TEXARKANA MONTHLY
W hen we think about a Renaissance man, most of us think of those great men of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, whose brilliant plays and poetry we’ve studied in books and whose breathtaking works of art we’ve seen on chapel ceilings. Centuries later though, right here in the year 2020, you still occasionally run across those rare individuals who seem to become an expert at every task they set their hands to. Michael Ulmer may be Texarkana’s very own version of a Renaissance Man, living as “a digital nomad,” and finding inspiration in the fascinating people, exotic food, and peculiar sights he experiences during his adventures around the world. “Growing up in Texarkana I was involved in a little bit of everything; [that’s] a common theme my entire life,” he said. “My parents are pastors, so I was always at every church event, and by the time I was a senior in High School at Redwater, I played football, ran track, acted in the school play, was president of the National Honor Society, created a film study club, went to UIL state in photography, and started a weekly news show called Dragon Breath. I was fortunate that I was surrounded by amazing teachers and coaches who helped me pursue all my different interests and didn’t force me to stay in one lane. My parents, teachers, coaches, and everyone around me always believed in me more than I believed in myself and that drove me forward to achieve things I didn’t think I could. I don’t say all of that to brag, or to say ‘look at how much I did,’ but to show how all that set the stage for my path towards a very eclectic future where I let my passion and curiosity drive me forward into new ideas and new fields.” For a short time after graduating from high school, acting was the focus of Michael’s pursuits. After gaining some experience and success in that arena, he wondered if he may be on the wrong road, headed in the wrong direction. “I had been doing videos and photos since I was in 7th grade, just playing around with the cameras and computers that were at church. After deciding to let all that go, and to pursue acting with full force, I realized that I wasn’t as passionate about acting as I was about creating. So, I started making videos again, short films and short documentaries, and over time people started contacting me wanting work, and it just took off.” These days, you can find Michael spending his time traveling the world, looking for the inspiration to his next work of art that may come in the form of a photograph, a short film, a commercial, or a pyrography art piece. “I work as a freelance filmmaker and artist or a Visual Creator. In simple terms I create visuals, video, photos, and graphics for clients and for my personal artist portfolio. I’ve had the pleasure of doing video work with global brands like WD- 40, National Geographic, Bissell, Green Giant, Melitta Coffee, and many more. It’s a fun blend of creative work and strategic marketing work that I love.” Though the world is Michael’s home, and he lives at no permanent location, Texarkana and Redwater remain a couple of Michael’s favorite backdrops for his filming and photos.
NEGATIVITY by Michael Ulmer
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