Written by Perrin Smith, Photos by Nick Thomsen
It’s quiet inside the Pei Ling Chan Amphitheatre. Rain pours down on the roof as Daniel Poler, a creative director for Condé Nast, begins his presentation. Over a dozen students lean in, poised to hear his insights on filmmaking and the fashion industry. Poler starts with a quote:
“Don’t think of luck,” Poler said. “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” This quote, taken from an anecdote regarding his promotion to creative director, became the thesis for the rest of his presentation.
As a creative director at Condé Nast, Poler works with brands such as Vanity Fair, GQ and Vogue. His work is seen by millions of people around the globe. But Poler, a SCAD alumnus who graduated in 2015 with a degree in Film and Television, stressed the importance of humility and preparation for success when it comes.
“The best projects come from collaborative sets,” Poler said.
When Poler came to SCAD, he had his mind set on being the next Wes Anderson – the next big auteur. This changed fast. Poler began assisting on film projects around campus, and when asked to help on a senior thesis project in his freshman year, his ideas about collaboration and production all changed. “Everyone on set had a word,” Poler said.
To Poler, either on set or in the classroom, it became so much more about what he could do to help out rather than what they could do for him. He’d hold lights, get coffee, anything – because every action on set matters and has a repercussion. By doing anything and everything you can to help out, you’re picking up skills you would never have had otherwise and building a name for yourself as a reliable collaborator.
“Learn as much as you can. It’s never a bad thing to know more than you need to know,” Poler said. Having extra skills make you marketable, but what really matters is putting yourself in a place to meet other people who can help you succeed. “Attend networking events in New York and Los Angeles,” Poler said. Your repertoire of skills only means so much if you’re not in the place to use them.
