Meet Nick DeRuve | Filmmaker & Writer

First things first, we have to eat… everything. A couple of my favorite spots in Hollywood are El Coyote and Musso & Frank’s. Then we can go out for drinks to a cool speakeasy like No Vacancy or Melrose Station. On the way home we have to hit up one of the hundreds of delicious food trucks with any kind of food you can imagine, my favorite is Entre Cheros in NoHo. After a night like that we need to go for a short drive out to Malibu to do some hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains. Incredible views, and a lot of quiet. On the way back, we’ll take the PCH and stop at Malibu Seafood and eat by the water. At this point in time I try to convince my best friend that Cali is amazing, and they should probably move out here. If they aren’t sold yet, the sunset by the pier might do it. Another spot I love to take people to is the New Beverly Cinema to catch a classic film. Sadly, the Cinerama Dome is closed right now, but everyone needs that experience, I hope they reopen soon. Lastly, my favorite spot in LA is the jazz club Vibrato. My Mother and I go every time she visits, and it never disappoints. I love live music and good food.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nick DeRuve and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nick, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I had no choice, really. Growing up, I suffered from “learning disabilities”. I say that in quotes because I think my brain just wasn’t made for the classroom. My mother used to take me to the theatre to see the stage productions of the assigned reading in school. I was so drawn to it, and I can really see how much that molded the future I didn’t even see coming. I was really fortunate to go to a high school where they were able to identify these qualities, and sort of cater to my needs. My curriculum was fine arts heavy, and I had a resource teacher who I had one on one time with. She used to show me foreign films, and classic films with the subtitles on to teach me how to read. At first I wasn’t reading them at all, but the language of cinema really spoke to me. I had done some fiddling around with cameras, but didn’t make my first short film until my senior year. My video production teacher in high school is another person who really changed the trajectory of my future. He acknowledged the eye I had for filmmaking, and my talent for visual storytelling. I had a great group of friends in college who I made countless short films with, and I not only fell in love with filmmaking, but I really discovered my calling in life. When I’m writing… When I’m making films… This is the only time I really feel comfortable in my own skin. It’s the language I speak. I say I had no choice in becoming a filmmaker, because it’s who I am.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I really feel so fortunate to be asked these questions. It’s so easy to look where you’re standing, and look at the goals, and feel like you are stuck or not accomplishing what you set out to do. Then you get asked a question like this and it forces you to step back and really think about it. It’s been quite a ride to this point and I am just getting started. I think when I look back at all the films I’ve made and worked on, all the scripts I’ve written, the degrees I’ve earned, and the relationships I’ve made, what has really served me the most is… I’ve never been afraid to suck. I talk to so many aspiring filmmakers and writers, and the biggest blockage is the fear that you won’t be good enough. The film industry has this unique quality where it can make you feel like you can do anything, and in the blink of an eye make you feel like you will never make it. There have been too many nights where I lied in bed crying in doubt of the process. There have been days where we accomplished something remarkable on set. It’s a pendulum, right? There will be swings, and you just have to hold on. Which is probably the hardest part, the holding on. Anytime you make a film, you are opening yourself up to the world, it’s extremely vulnerable, and let’s be honest, people are ruthless. It’s really easy for people who are sitting at home on their couch to watch your film and write a bad review online, and tell you how crumby your work is. Most artists are very sensitive, so you can imagine how that feels when you are just getting started and doing your best with the limited resources at your disposal. I can’t tell if I’m naive, or a glutton for punishment, but I have never once been afraid to get out there and make a film, because every film I make is an opportunity to learn something new, and sharpen the tools I’m already equipped with. At the end of the day, whose place is it to tell you how “good” or “bad” something you created is? I made a western period piece on a shoestring budget that we shot in twelve days. The film screened at eighteen film festivals in five countries, won sixteen award laurels, and was acquired for distribution and is out on a half-dozen streaming services. It was an incredible accomplishment, regardless of the film’s imperfections, and some bad reviews by couch critics. There are some scenes in that film that are really impressive, and behind the scenes was a huge team of people really giving it their best. I built the hero set by hand alongside our Production Designer, who also happened to be starring in the movie and a thirty year