Meet Huston Pardee | Videographer/Editor

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

Hi Huston, why did you pursue a creative career?
I chose a creative career because that’s all I ever wanted to do. Ever since I was little I don’t think there was a single moment I wanted to choose a different career. I really think it started with my mom (shoutout moms). She always encouraged my creativity and supported whatever I wanted to do. There were many late night runs to the craft store because I got the urge all of the sudden to make my own action figure or make a costume to act out a scene in. She also let me watch more mature movies when I was little, monster movies, horror, etc. Because I understood from an early age it was fake but I was fascinated by the creature effects and how someone could bring these to life (one of my favorites being Jaws). I always found film like watching a dream. Someone had this vision, worked hard on it and now you are seeing their dream become a reality. That was something I always found beautiful about film.

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 know I always wanted to work in film in some capacity but just didn’t know how to get there. I was in high school in a small town in North Carolina with no idea how people entered that career. So with no money for college or to leave that small town I joined the US Air Force. My dad was a career Marine, and at the time it seemed like the best option. So for 6 Years I served my country and worked a job just about as far away from film as you could get. When one day I got an email stating that a big movie was filming on my base and they were looking for background actors so I applied and got it! I took a week off of work and for the next week I got to meet so many cool people and learn about their jobs. This lead to other background work on five other films. So instead of renewing my contract with the military I got out and decided to go to film school in Florida with the GI Bill. Film school was great but as it drew closer I understood that there was not much opportunity for film in Florida. So the day after graduating I packed up my car and drove to California with not much of a plan. So not wanting to risk getting my car towed or broken into I decided to camp out in Joshua Tree California. Turns out there is free land for travelers outside of the state park. And every day for about 3 months I would go to the local coffee shop and crank out job applications and make phone calls. Till one day I got an interview with the William Morris Agency in Beverly Hills for a Videographer intern. I was offered the position and it was amazing! Went from sleeping in my car to working in Beverly Hills. I was honestly shocking and a time I will never forget. However 6 months later Covid happened and the world shut down and I was let go. I could no longer live in California. So I stayed with family during lock down and figured to try and give New Mexico another chance since that’s where I got my first introduction to the film industry. Covid created this new position on films sets (Covid Health and Safety). And I got a contract to work on a television series For the entire year of 2021. And it was the best year of my life.The time I got to spend on that set is something that I am truly grateful for, but all good things end. After that show I did a stent at a news station as a video editor (It was not for me). So I returned to film catching the last wave of covid safety jobs and worked on an A24 film. A production company which I had dreamed of working for and it was a blast! After that had wrapped I realized that I had now spent a large chunk of my life in New Mexico (in the military and film). About 1o years altogether and wanted to leave the west and head back east were my family was. I receive an job offer to work for the government as a videographer (great pay and great benefits) however it was so stressful that it ended up giving me a stroke at the age of 30. (I’m all good don’t worry). So I realized I needed to follow my own path and now do freelance videographer and I am much happier now!

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?
Going to hype up Albuquerque because I see it as a second home to me. First I would take them to a place called Salt and Board. Their charcuterie boards are to die for one of my favorite places to eat. Next take them to Juno brewery and honestly I feel like it is slept on. In the industrial part of downtown the atmosphere and open back patio are unmatched. Then take them to the Nob Hill area to walk around and check out all the neat little stores and grab a coffee at little bear coffee. Shoot over to Urban dog for some of the most life changing hot dogs you’ll ever have. Hit a nice hike on the trails off tramway in the foothills. Great views! Go to the Sawmill Market for a large variety of food, they have whatever you are craving. Then end it all at the Hotel Chaco roof top bar best view and an awesome spot for a date.

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?
Yes I would absolutely like to Shoutout my mom (Judy Pardee). For always nurturing and encouraging my creativity. When people or myself doubt what I wanted to do she was always there to tell me to not give up and no matter how hard life gets to keep climbing.

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/huston-pardee-aa9850129/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8Ev7F0H1nWZUm5Z450T8rg

Image Credits
all images are by me Huston Pardee