Dallas Lillich is a creative director and filmmaker who arrived in Telluride from Brooklyn in June of 2020. A versatile editor across the commercial and avant-garde worlds, his experience with every step of video production, from inception through filming and finishing as a Flame artist, is sought after by national brands. He is presently preoccupied with shooting high-concept films in Southwest Colorado.
IF YOU COULD HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH ONE ARTIST, ALIVE OR DECEASED, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
I’m not sure artists have much to say to each other, but in the interest of having a good time, I would choose Philip Roth. I would like to have witnessed his stand-up routines before they hit the page. Sabbath’s Theater is one of the wildest books I’ve ever read, so I’d start there.
Which artistic media inspires you most?
It’s probably an even split between literature, music, and painting. That’s what I love about working in film: all the art forms come together, and the effect is something other than the sum of its parts.
What is your favorite awkward growth moment or barrier-breaking time?
I got a job photographing a VIP event at the White House Press Correspondents Dinner during the Obama era. There was a photobooth that printed out red carpet portraits. I thought it was a brilliant idea to make my holiday cards while we waited for the celebrities to arrive. I really went for it.
Only when the event was well underway did I realize that the photos were also being projected onto a giant screen in random order. I had taken so many ridiculous portraits that the sequence was me, a celebrity, then me, and another celebrity ad infinitum. I figured this was unforgiveable, but the glitterati reacted enthusiastically, and the client was thrilled with the photos. I can’t think of a better example of “fake it ‘til you make it.”
Osama bin Laden was caught the next day, so it all got buried.
What inspires you and/or keeps you engaged and moving forward?
The environment surrounding Telluride is a perpetual source of energy and fascination – locking into the feeling of the American Southwest fires my imagination. The drive to create imagery I’ve never seen before leads to jamming disparate ideas together until something new bubbles up. Watching it all come together is intoxicating!
Tell us about your upcoming events, new releases, or anticipated projects.
Elena Levin, Stash Wislocki and I recently started a film production company called Tiny Empire. We’ve just wrapped shooting a “Proof of Concept” film that we are confident will attract outdoor brands to work with us here in Telluride. We shot local talent who gave incredible performances, and the result is something gripping and unusual.
I’m equally excited about a character-driven short film idea in the early stages of gestation.
Aside from that, I’ve spent a fair amount of 2023 trying to combine my love of country music with grunge to create something I’m calling “Crunge” music.