Some careers begin with a plan.
Others begin with a feeling you can’t shake.
For Tamara Black, it started in a high school film class. One project turned into curiosity, curiosity turned into obsession, and before long filmmaking became the only path that felt right.
“I absolutely loved it. It felt like the only thing I ever wanted to do.”
Today, Tamara works full time in the film industry as a director, producer, and writer, building a career one project at a time. But the road there was anything but predictable.
The Leap
Like many creatives, Tamara didn’t jump immediately.
After graduating, she took a stable 9–5 job where she was learning and growing. But the thought of filmmaking never really went away.
“A few years later I realized I’d regret it if I didn’t at least take the risk and give it a go.”
Leaving comfort behind meant starting over.
In her late twenties, Tamara traded a stable career for the uncertainty of freelance film production. She went from office responsibilities to long days on set as a production assistant, unsure of what the next step would be or how long it would take to get there.
It’s the kind of pivot that looks bold in hindsight but feels terrifying in real time.
Behind the Highlight Reel
From the outside, the film industry can look glamorous. But Tamara is quick to remind people that most of the journey happens behind the scenes.
“I’ve been told I seem like I have it all together,” she says. “But that’s the illusion of the highlight reel.”
The reality is far more human: late nights, exhaustion, self-doubt, and the quiet pressure of building a career without guarantees.
“No one sees you crying to your friend at 2am, double dashing fries and cake, or lying in bed exhausted while chores pile up.”
It’s a reminder that almost everyone is navigating the same invisible struggles, even when their lives look polished online.
Playing the Long Game
One piece of advice stuck with Tamara early in her career.
A wonderful editor she worked, Miguel Barbosa (who collaborated with her on Breagh Isabel's music video for "Girlfriends") used to repeat the phrase “the long game".
For a while, Tamara even set it as the background on her phone.
Freelancing in film means living with uncertainty. Projects come and go. Opportunities appear suddenly and sometimes disappear just as quickly.
In 2023, she experienced one of her lowest points professionally. Then a string of opportunities opened up.
A fast-turnaround podcast project called Close Friends Only introduced her to new collaborators and eventually led to working with director Brent Hodge on HBO’s An Intimate Evening with Adam Pally.
Moments like that reinforce what she already knew.
Careers aren’t built overnight. They compound.
Progress, Redefined
These days, Tamara measures progress differently.
“The notion of consistency and building something over time,” she says.
Instead of chasing milestones on a strict timeline, she focuses on the daily work. Small steps forward eventually add up to something bigger.
It’s a mindset that keeps the process manageable and meaningful.
The Plain Pillars
Impact First
Tamara credits Vancouver’s indie film community for helping shape her career.
Working on independent sets gave her the chance to learn, collaborate, and support other creators bringing their visions to life.
“I helped facilitate someone’s creative vision, and I’m proud of that.”
Identity is Earned
Early in her career, asserting herself on set didn’t come naturally.
Working as a 1st Assistant Director changed that.
It forced her to find her voice, lead teams, and navigate an industry where women are often expected to take up space, but only in certain ways.
Finding a leadership style that felt authentic became one of the most rewarding parts of the journey.
Small Bets, Big Ideas
Confidence didn’t arrive overnight.
Tamara describes herself as naturally someone who listens first and questions herself often.
But filmmaking requires self-promotion and visibility.
Over time she’s learned that confidence doesn’t have to mean ego. It can simply mean believing in your work enough to share it.
The Middle of the Story
Like many people featured in In Plain Sight, Tamara is still in the middle of the journey.
And she’s okay with that.
“These are the moments we need to enjoy or nothing will ever make us happy,” she says.
Recognition may come later. But the work itself - the stories, the collaborations, the process of building something - is already meaningful.
Sometimes she thinks about the younger version of herself who first fell in love with film.
And she smiles.
Because that version of her would probably think this life is pretty cool.
