CHESLEY HEYMSFIELD, 34
Executive director and founder,
Louisiana International Film Festival and Mentorship Program
Since moving to Baton Rouge, Chesley Heymsfield has been on a mission to spotlight Louisiana talent as well as the state as a destination for film-making and entertainment. In just a few short years, she has leveraged her network as a director and producer in New York and Los Angeles, growing the Louisiana International Film Festival and its reputation across the globe.
Inspiring book: The 48 Laws of Power
It’s an interesting interpretation of human relationships, though I would tend to disagree with one of the 48 laws, ‘Get others to do the work for you, but always take the credit.’ My philosophy is always to share credit and take responsibility.
Major professional accomplishments: Multiple video awards; co-founded representation firm Pangea Reps in the heart of Santa Monica and managed such companies as Stan Winston Studios and ReelFX for commercial production/post/vfx. She served as visual effects producer on theatrically released Bratz and visual effects associate producer on “Hostel: Part II”. She co-wrote the feature film screenplay Vijj to be directed by Robert Englund based on a novel by the Russian author Nikolai Gogol and served as liaison for her the Royal Family of Qatar for a biography film on the poet Rumi. She also adapted the feature thriller screenplay, Webcam for Spanish-based Sole Goldstern Media and I Want To Be A Soldier for Barcelona-based Canonigo Films. I Want To Be A Soldier, filmed in Spain with Danny Glover and Robert Englund, won the Rome International Film Festival 2010 Kid’s Choice Award.
PROFESSIONAL
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Entrepreneur, music composer and film director.
What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? Working at a pool snack bar. Bikinis may be able to solve world problems.
What is your favorite place for a business lunch in Baton Rouge?Roman’s
What do you consider your greatest achievement? A lion’s pride is a social group of lions that cohabitate and like those animals I take most pride in those who surround me both personally and professional- those relationships with interesting and diverse people from around the world is my greatest achievement.
The old saying goes, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Specifically, what are you “being” to make Baton Rouge better?Progressive, tenacious and future-focused.
What has been the most fulfilling moment in your career so far? Double locking my door while sleeping at Freddy Krueger’s house and writing a screenplay with him.
What was your professional aha moment? When I realized with a cell phone you can do business anywhere in the world.
TECHNOLOGY
Mac or PC? Mac
What’s your preferred mode of communication: text or phone call? Text
What app gets you through the day? Google Translate
PERSONALITY
Breakfast at home? Breakfast on the go? Breakfast at your desk? No breakfast at all? I only have breakfast at Waffle House at midnight.
If you could build a statue downtown, who or what would it represent? Fred Williams
What’s your motto? Believe in the potential of others to do good as much as you believe in yourself.
Which living person do you most admire? My Father
What trend do you really wish would come back? 90’s hip-hop.
Which talent or superpower would you most like to have and why? Be psychic. Actually I knew you were going to ask that question …
If you worked for the CIA and needed a top-secret alias, what would yours be? Reine de la Douleur
If you could live anywhere on this planet and take everything that you love with you, where would you choose to live and why? Toulouse, because it was the best eight hours I spent in France.
What do you most value in your friends? My friends are great listeners, they always have the best advice and really care about my well being.
If you had to be a teacher of something, what would you teach? Anthropology, philosophy and political science.
What is your theme song? En Vogue’s “Free Your Mind”
LOOKING AHEAD
What’s the next challenge you have planned? Growing the film festival into our future vision, writing and taking on new business endeavors.
