#81 - Matt Aitia - What It Really Takes to Make Your First Short Film
Tue Jan 27 2026
In this episode of The Creative Gap Podcast, filmmaker and YouTuber Matt Aitia opens up about risk, identity, and the long road toward creative ownership. The conversation begins with a reflection on resilience, patience, and betting on yourself when there are no guarantees. Matt breaks down his approach to goal-setting, consistency on YouTube, and why process matters more than surface-level metrics. He shares how stepping away from steady lighting work forced him to confront fear, redefine success, and rebuild his identity beyond job titles. A major focus of the episode is his short film Get Up, Try Again—from self-funding and committing real money, to directing for the first time, navigating anxiety, post-production setbacks, and learning when to “kill your darlings.” Together, the conversation explores mentorship, networking as relationship-building (not transactions), the emotional cost of creative transitions, and why sustainability—not status—is the real measure of success. It’s an honest look at what it means to keep creating, even when certainty disappears.
JOIN CIVA COLLECTIVE ► https://www.civacollective.com/
WATCH TRAIN GET UP, TRY AGAIN ON YOUTUBE ► https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ho6585isjY
Follow Us!
Matt Aitia: Instagram | Website
Carlo: Instagram | Website
The Creative Gap: Instagram | Youtube
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⚙️ GEAR USED TO MAKE THIS PODCAST:
Rodecaster Pro II: https://amzn.to/3RluSeV
Rode Podmic: https://amzn.to/3RpaR77
Mic Stand: https://amzn.to/4caJUfi
Camera 1: https://amzn.to/45h5E7b
Camera 2: https://amzn.to/45g8iKx
Light: https://amzn.to/3KK6XSt
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In this episode of The Creative Gap Podcast, filmmaker and YouTuber Matt Aitia opens up about risk, identity, and the long road toward creative ownership. The conversation begins with a reflection on resilience, patience, and betting on yourself when there are no guarantees. Matt breaks down his approach to goal-setting, consistency on YouTube, and why process matters more than surface-level metrics. He shares how stepping away from steady lighting work forced him to confront fear, redefine success, and rebuild his identity beyond job titles. A major focus of the episode is his short film Get Up, Try Again—from self-funding and committing real money, to directing for the first time, navigating anxiety, post-production setbacks, and learning when to “kill your darlings.” Together, the conversation explores mentorship, networking as relationship-building (not transactions), the emotional cost of creative transitions, and why sustainability—not status—is the real measure of success. It’s an honest look at what it means to keep creating, even when certainty disappears. JOIN CIVA COLLECTIVE ► https://www.civacollective.com/ WATCH TRAIN GET UP, TRY AGAIN ON YOUTUBE ► https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ho6585isjY Follow Us! Matt Aitia: Instagram | Website Carlo: Instagram | Website The Creative Gap: Instagram | Youtube ____________________________________________________ ⚙️ GEAR USED TO MAKE THIS PODCAST: Rodecaster Pro II: https://amzn.to/3RluSeV Rode Podmic: https://amzn.to/3RpaR77 Mic Stand: https://amzn.to/4caJUfi Camera 1: https://amzn.to/45h5E7b Camera 2: https://amzn.to/45g8iKx Light: https://amzn.to/3KK6XSt