In this episode of Ashes to Architects, host Brian Cartier sits down with Jens Reyes for a raw, wide-ranging conversation about what it really means to be an artist—especially when life, money, stress, and other people’s expectations start creeping into the work.
They unpack the difference between “artist” and “content creator,” why calling your craft a “hobby” can feel insulting, and how creators slowly drift into work they never wanted (until they wake up ten years later stuck in a lane they didn’t choose). From creative integrity and choosing the right clients to impostor syndrome, ego, validation, and self-sabotage—this one is a deep dive into the inner life behind the output.
Jens shares the real story behind his shift into cinematography: betting on himself, learning by studying examples (not tutorials), building relationships that opened doors, and why filming your “normal” life can become a way to reclaim your memories and your identity.
If you’re trying to build a creative life that’s actually yours—this episode is for you.
Topics covered:
• Artist vs hobby: identity, respect, and why language matters
• Creative integrity: choosing projects that fit your voice
• The “client trap” and how creators lose their original vision
• Stress, pressure, procrastination, and the “tortured artist” pattern
• The messy studio vs the curated aesthetic (and what’s real)
• Learning by watching films and studying frames—not just 101 tutorials
• Impostor syndrome: the fuel, the cost, and how it shows up on set
• Validation, ego, and why “you did it” can be a trap
• Keeping plans quiet, protecting momentum, and staying grounded
• Turning everyday life into art—and recording what matters
Chapters:
00:00 Artist vs “hobby” — the identity battle
02:29 Picking the work (before the work picks you)
04:50 Evolving mediums, hating the client process, finding your lane
06:35 Pop-up shows, creative spaces, and building scenes
09:01 Creativity under stress + the “tortured artist” loop
11:09 Pressure, procrastination, and buzzer-beater creativity
13:15 The irregular mind, the messy process, and making the mess
18:01 Learning by studying examples, not tutorials
20:19 Wide-angle storytelling + using the frame to make people feel
22:20 Jens’ origin story: phone edits → Fuji camera → going all in
24:35 The “Netflix camera” moment + betting on yourself
29:29 Relationships, reputation, and doors opening at the right time
31:48 Impostor syndrome and proving it to yourself
37:04 Projection, self-doubt, and how we create problems that aren’t there
39:26 Risk, purpose, and choosing what matters long-term
46:07 Comfort with chaos, negativity loops, and patience
53:00 Manifestation = thought + action (not magic)
55:22 Noise, audience pressure, and protecting the art
57:43 Vision vs goals + “don’t chase trends, chase the art”
1:02:23 Keep plans close + why praise can kill momentum
1:12:51 Why “you did it” isn’t the point (doing vs done)
1:21:50 Receiving compliments, trauma triggers, and learning to accept
1:30:49 “Your life is worth filming” + the memory reclaiming story
1:37:50 Ego, artistry, and creating what you want to exist
• Follow Jens Reyes
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