by Mike Romero
Interview Conducted By Zach Collier | Photos By Kory Archuleta
In an era where technology has completely transformed creative careers, few understand this shift better than filmmaker Cole Walliser. Reflecting on his journey, Walliser reveals a rare perspective on balancing art, technology, and life in a field that literally didn’t exist when he first picked up a camera.
For those who don’t know, Cole Walliser is a filmmaker, director, and media personality known for his work with the Glambot, a high-speed camera that shoots 1,000 frames per second. He’s made a name for himself both behind and in front of the camera, meeting and shooting nearly every celebrity you can imagine while at high profile red carpet events. His unique technology, fun persona, and wild end-product results have led him to an audience of over 4 million Instagram followers and nearly 13 million TikTok followers.
“When I started picking up a camera, this job didn’t exist,” Walliser laughs.
The Glambot is the first of its kind, and Walliser is one of a select few who pioneered its techniques. The format is so novel that it required a bit of education and explanation for those he was shooting, which led to regular opportunities for Walliser to be in front of the camera. For Walliser, this evolution has been a positive force, shaping his career in ways he never could have envisioned.
His story reflects a broader transformation in media – a shift from traditional filmmaking into a hybrid landscape where creators are expected to be versatile storytellers, technicians, and sometimes performers. Walliser acknowledges both the pros and cons of this new world: on one hand, it has offered fertile ground for creative exploration. On the other, it can be all-consuming. Walliser tries to strike a balance in everything he does.
Walliser’s journey is marked by an intentional balance between two extremes often seen in creative industries: the pure storytellers and the tech-obsessed gearheads.
“I've always been super into tech, you know what I mean? And I've always really been curious on how new technology develops and how I can tell a story with that technology,” he says. “I tried to make a conscious effort when building my career to find the balance in between these craft/storytelling folks, and then the super gearhead folks. I saw people that were at the extremes of those things. I've seen people who are so into craft and story that they literally don't know how to push the record button on a camera. And I've seen people that are so into tech and the latest gear and all these stats and details that literally don't know how to use the equipment to tell a story.”
“There was this dichotomy that was like, oh, if I go too far down one of these paths, I might end up with a peculiar challenge that would make it hard to be successful.”
He deliberately cultivated skills in both storytelling and technical mastery. “If I ever found myself spending too much time watching gear reviews or doing too much gear stuff, I'd be like, okay, don't focus on this so much, think about story,” he explains. “But then if I'm focusing on story and craft but new cameras come out, I'm like, okay, pay a little attention and get some understanding for what this new tech is and where we're going.”
This focus on balance extends beyond craft and tech. Walliser’s passion for filmmaking remains rooted in pure enjoyment. Even before his career took off, he was shooting and editing videos for the love of it. He recalls many late nights in college when friends were out socializing, but he chose to stay in and edit, simply because it brought him joy.
This enduring passion fuels his work today. While he appreciates the variety of jobs and projects that come his way, he approaches each with curiosity and a desire to learn, regardless of the brand or budget involved. “I'm fortunate enough to thoroughly enjoy all of the gigs and jobs that I'm doing. I think they're all fun and exciting. I do my best to find the value and benefit from a career, personal growth, or entertainment standpoint on all the gigs I do,” Walliser says. For him, filmmaking is not just a job – it’s a continuous creative journey.
That creative journey has led him to a wonderful place. He’s found that the less he focuses on “getting credit” for his work or advancing his career, the better things go for him. For example, he used to get really frustrated when people would steal content from his channel and share it without tagging him.
“What's curious about my career is that the value is in a general awareness of me,” he muses. “I realized this as I cared less about people reposting my content. Sometimes it would get reposted and then get like 10 million views and I'd be mad because that's not on my account. But I think I reached some tipping point where I'm just in the zeitgeist of pop culture now. So if it goes on this account with 10 million, that account with 10 million, it's still my face everywhere. I care less about tangible returns. I think the goal is just people getting an understanding of the type of person and creative I am. I think there's value in that.”
That acceptance and optimism has helped him feel more carefree as he pursues his dreams and practices his craft.
“I think the nonchalant approach brings peace of mind to me,” Walliser says. “If I stress too much about making my career the most efficient thing I possibly can, my own wellbeing would suffer. I'd rather my career suffer a little bit and my wellbeing be top notch, than my wellbeing suffer and my career be top notch.”
Finding time to recalibrate and blow off steam outside of work is really important for Walliser, especially as momentum around his work has grown. “I’m very cognizant that my approach to my career has to be sustainable. I need to reduce the frequency or the probability at which I'm gonna hit burnout because then I'm gonna be screwed,” he laughs. “When creating becomes a point of contention or a point of stress, it ruins the enjoyment, ruins the art.”
To escape the grind and re-center, Walliser enjoys surfing and going to the gym. It helps him focus and get excited about the future again.
“I think the idea of tomorrow – the thing that I pull from it – is this idea of exciting, endless possibilities. What can be done tomorrow? The answer is endless.”
“People ask me for career advice about how to navigate their career early. And when I think back to my time, my early time in LA, I have such a fond memory of it. There’s this really unique nostalgia to this era where anything and everything was possible. There was something so special and inspiring about that time. Now granted, it was challenging at the moment because I was stressed about rent and eating. But it was this really special time where the future was unwritten and the possibilities were endless. There was almost this naiveness of the early years that just allowed me to think bigger.”
Pausing for just a moment, he concludes: “I think the idea of tomorrow still harnesses that in a lot of ways.”
In a time when the landscape of content creation is more complex and exciting than ever, Cole Walliser’s insights remind us that success is not just about talent or tools but about finding harmony among all the parts – from embracing the unknown beginnings of a new career path to consciously balancing art and technology, story and craft, and above all, maintaining the passion that brought us to creativity in the first place. He exemplifies a thoughtful, adaptable approach to creativity.
