Meet Gunnar E Garrett Jr. | Writer/Director/Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gunnar E Garrett Jr. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gunnar E, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Pursuing a career in the creative world definitely wasn’t a choice I made for the money. And honestly, it’s barely something I chose… It really seemed to be more of something that I fell into. One of my daughters was working in the film industry, and having a descent start to her acting career, but was only getting co-star and guest-star roles. At some point during that period I saw an interview with Jason Segel where he talked about having to write his own script to get that lead role he wanted, so I thought, I could do that… So I did… Turns out the first script I wrote was a great story… But my formatting was awful, so after some feedback from friends, and others in the industry, I spent as many hours as I could watching videos, reading books, and doing anything I could to learn as much as I possibly could, not just about writing, but about the film industry as a whole. Once I finally got the writing and formatting down, I ran into the new challenge… Getting it made. Just like I did when I started writing, I then moved into countless hours of figuring out how to get my scripts made… Having now been in the film industry for the last ten years, I’ve now written more than thirty-Five screenplays, and am currently in pre-production for my fourth feature film.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The film industry is easily one of the most difficult industries to break into. It seems to be one of the only industries I can think of where people are willing to go to work for free, or in hopes using that experience to show the next possible employer that you’re capable enough to be worth paying on the next project. I think what’s set me apart from most in the industry is my work ethic, and continued willingness to learn. Like anything in life, if you fail to continue to learn, your destined to fail. Nothing about the film industry is easy and the path is difficult for sure, so when people ask me, I tell them, don’t do it. Go into any other industry, but those who choose not to listen to that advise and say, “I’m doing it anyway”, those are the most likely to succeed, purely out of drive and willingness to work.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in this industry is to surround yourself with like minded people, because you’ll be working very close with those people for extended periods of time, and you’ll definitely want to make sure you’re all on the same page. An unfortunate part of this industry in particular is that you need to remember, that everyone is not your friend. Though you may work with a lot of people who are extremely nice and polite, this is still a business and should be treated as such. As a producer your number one priority is to make sure your investors money is protected and the have the best opportunity to get a great return on their investment.

Ranch Hand Films has always been about employing talent and crew who are excited to be a part of the project their on and not just there for the pay check. I’ve found those who’ve come onto a project just for the paycheck are less likely to care about the project, the other cast and crew, and the quality of the project as a whole. I feel that every project, regardless of budget, should be given everything it can be given to make it the best film possible with what we have access to. Nothing should be “okay.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
During a week long trip to the LA area, I’m definitely doing a little shopping and eating at The Grove, but for sure making room for Tacos at Trejo’s Tacos. Seeing as I have kids, I’m of course hitting up both Universal Studios and Disneyland/California Adventure. Once we’re finally ready to wind wind down and relax a bit we’d be heading to Laguna Beach for a day out in the sun, sand, and water.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My wife is easily the person who’s helped me most continue my dream of being a filmmaker. The film industry can be selfish at times, and by that I mean the hours it requires a person to be away from home can be grueling, and not allow much time while in production to spend with the family. The fact that she’s been so wiling to pick up the pieces at home, and keep everything in order with our children is what allows me to dedicate the extra time needed to create a quality project. On top of taking on both parental roles while I’m filming, she’s also quick to help me tighten the storylines of my scripts as well as come on as a producer during the pre-production of my films. I honestly couldn’t do it without her.

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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNRcuHSFdsy-toyvHipx8ZQ