Today, I’m diving into the story of how I got my start in the film industry—right as I dig into this delicious acai bowl. Seriously, I could eat these every day. But let's get into it.
I've always had a passion for film. There’s something about having a camera in my hand that just feels right. But my professional journey into the industry began around 2010. At that time, I was going through a rough patch, searching for some direction in life. College seemed like the logical next step, so I enrolled at the State College of Florida.
About six months into my time there, some exciting news hit Sarasota: a brand-new film studio was being built right in our county. The project was spearheaded by a local entrepreneur, and the studio promised to be a full-service hub for TV and film production—a mini Warner Brothers, if you will. They were gearing up to produce feature films, TV shows, music videos, and more. The buzz around town was electric.
As luck would have it, my dad's company ended up doing the electrical work for one of their temporary sound stages. That connection allowed me to get in touch with one of the line producers, Luke. I was a film student with a burning desire to learn, so I reached out to him, offering to work on set for free just to gain experience.
Luke invited me to help out on a TV show pilot that was being filmed that weekend in Sarasota. The show was called Miami 24-7 and featured Casper Van Dien, among others. They were shooting a car chase scene in downtown Sarasota, and I couldn’t have been more excited to be a part of it. I jumped at the chance.
That weekend was my first real taste of a big film set. I got to see all the cameras, gear, and behind-the-scenes action up close. I started as a production assistant, helping out wherever I could. One of the most memorable moments was when they shut down a busy bridge connecting Longboat Key and Sarasota to film a high-speed chase scene. They even had a car go off the bridge into the water, complete with a huge explosion. It was an incredible experience.
After the shoot, Luke offered me the opportunity to work out of their headquarters near the airport. My job? Go through over $500,000 worth of receipts from the Miami 24-7 shoot, categorize them, and create an expense report. In return, Luke promised to get me an official paid internship at the studio, with the potential for a full-time job after six months. The offer was too good to pass up, so I dove in headfirst.
However, things didn’t go as planned. Despite my hard work, the internship never materialized, and the studio faced a series of setbacks, including bad press that ultimately led to its closure. Even though the promises fell through, I continued to show up, eager to learn and make connections. My persistence paid off because I gained valuable experience and built a network that would serve me well in the years to come.
After the studio closed, I decided to try my hand at freelancing in the film business. I knew there were enough productions happening in Florida, and if I could just get on a few of them, I could stay busy. Fortunately, I was able to book over 30 productions within two years. These included TV shows for the Travel Channel, a national Hydroxycut commercial, and even my first feature film starring Anna Paquin, who was an absolute pleasure to work with.
Even today, I still freelance occasionally. I’ve worked on some pretty big projects with my buddy Nate, including for 60 Minutes Australia, Paramount+, the History Channel, and more. But eventually, I found myself gravitating towards YouTube and content creation, building my own audience along the way.
But that’s a story for another time. If you work in the film business or are interested in getting into it, feel free to drop your questions in the comments below. I'd love to help out.
Until next time, peace!
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