How To Turn Pain Into Art?

Heather McGrath is a Boston-based photographer and director whose work blends raw emotion with cinematic style. In this episode, we dive into her decade-long vision for a music video born from heartbreak — and how she finally brought it to life on an LED wall.

Music Video: https://vimeo.com/1114447138

We talk about the realities of filmmaking: picking the right crew, trusting collaborators, surviving feast-or-famine cycles, and the “post-project crash” every creative feels after shipping something big. Heather opens up about turning personal grief into art, why trust is more valuable than gear, and how to navigate a creative career when the industry feels uncertain.

Whether you’re a filmmaker, photographer, or just someone chasing a creative vision, this episode will hit home.


Chapters

00:00 – Intro
01:22 – Meet Heather McGrath & Parachute Studios
02:13 – The decade-long idea: heartbreak & sandstorm visions
06:39 – Shooting on LED walls vs. green screen
09:16 – Pitching and building the music video
11:06 – What production on a wall actually takes
17:21 – Trusting your crew & the struggle of letting go
19:55 – Breaking into the “inner circle” of filmmaking
23:31 – Making a big project happen with no budget
24:22 – “Should I just be a locksmith?” — feast & famine in the industry
28:49 – Using (or avoiding) AI in creative projects
34:25 – The obsession with light & color grading
43:51 – Client restrictions & using work in your portfolio
47:59 – The post-project crash & creator depression
51:05 – Workaholism, fear, and growing up without stability
55:36 – Standing out in a crowded creative scene
56:51 – Video games, horror, and unlikely sources of inspiration
01:00:20 – Magazines, film photography & visual style
01:07:08 – Gear talk: RED Komodo, Leica glass & renting gear
01:17:40 – Upcoming fashion film project
01:21:25 – Why personal projects teach the most
01:22:34 – Closing thoughts

Follow Heather McGrath:
  / heathermcgrath  
https://heathermcgrath.com/


Follow Sean Collins:
  / sean-r-collins  
  / seancollinscreative  
  / jukebooth  
htttps://www.jukebooth.com

Listen to Crafted Process on Spotify/Apple: https://link.chtbl.com/craftedprocess
Subscribe for more stories from creators:    / @craftedprocess