Meet Cole Mitchek | Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cole Mitchek and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cole, as a parent, what have you done for you children that you feel has had the most significant impact?
As a new parent, I quickly realized that it’s okay not to have everything figured out. It’s an amazing experience to feel like I’m still growing up while also having a toddler to take care of every day. It’s nice that I mostly work from home so I get to be with little Elliott all day. Having a kid helped me to realize the importance of showing my vulnerabilities and my weaknesses to him. I think that is the most important thing I can do to have an impact on him. There’s a lot that he can learn from me and there’s even more that I can learn from him.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The dream early on was to direct feature films, and I made one titled ‘nosebleeders.’ I’m currently writing the second titled ‘leBoy.’ Inspired heavily by the work of Charlie Chaplin, it’ll be a movie that takes place in modern times but feels like it could’ve been made 100 years ago. In between the gaps creatively is my music video series ‘smallsongs.’ There’s new videos coming out every week on youtube and instagram featuring small & stripped down performances on the streets of different cities around the world. For almost a year we lived in a bus during the pandemic and travelled the country shooting these music videos in their hometowns while they were stuck at home. Then the baby grew out of the bus and we settled down in Denver. Now I mostly film bands touring through town just hours before they have shows at venues like The Bluebird Theatre or Globe Hall.

I have a need to be constantly creating and luckily I don’t have too much shame behind the work that I put out for the world to see, so that means there’s a lot of it. But I aim to grow both creatively and technically as a filmmaker and I believe that I’ll make it there.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For years I worked part time as a dog walker, walking the streets and finding unexpected urban gems. My love for walkable cities started in Paris and led to San Francisco where I went to film school. I now live in Denver where you need a car to get around. But Denver is definitely one of those cities with lots of hidden gems. The best itinerary usually involves the best food. So we’d eat out for every meal at the best vegan spots in town, from Uncle Ramen to City o City to Watercourse Foods to Blue Sushi Sake Grill and on and on. Art District Antiques is special, The Denver Art Museum is nice, City Floral is cool, and if my kid Elliott is around then we’d probably end up at several different playgrounds and parks within the city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to recognize the support I’ve gotten from my family and my parents in particular, and also from my wife. When I first dreamed up making movies as a career, I didn’t realize how hard it is to be an artist. I didn’t realize how few people out there are actually capable of doing it as a living. But even though the journey hasn’t been as quick or dreamy as I initially envisioned, I wouldn’t replace it for any other life. Early on I discovered an intentional recognizable style in my work, and I’m slowly but surely building some more recognition. But I certainly wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without the support and love that I’ve gotten from the aforementioned loved ones.

Instagram: @smallsongs_ or @colemitchek

Twitter: @smallsongworld

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallsongworld

Youtube: www.youtube.com/smallsongs

Other: Watch Nosebleeders at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6Qmv0Art0w&t=12s Support ‘smallsongs’ on Patreon at : https://www.patreon.com/smallsongs