Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Kuck.
Hi Sarah, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Sure, and thanks for having me! I am a media maker, and I use digital cameras, computers, and pens to create. I have worked on magazines, blogs, documentaries, narrative films, and commercial projects at all stages of production. I am currently working on my fourth film project, Feels Like Now. In the series, we ask Austinites about concepts like change, loss, time, and connection to discover what it feels like to live in Austin now.
I am the daughter of a military doctor, and I lived in 11 towns and cities by age 13. That journey made me endlessly curious about home and belonging. Today, I find that much of my interest in storytelling revolves around exploring connectivity, community, and relationship.
In undergrad, I studied environmental journalism at Western Washington University. Afterwards, I worked in solutions-based journalism – at a magazine called Yes! and at a web outlet called Worldchanging. But after the 2008 recession, I saw it as essential to broaden my skill set by learning how to tell stories through video production. I went back to school to earn my master’s degree at The New School in Media Studies Theory and Practice, with a focus on documentary storytelling. I worked on various projects as an editor and camera operator, and loved working in New York. Then I met my partner and moved to Austin to be together. I have found nothing but community and friendship in Austin, and have had a great time working in the film industry here. Collaborating with other artists got me where I am today, and I am so lucky to be a part of our amazing scene here.
I have directed three short films and partnered with friends, independents, and corporations to do numerous other projects. My first film, Even the Walls, is on The Global Oneness Project. And my second, Retornados, is available on Pragda. And my third film, Tarcila: Indigenous Solutions to Climate Change from Peru, will come out on WaterBear on May 26. A big part of my last five years have been spent working with corporations like Meta, where I’ve been able to direct projects globally, and work with crews worldwide — from Nairobi to Istanbul, Delhi to Manila.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Looking back, I would say it is always a process! Some times are smoother than others. I work as a freelancer, so work ebbs and flows. I have huge amounts of self-doubt during the low times. And the film industry as a whole can be abusive, with extended hours, irregular pay, and physically taxing labor – depending on your role on set. I have learned to see the slow times as a gift of time for reflection and personal project planning, to set boundaries, and to work with people I trust for support and strength.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I head a production company called Present Medium, and we specialize in discovering heartfelt human-interest stories within the bigger waves of tech, business, and environmental news. We love to help our clients conceptualize, produce and deliver powerful video-based work to their target audience. We are an Austin-based production company working globally. We partner with business owners, communication departments, nonprofits and filmmakers to translate ideas into impactful media.
I am proud of the people I work with and around. I deeply respect the people who offer their time, share their thoughts and emotions with me, and speak with me in front of a camera. I think what sets us apart it’s is how we approach our work. We take a holistic view toward solving problems and storytelling, we focus on relationship building, we show care, and we create excellent work.
We all have different ways of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I would define success as a combination of earning respect from your community, meeting your definition of financial stability, and finding the ability to be at peace within the waves of change.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://presentmedium.com (Production Company), https://sarahkuck.xyz/ (Personal site)
- Instagram: @on_repeat, @tarcilafilm, @flnatx
Image Credits
Personal photo: Micah Vono
Additional photos with masks on chairs: Clay Barron
On the hillside: Leigh Newman-Bell
With an umbrella hunched over a table: Andrew Shepherd
Me with a mask on the viewfinder: Ivy Chiu
Large hall seated interview Tarcila poster
