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Talon Reed Cooper and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Talon Reed, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I previously worked as a casting producer with a LA-based production company, some big names and networks were attached to it, too. The opportunity was great, but I realized after some work tension…I hated working FOR other people. I wanted to work WITH other people. I was so tired of feeling that in order for me to be successful I had to do work I didn’t enjoy, that was so far from the truth.

Success isn’t a specific job, salary, or title, it’s creating work that fuels your creative spirit. So…I decided to take the plunge and go freelance!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I always tell people professionally, I’m a queer filmmaker, photographer, and creative director with a passion for social justice and queer representation in media. I share my love of storytelling to amplify queer and marginalized voices.

On a more personal side (although all of the above is true), what sets me apart is I was raised in a very challenging environment. Okay, it was a cult. Without going into too much detail (look for my life story on a screen near you lol) it’s a world where individualism is discouraged, gender is specific, and conversion therapy is normalized. Naturally, I stood out like a rainbow in a midwest tornado. My parents allowed me to create and learn outside of that environment in photography and theatre, which was the greatest gift they gave me.

Flash forward to 2022, I’ve had the opportunity to direct multiple films, work as a casting producer in Los Angeles for reality television, and photograph queer folks and drag performers across the US and Canada (soon to be Europe!). You are in control of your own narrative, but never shy away from the past that is quintessential to who you are. That’s my brand, that’s my story.

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.
What is San Diego without the historic Balboa Park and Old Globe Theatre? You must! I’m the royalty of good atmosphere, so you have to visit Seneca, Part Time Lover, Allegro, Neighborhood, Cafe Gratitude, Underbelly…I could go on, but I won’t.

If you’re queer or a strong ally, check out Hillcrest and the amazing queer businesses, restaurants, and clubs!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I initially entered entertainment when I was 10 in community theater, this time was incredibly foundational to my creative development. I was exposed to so many different forms of art and people I had never encountered. Julie, the creative director of the theatre, embraced my quirkiness and (what I didn’t know then) my queerness with open arms. She found a way to make each one of us kiddos feel seen, heard, and cared for. All while teaching us the simple art of storytelling. I can never repay her for the wealth of knowledge she invested in me. Storytelling, in a broader sense, is now my career.

Website: https://www.talonreedcooper.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talonreedcooper/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talonreedcooper/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/talonreedcooper

Image Credits
Talon Reed Cooper