veteran in Local 44. My cast was out there laboring with me, getting dirty and really stepping to the plate. An entire community up in Big Bear donated locations, cars, props, food! What I learned from that experience was such a gift, and taught me so much about myself. At this point in my career I have earned a confidence and skill level that can only be attained by doing the work. I think a lot of this mentality for me comes from my athletic background. I played organized sports every season of the year growing up, and I loved it with all my heart. Athletics are very demanding when you are doing it right, and I was committed. You only get out of something as much as you put into it. My films may have had little to no budget to this point, but I’m getting them made and finding an audience. I’d rather be making films than waiting for one to fall in my lap.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First things first, we have to eat… everything. A couple of my favorite spots in Hollywood are El Coyote and Musso & Frank’s. Then we can go out for drinks to a cool speakeasy like No Vacancy or Melrose Station. On the way home we have to hit up one of the hundreds of delicious food trucks with any kind of food you can imagine, my favorite is Entre Cheros in NoHo. After a night like that we need to go for a short drive out to Malibu to do some hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains. Incredible views, and a lot of quiet. On the way back, we’ll take the PCH and stop at Malibu Seafood and eat by the water. At this point in time I try to convince my best friend that Cali is amazing, and they should probably move out here. If they aren’t sold yet, the sunset by the pier might do it. Another spot I love to take people to is the New Beverly Cinema to catch a classic film. Sadly, the Cinerama Dome is closed right now, but everyone needs that experience, I hope they reopen soon. Lastly, my favorite spot in LA is the jazz club Vibrato. My Mother and I go every time she visits, and it never disappoints. I love live music and good food.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many people have contributed to this journey I’ve been on. I am constantly looking back and feeling so much gratitude for the people who have championed me along the way. First and foremost, I have to acknowledge my Mother. She is the day one believer. She’s had my back from the beginning and has been my biggest supporter every step of the way. If I mention her, I have to acknowledge her mother, my grandmother, the ultimate matriarch. Between these two strong, brilliant, and beautiful Italian-American women, I had all the tough love and support a young man could ask for. My high school football coach was my first real mentor. He wouldn’t let me settle for anything less than my very best, and really taught me how to hold myself accountable for the goals I set on and off the field. My cinematography teacher in college, the Zen Master, was my first mentor of filmmaking. Not only did he teach me in the classroom, but I’ve worked with him for years on film sets, and spent a lot of time talking about life and philosophy with him. My writing professor in graduate school challenged me like no one ever had, and I grew a lot from my experiences with him. My youngest brother, who is the smartest one of all of us, is my right hand. We’ve started our company together, Ruvo Entertainment, and he is my attorney, he’s my Tom Hagen. There have been a lot of people who have given me places to stay, given me rides, bought me meals, and wouldn’t let me get down on myself for struggling. Having worked in this industry for so many years, I have made incredible friends. We’ve all grown up together in our crafts, and they have really supported my goals as a filmmaker. I have made a living working in the grip and lighting technician departments. I have worked under some incredible cinematographers, amazing directors and producers. My friends have all become masters of their crafts in various departments, and what I have learned from all of them and those experiences is invaluable. As I continue to find a way to tell my stories, and make my films, I am constantly humbled by my friends who keep showing up for me in different ways. From cast members who have worked with me for free, to countless crew positions who often won’t let me pay them. I’ve made so many films because of all the people who have come out simply because they believe in me. They believe in who I can become, and the possibility of us getting to do what we are meant to do together for the rest of our lives. I look back to my high school football coach in these moments and I think about accountability. I not only want to acknowledge all of my friends who have been part of this journey, but I hold myself accountable for their belief in me, and the time they’ve spent away from their families to support my vision. When you walk on set and see so many people you love, that you have spent so many hours, days, months, and years with, focused on a common goal, there really isn’t a more empowering feeling as a filmmaker.

Website: ruvoent.com

Instagram: @NickDeRuve

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickderuve/

Twitter: @NickDeRuve

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nick.deruve

Other: IMDb – https://www.imdb.me/nickderuve

Image Credits
Adam Goral, Christine Bartolucci, Chad Shagren, Brandon Elonzae