We had the good fortune of connecting with Jack Schudy and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Jack, looking back, what do you think was the most difficult decision you’ve had to make?
Without a doubt, moving to Los Angeles. Leaving your hometown for a place you’ve never been is daunting enough, but when your hometown is a suburb in Kansas and the “new place” is the second-largest city in the U.S. by population, it feels like an even greater beast. I had planned to move west after graduation throughout my college years, but when college became a less-than-favorable option for me, I dropped everything and moved to the Golden State in August of 2021.
Those first few months were rough. I had a very difficult time finding work or making contacts in the industry to help me on this journey. For the first four to five months, I felt as though I had made a mistake. Luckily, things turned around about halfway through the first year. If they hadn’t, I’d probably be back in Kansas by now.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a writer and director of shorts and feature films. I wrote and directed my first project when I was in 6th grade, and I haven’t stopped since. I grew up borrowing cameras, having friends star in my projects as multiple characters, and teaching myself to edit and publish my content. In school, I was finally able to use more industry-standard equipment and software, but the classroom limitations were quite strict. I would always prefer to do things outside of the classroom, not necessarily to do them “my way,” but to do them freely. I think that’s something that has always set my projects apart, they always felt a little different from the films I would watch so intensely. I always liked to do things different.
Recently, I wrote and directed my first budgeted feature film titled “QLC.” My producer Jack Vento and myself raised around $6,000 for the project using crowdfunding, and the rest of the project was self-funded. This was a monster of a story compared to what I had directed before, but I didn’t want my debut film to be simple, I didn’t want it to feel like a debut film. This proved to be more of a challenge than I ever could’ve expected. Still, knowing now how difficult the project would end up being to create, I wouldn’t change a thing. “QLC” is currently in post-production with a festival run planned for the Fall!
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite spots are some pretty simple ones, which is just how I like it. For the first day in town, I’d take my friends to get lunch somewhere close to home, somewhere with outdoor seating- I’m thinking The Fat Dog in North Hollywood. Next, we’d head to Griffith to hike up to the top of Mount Hollywood from the lower Griffith trails on the south side- it’s a people watching and dog petting paradise, not to mention some of the best views in the city.
To cool off we could maybe hit my pal’s pool, but if not, we could sit on my balcony and blast some Hippo Campus tunes until the sun starts setting. After that, it’s off to Lawless Brewing Co. to sample some new rotating brews, and then to the Brickyard Pub to shoot some pool. If the night’s not over, we’d likely head down to Hollywood for some Davey Wayne’s or No Vacancy fun.
The next day, we’d hit a breakfast spot and maybe a thrift store, then probably do it all again.
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?
My family and close friends back home in Kansas deserve all the praise I can grant. Without them and their enthusiastic responses to my seemingly far-fetched dreams of writing and directing films, I would never have tried to make them a reality. Not to mention, everyone I knew was called on at some point to assist in the making of my “films” throughout my time in Kansas. They all played a role—whether as actors, cameramen, voice-over talent, or location scouts—during the creation of my early projects.
Instagram: @jack.schudy
Other: email: jackschudy@gmail.com
QLC gofundme for updates: https://www.gofundme.com/manage/qlc-feature-film
Image Credits
Matteo Wentarmini, Jack Vento, Kelly Fitzgerald, Connor Treacy
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