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

Hi Jack, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
My parents both moved to New York in the late 70s, and lived there until there were four of us kids crammed into a studio apartment. My dad is a painter and my mom was a dancer, and looking back I can see how much that bled into our upbringing. I remember my dad pointing out a discount cell phone shop in our neighborhood and showing me the art deco accents on the top of the building. To me it was just another shop, but he taught me to have a critical eye and appreciate the layers in everyday sights.

We moved to Upper Darby, PA when I was three, where Philadelphia meets the suburbs. Close enough to walk to the subway but not within the city limits. There was a blend of urban and suburban aspects to childhood in Upper Darby, which gave me a well rounded childhood that I realize is a rare and special thing.

There were 70 languages spoken at my high school, and the population was made up of people from all over the world, very much like LA. The school district didn’t have a lot of money but at the time they took great pride in their music and art programs. It made a huge impact seeing the community care about that aspect of life. Tina Fey, Todd Rundgren, and Jim Croce all went to Upper Darby High School.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Film is a collaboration, and it’s hard to talk about individuality in such a collaborative field. I like to lean into the collaboration and do everything I can to support the director on a given project, and elevate their vision any way that I can. When directors have a strong vision it’s fun to throw yourself into their perspective and make their taste your taste. It’s a bit chameleon-like. I get excited about working relationships where everyone is building on each other. It doesn’t always happen, but when it does, those are the projects I end up most proud of.

It took over a decade to get to the point where I could call myself a full time DP, and it never feels fully secure. But I think it comes with the territory and freelance in general, nothing is ever certain. It keeps you on your toes. I don’t think it was easy by any means but I do think being persistent helps a ton. Being open to every opportunity helped me more than anything, especially the projects that initially seemed like they wouldn’t lead anywhere.

I’m grateful for the time that it took to get to where I am now, because I was able to work on set and learn from a lot of very talented DPs and crew members. The biggest lesson I learned is to listen to the people around you, both the people that hired you and the folks that you hired on. If you shut yourself off you stop growing. I also recognize that I’m still early into my career. I’m looking forward to what the future holds.

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?
Cole’s in downtown has a beautiful space that blends history and great food and drinks. Sadly it’s closing, so I’d go before it’s official. I’d recommend the French Dip sandwich with the hot mustard and any cocktail on the menu. For more of an outdoors experience, the bike path from Culver to Marina is a great way to sightsee that part of town and end up at the ocean. Pie and Burger in Pasadena is a fun stop and supposedly invented the Cheeseburger. Other than that, Ascot Hills Park for the view, and HMS Bounty to see where Winston Churchill used to drink in LA. Now it’s a fun dive with a cheap drink special.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shoutout Jessica Lim, my fiancée and creative partner, We work together often and have helped each other grow over the years. I’d also like to shoutout Joe Segura who got me my first job in camera department. He was very patient with me and a great teacher.

Website: https://www.jacknitz.com

Instagram: @jacknitz

Image Credits
Jessica Lim

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