I was born and raised here in Dahlonega. I grew up doing two things, hunting and playing baseball, and I always told myself I was going to figure out a way to make money doing one of those two things…turned out hunting turned out to be the way I could do it. I played baseball at UNG (formally NGCSU) where I was a pitcher. When I was not playing ball or practicing I was looking for the next hunt to go on. I quickly wanted more and more challenges when it came to hunting so I started to film hunt for my brother and anyone who would let me go with them. This passion ended up turning into my profession. Long story short, a few years after I graduated college I got a job at a production company that produced some of the top hunting shows in the business. I worked there for 5 years and gained the knowledge I needed to go off on my own. I have been owning and running Copeland Creative here out of Dahlonega for over 3 years now. This job takes me all over the country and sometimes all over the world chasing different adventures with a camera. Last year we visited 23 states and 3 countries filming hunting adventures and I cannot see myself doing anything else.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I have a large family with the vast majority of them living within 30 miles of Dahlonega. We are all really close, and now that we are older and life has happened to most of us we do not get to spend as much time together as we once did.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?,
My career takes me all over the place where I get to trek and hunt across some of the best scenery and hunting ground in the world. It doesn’t suck.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Wagon Wheel has served me almost as many meals as my Momma has in my life. I also love Gustavo’s Kitchen Sink pizza, even though I wish their ovens were set up in a way that I could get it well done. Oh well, it’s still good pizza.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
My entire life minus 6 years.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Most interesting person is my Dad, not because of his personality necessarily, but because of his heart. He is the greatest man I have ever known.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
New Zealand. Always wanted to see it and hunt there. It’s on the list.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Too many to list on movies, but there is one series that stands above them all for me and that is The Newsroom, formerly on HBO. I have watched the series no less than 5 times and it’s just as good every time I see it. No better storytelling, writing or character development anywhere
Q: What advice would you give to people?
To be successful this day in time is very simple. All you have to do is answer your phone, be available, reply to texts, respond to emails and do what you say you are going to do. This simple task is lost of most people and businesses. I tell clients and friends, if you cannot get a hold of me something is wrong. There is no excuse to be bad at communication, period. Its also the quickest way to lose me as a client is being bad at it.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Create a film on my terms in my time about what I want to create a film about.
Q: What is your go to band when you cant decide what to listen to?
Honestly don’t have one anymore. I listen to podcasts more than music.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
The Corner Store gas station next to my parents’ house. Its been a staple in my life for as long as I can remember.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Jeff Daniels from The Newsroom so I could talk to him about his acting and prep for the show. Meet at Wagon Wheel of course.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
I love how all the crosses from fallen service members from our area always go up around Hollidays where we need to be thinking and remembering those who gave it all for our freedom.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Hopefully running my production company with several employees and getting to watch my kids grow up.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
Jeff Foxworthy, the comedian, is the person that got me my first break in the hunting industry.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Any mountain out West that has an Elk Bugling on it.
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
September. It’s archery elk season.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Sweet Tea in North Ga. It just doesn’t hold up in many other places.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My Dad.
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Sage, not for the smell but it means I am out west.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
This would have to be 3 of my Dad’s southern sayings: 1. I could eat a french fried shetland pony. 2. If I had my druthers….. 3. Stoved up as a fox hound. My Dad has passed down so many southern sayings to me and my brother, and what makes me think of home is anytime I hear someone use a southern analogy.
