Meet Jason Zeni | Filmmaker

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

Hi Jason, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
“Do or do not, there is no try” – Yoda

I love this quote because I think a lot of my life and what success I’ve had has been earned. Not because I tried hard but because I execute. When I’m on a job, whether is editing, producing, directing, or in camera department I feel it is my job to execute or “do”. Come in and do a job and make it happen. It’s just a mentality I have.

Another quote I really like is “The past is like a foreign country, they do things different there” – L.P. Hartley

I like this quote because criticizing how people or even yourself acted in the past should be nothing but a learning experience. No need to get hung up on it.

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.
My friend Bill once told me after watching a few of my films that its very easy to identify a Jason Zeni film and thats a good thing. This was one of the greatest compliments I’ve evert had. It meant I have a voice and my work is not generic. My films are usually cynical, manic, funny, and always have a mounting escalation with an entertaining and satisfying ending. I’ve always been an editor first and so when I direct movies I reverse engineer them, always thinking about the edit and how the shots will fit together.

I’m most proud of my short film “Clutch”. I made it for very little money with my friends from college out here in LA and pulled all the favors I could. We won several film festivals with it and I still laugh when I watch it; even if I’ve seen it hundreds of times.

Professionally, I still work for a living in the film industry. I edit, I color correct, I DIT (digital imaging technician) on set, I cam op, I field produce on massive shows like Dancing With the Stars (8 seasons strong) and more! The industry is always tough to succeed in, so I have had to make myself versatile and pivot into whatever the job requires. I think my versatility has made me successful. At the end of the day though, I still want to direct feature films. That was always the goal, its why I moved out to LA when I was 22. But all of my experience in all the aforementioned jobs has just made me a stronger filmmaker.

Some of the lessons I’ve learned is to never give up. I remember an old interview with John Carpenter saying that when he was in film school plenty of people were more “talented” then him, but he just wanted it more. People give up, people wash out but its the people who endure that end up succeeding. I agree with this and have witnessed it first hand. Luck is just opportunity meets preparation. So always be ready for when your number is called.

The film industry is tougher than ever. The world is rapidly changing, people unfortunately don’t go to the movies like they used to and more and more youth are more interested in “user generated content” which is basically tiktok and instagram reels. I want the world to know that I have a lot to offer as a filmmaker and still plan on showing everyone why. Movies can offer far more intellectual stimulation through storytelling and subtext than a meme or a dance video ever could.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them on a secret hike my friend Eric showed me in Griffith Park. Its wild, its a little dangerous (I’ve seen and confronted more than a few Rattlesnakes on the hike) but it is extremely satisfying as it brings you to a point that is at the very tip of the hill and gives you an almost 360 view of LA.

Then we would walk down and eat brunch at Cafe Los Feliz or Little Dom’s on Hillhurst. We would then probably go home and freshen up before moving on and visiting the Getty before meeting for dinner at The Red Lion in Silver Lake for some fantastic german food and beer, if were still up for it we can pretend were young again and walk across the street to the Cha Cha Lounge and get a little rowdy.

The next day, catch a Dodger game if possible or drive out to Malibu and go to El Matador Beach. That night, get to Hollywood and have a steak dinner with the best martini town at the historic Musso and Frank’s.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Father, my Mother, my close friends, and most recently my wife (I’m a newly wed), My father was also a self employed artist and growing up watching him work from home when everyone else’s dad went to work was inspiring. It taught me initiative and responsibility. My Mother is kindest person I know and taught me humility and how to bring people together, (always remembering little bits about your friends and acquaintances goes a long way to maintaining friendships.)

My family lives in Chicago so my close friends in LA are my family out here. I went to college in Georgia (SCAD) with many of them so I’ve known them all for two decades at this point. They are a constant source of creative collaboration and inspiration.

My wife Stephanie has improved my life in every way possible and is my bedrock.

Website: https://www.jasonzeni.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayzeni/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kibblesskits2398