Meet Long Island Featured Artist: Cristian Murphy
CRISTIAN MURPHY is a documentary filmmaker based in Bayport, New York. (www.darkroastfilms.org / www.masterpiecesthefilm.com)
CATHOLIC ARTIST CONNECTION (CAC): Where are you from originally, and what brought you to your current city? How long have you been here? Why did you decide to move?
CRISTIAN MURPHY (CM): I am originally from Bucharest, Romania. I was born there and at two years old I was adopted into a NY family. I have since been here on Long Island. I love the island and how it captures the best of everything. The city is close and we can also enjoy the quiet of eastern Long Island when we want. It’s perfect!
CAC: How do understand your vocation as a Catholic artist?
CM: My work as an artist is directly rooted to my faith and my vocation as a Catholic. When I was able to connect my skills as a filmmaker with my love for Christ I felt my work truly take form. It was then, around age 25, that I realized, “Oh, I am called to use film to share the faith…”
I have found support from many places within the Church but specifically I have found great support from our local media/TV station, Catholic Faith Network led by Mgsr. Jim Vlaun. Mgsr. Jim saw some of my early work and invited me to join their team as a freelancer and was incredibly supportive of my ability to capture true stories. He gave me the spiritual push to take the next step with my filmmaking and I am extremely grateful.
Through my newest film, MASTERPIECES, I was able to connect with many Catholic artists and develop conversations about what it means to be a Catholic artist. I was specifically inspired by an online group called Catholic Creatives. This group is doing amazing work online to connect all artists and get us all to share our work and inspire each other. It is incredible and they have done amazing things for us all!
CAC: How can the Church be more welcoming to artists?
CM: I think it is important for Church leaders to empower artists and hire more young artists to do projects for their ministry. The Church must let artists into the space of creativity. I think Mgsr. Jim did a kind thing when he gave me a small chance to work with him and get my work aired on TV and promoted. He empowered me and it was the small push I needed to feel confident about my work. I am so grateful for that and I think if more leaders take chances like that they will see that there are so many creative people in our Church who can do great things. More hands, makes less work and better work!!
CAC: How can the artistic world be more welcoming to artists of faith?
CM: I think the artistic world is more welcoming than we sometimes think or can remember. I think if we just let the work speak for itself then there is no reason we shouldn’t be welcomed. As a filmmaker I always remind myself of the film “The Passion of The Christ” by Mel Gibson and works by Terrence Malick or even Paul Schrader. The fact that these films are not only made but are incredibly successful reminds me that the world wants art rooted in faith, we as artists just have to do it right and be clever in how we spread messages of faith.
CAC: Where do you regularly find spiritual and artistic fulfillment?
CM: I find great spiritual fulfillment in the Sacrament itself, and working with the CFRs has been a great spiritual experience. I have had the opportunity to do some volunteer work with the CFR shelter (South Bronx), and through getting to know the Friars, I have found great inspiration all areas of my life.
For artistic fulfillment, any movie theater does the trick. I simply love films and love watching all types of films. I am consistently amazed by the medium and I love watching everything to learn as much as I can.
CAC: What is your daily artistic practice?
CM: Working in the documentary area of film requires a basic knowledge of filmmaking as a whole and through that I have found great love in the editing process. Having said that, I constantly edit and work on different editing tricks. Even if I am not working on a specific project I like to edit anything and try new things. I find the editing process to be such an amazing experience and it brings me so much excitement to slowly sculpt footage into a story.
CAC: Describe a recent day in which you were most completely living out your vocation as an artist.
CM: Making my new film, MASTERPIECES, was incredibly fulfilling on so many levels. But to give a specific answer, shooting a scene for the film with Sculptor Christopher Alles (one of the subjects in the film). I spent a day filming Christopher in his studio and we did a sit down interview for the film. He was such an interesting and inspiring person. I came away from that day feeling like God called me to make this film so that I can share Christopher’s gifts with an audience. He says such awesome things in that interview and it just felt amazing to be able to be the one who captured it all. I am so proud of the film and what came of it all. I can’t wait for you all to see it!
CAC: How do you financially support yourself as an artist?
CM: Thankfully my primary career and work is in College Ministry/Theology so my work in the Church takes many different forms. I received my master’s degree in Religious Education/Ministry and I use it in various ways. This is great for me because I love working in Catholic education and my vocation as an artist doesn’t have to rely on my finances, alone, which lets my filmmaking stay fully honest and directed on the mission of faith. I am super lucky and grateful for that.
CAC: What other practical resources would you recommend to a Catholic artist living in your city?
CM: Be creative with your gift and don’t let your art exist in one bubble. When I realized that I could have a vocation for school ministry and that that ministry could help my art, my world was fully opened up. Dig deep and ask God, “how can I be fully accessing my vocation? How can I fully live it out? Are there other more creative ways?” Those kinds of questions were huge for me.
CAC: What are your top 3 pieces of advice for Catholic artists post-graduation?
CM: 1) Don’t settle in any areas of work/life.
2) Make sure that your art is bringing you joy and those around you joy.
3) Always ask yourself, how is my work as an artist making me a better version of myself and making others around me more aware of Christ’s love?
I invite you all to check out my new film, MASTERPIECES. It was made for artists and I am so proud of it!!! We have some great screening opportunities coming up and it will be streamable soon.
