How I Got Here

My love for film all started when I was a teenager, I was particularly fascinated by well-choreographed action films and suspenseful dramas. After watching movies such as The Matrix and The Bourne Identity, I remember feeling this burning desire to recreate such awesome and iconic action scenes.

So I ended up purchasing my own Flip Video camera, which could record up to a whopping hours length of footage (crazy, I know). I grabbed my best friend and told him we were going to shoot an action scene, and that he and I would be starring in it. I can still recall all the bruises and sore muscles we had endured from the multitude of takes from each scene – all that hard and difficult work – as much as it sucked at times, was all well worth it in the end.

Piecing everything together on my laptop afterwards was insanely fun and satisfying, to cut the sequences to the soundtrack I wanted and to add in all the sound effects to give it the feel of a real Hollywood action film generated an incredible feeling in me that I’ll never forget.

After that I was set, it was time to pursue filmmaking as a career. So off to college I went!....which initially took some convincing to my parents (they had no idea how I'd be able to make a living trying to make movies).

Once at James Madison University, I enrolled in the School of Media Arts and Design, where I studied the basics of filmmaking, everything from learning how to write a screenplay, how to shoot on a camera, and how to cut and edit the video in post-production.

During my Junior year, I applied to an abroad program that was set out in Los Angeles, CA. If accepted, I would take entertainment industry based classes in Burbank (that would be counted as college credits, which was great) and take part in an internship program with a production company. Luckily, I was accepted! (Despite my initial pessimism and belief that I wasn't qualified.) During my 4-month long stint in LA, I worked for a production company in Santa Monica, where I was tasked with generating ideas and concepts for TV shows and short films that would be pitched to television networks. During this time, I learned how to properly develop and pitch concepts (using a one sheet) in-front of our executive producers (which was initially nerve wracking). I was also given a multitude of other responsibilities, such as: video editing promotional content for the company website, working on set as a production assistant for a number of different video shoots that we had (which was a ton of fun because of the travel), as well as scouting out locations where we could potentially film at.

Once I left LA, I headed back to JMU to finish off my senior year, where I continued to take more advanced classes based on filmmaking.

After graduating, I moved back home to Princeton, NJ, where I began to do freelance based work as a production assistant around NYC. After numerous PA gigs, I eventually landed a few jobs on set working as a production coordinator's assistant, where I learned how to help organize and coordinate a production (all that behind the scenes fun stuff). After a while, I decided that I would give full-time based work a shot, as the notion of a constant paycheck removed the anxiety and stress of never really knowing when I'd work or (and more importantly) get payed again.

I was eventually hired to work at a talent and literary agency in NYC, where I worked as a Studio Manager; which involved me interacting with all the companies hired talent (actors, comedians, etc). I would work them through videotaped auditions and act alongside them, as well as shoot and edit everything, which I would later export to the necessary parties (agents, casting directors, directors, producers, etc). Over time I was given more responsibility, which involved working with different agents on trying to connect scripts and screenplays to whatever talent we believed would fit the material best, and give them the better chance of landing whatever TV or Film role they were presented with. During my time at the agency, I was also given other additional tasks, such as cutting demos reels for clients so we could help market our clients to employers.

After working at the agency for two years, I realized that I was being limited in terms of my creative output. There just simply wasn't enough for me to do that really stimulated my imagination, so I left!

My next stint was a freelance job at a production studio company in NYC, where I worked as a film studio manager (notice the drastically different job title from the previous job), which lasted for four months. I was given the responsibility of connecting potential clients (film production crews, theatre groups, etc) to renting out our studio space so they could shoot or rehearse whatever production they needed to. I would help ensure the clients had all the necessary equipment (cameras, lights, mics) and support to successfully use our studio space to the best of their ability. I was also tasked with helping editing some promotional content for the company's website.

Once the freelance job was over, I was left wondering what to do next. After some much needed time off, I began to think more deeply about what I truly wanted to do going forward. Then it hit me, video producer. I have a ton of experience and knowledge of how the production process works, and I love shooting and editing video. I've also worked with a lot of clients over the years, so I understand how to effectively communicate with them and ensure they get the final product they want. All I needed to do now was upgrade some of the video equipment I had, and I was set.

Over the next few months, I began developing and putting together a video portfolio that I was proud of. After completion, I decided it would be best to create a website to upload all the projects I've worked on as well. I had already worked my ass off making all these videos, why not organize them on a website to help make it look all that much more professional?

Ever since, I've been having a blast creating content for a number of different clients. I haven't been this happy working in a long time, and I hope it stays that way.