We recently had the chance to connect with Graham Northrup and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Graham, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I’ve always had this “make a plan, work the plan” mindset. It’s how I’ve navigated most of my life: education, career, even creative pursuits. There’s comfort in knowing the next step. And for a long time, that structure pointed me toward being a solo artist. That felt right.
But lately, something’s shifting. I feel like I’m being called to lead in a way I haven’t before. Not just directing films, but establishing a studio. That’s exciting, but it’s also a little scary. Because it means stepping into a role I used to think was for someone else. Someone with more experience, more resources, more… something.
It means being seen. Not just for the work I create, but for the values I hold and for the way I lead. For the kind of stories I want to tell and the kind of people I want to tell them with.
Raising capital used to feel like a hill I didn’t know how to climb. I’d look at it and think, “I don’t have the network. I don’t speak that language.” Someone once told me to my face, “You’re not much of a fundraiser, are you?” But now, I’m starting to see it differently. It’s not just about money, it’s about offering for people to be part of something meaningful. Something that’s fun. Something is going to matter, now and much further down the road.
And then there’s the shift from being a solo creative to building a team. That’s a big one. I’ve always liked having control, knowing every detail. But I’m realizing that if I want to build something that lasts, I have to let go of some of that. I have to trust the awesomeness of others who put their heart and soul into their work. I have to build systems that reflect my values, not just my preferences.
Visibility is another layer. I love affirmation as much as the next person, but I’ve never chased the spotlight, and I still don’t want to. But I’m starting to understand that being visible isn’t about ego, it’s about clarity. It’s about helping people see what Northrup Studios stands for. It’s about being a lighthouse for collaborators, investors, and audiences who are looking for something real.
So yeah… I’m being called to lead. To build a studio. And while that used to scare me (and don’t get me wrong – it’s still daunting), it feels like now it has become my calling.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m someone who’s always been drawn to stories. Not just the telling of them, but the shaping of them, first as an actor and director, then as a writer and producer. My path hasn’t been linear, but it’s always been driven by a deep belief in the power of story to both entertain and enlighten.
Northrup Studios is the evolution of that belief. It’s a production company that’s a creative home for stories that stick with you after the credits roll. Even though we can produce excellent stories in various genres, my focus going forward will be on so-called genre films – specifically science fiction adventure and thrillers. We want every film we make to incorporate a strong moral compass. We make stories for families who want to be entertained and moved, and for anyone who’s hungry for meaning along with spectacle.
We want our films and stories to resonate on a very personal level with our audience, Every character’s journey, every plot twist, every visual choice is meant to leave people feeling something. And we do it with great care for the individual collaborators on our projects. People who work with us know they’ll be respected, heard, and supported. A gaffer on our upcoming feature film said: “One of my proudest moments this year is finally coming to a screen near you. The best crew. The best cast. Simply put: One of the best experiences my young career!” It’s this kind of collaborative and caring spirit that we want to be part of our brand.
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Right now, we’re gearing up for the release of An Aspen Christmas Conspiracy, our first feature, which goes into distribution this November. It’s a big milestone, and it’s helping us lay the groundwork for what comes next: growing the studio, working toward a slate of films, and eventually launching a fund to support the kind of work we believe in.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One of the defining moments of my adult professional life came during a chapter I never expected to be so formative: teaching high school theatre in a really tough environment.
These were students who had zero interest in theatre. Not just disinterest, they actively resisted! They were so quick to tear each other down that the idea of getting them to express any kind of vulnerability on stage felt impossible. I remember standing in front of that class, trying to summon the energy to lead a group that didn’t want to be led. I couldn’t even get them to stand in a circle. It was exhausting and disheartening. It shook my confidence.
For months, I relied on worksheets – worksheets! In a drama class! It felt like a betrayal of everything I believed about the power of theatre. But it was the only way to keep the class from completely unraveling. Slowly and painfully, I chipped away at the resistance. Eventually, a few students agreed to try some of the games and exercises that, in most settings, are the fun part. That tiny breakthrough felt monumental.
I swore I’d never put myself in that kind of situation again. But looking back, that experience taught me something I carry with me every day: if I can survive that – if I can find a way to connect, to lead, to create even in the most resistant environment – then I can do ANYTHING.
That moment gave me a new injection of confidence. It didn’t feel like a triumph at the time, but it became the foundation for everything that followed. It gave me the courage to pursue directing, then writing, then producing. And now, to step into the role of studio head. It taught me that leadership isn’t about having all the answers or being able to control every outcome, it’s about staying in the room, even when it’s hard, and believing that something meaningful can still emerge.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, I think it would be this:
It’s wonderful to be good at something. To be competent, even excellent, at your craft. That drive to master your skills is a gift. But don’t let it stop there.
Because just as important – and maybe even more so – is the ability to build and nurture relationships. Friends, collaborators, mentors, peers. People who bring their own knowledge, networks, and humanity into your life. People you can learn from, grow with, and support in return.
Networking isn’t about collecting names or climbing ladders. It’s about cultivating mutually meaningful relationships. Ones that evolve over time, that deepen with trust and shared experience. Relationships that will nourish you, challenge you, and remind you of who you are when things get hard.
And you’ll be a light in their lives, too. Your skills, your care, your presence—those things will mean something to the people you work with. So don’t go it alone.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I hope that people would say that my family – my wife and 5 daughters (and 1 son-in-law so far!) – are the most important thing in my life. My creative pursuits are a reflection of how I feel about them. My stories are often motivated by my experiences in my family, extrapolated into adventure, drama, and of course comedy!
Everything I do is with an eye toward their well-being, whether that’s providing for their needs, or hoping to inspire them in their lives.
Professionally, I think they’d say I’m someone who’s always trying to grow. I’m constantly learning, trying to understand more about my craft, about myself, about how to lead better, parent better, love better, create better.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I think the story I’d hope people tell about me when I’m gone is that I gave people something to aspire to. That through my films, they got a sense of who I was, not just as a storyteller, but as a person. That the values I imperfectly tried to live by – determination, kindness, faithfulness – were reflected in the characters I created and the worlds I built.
I hope people say that my work sparked something in them. That it gave them hope, or made them think, or helped them imagine a better version of themselves or the world. That it wasn’t just entertainment, but something that stayed with them.
And more than that, I hope the people closest to me – my family, my friends, my colleagues – felt that same spirit in how I lived. That I practiced integrity, and was generous with my time and personal attention, That I made space for others to shine.
If that’s the story people tell, I’ll feel like I did something worthwhile.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.northrupstudios.com
- Instagram: @northrupstudios
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graham-northrup-05437497/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northrupstudios/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@northrupstudios/
Image Credits
Julie Perez-Chavez, Peggy Wilkie
