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

Hi Jeff, how do you think about risk?

At some point, we all hit a crossroads when it comes to risk.

This is especially true for creatives and independent filmmakers.

Risk is simply part of the game. After all, you never score any touchdowns sitting on the sidelines.

What I try to hold true to is calculated risk. The biggest key is knowing where you want to go. What’s your mountaintop? For me, it’s being able support myself and my family through filmmaking.

So any risk I decide to take on has to put me on a path to that goal.

That said, every mountain has peak and valleys. So it’s important to not just see the mountaintop, but also each and every plateau that you’ll encounter on your way up. Celebrate every milestone you reach. Learn from every set back or obstacle you encounter. Try to become just a little bit wiser on which paths to take to get you where you want to go. That’s the best way to calculate how much risk you should be willing to face.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I’m always juggling work that pays the bills with work that fuels my passion. Both are equally important and finding the right balance is tricky. Often the passion work comes at odd hours or on the weekends. It’s something I’ve been doing for almost 20 years. What keeps me going? 4 little words…

 Making is making it.

That might be the most important lesson I’ve learned as an artist throughout my career.

We are conditioned to see success in very narrow terms. For filmmakers like myself, it’s usually defined as making big Hollywood movies or TV shows and living in some hillside mansion.

I reject those constraints.

For starters, have you driven lately in the Hollywood Hills? Narrow roads. Hair pin turns. All for having to do a grocery run to Ralphs. Not for this guy.

More importantly, I have a lot of friends who have found that traditional level of success. They’re showrunners, television directors and producedwriters. I can see firsthand that Hollywood success is not always a ticket to happiness.

It also might never come. So many different planets have to align for your “big break” that it’s rarely a reflection on talent and more often a result of fortuitous circumstances.

We rarely have control over the result of our work. But the work itself… what it is… how it makes us feel… why we’re doing it… all of that we can control.

So when I say making it is making it, I mean this: whatever type of artist you are, if you make something, anything, you’ve made it in my book.

I’ve had the good fortune of directing four short films. I’ve written over twenty screenplays and pilots. I’ve won awards. Had my films play in festivals all across the world. The only constant is this…

The process is ALWAYS hard. Especially, making movies. It’s constant stress as nothing ever goes to plan. It’s one hard decision after another. Still, here I am as an adult doing the very thing I was doing in middle school and high school… making movies.

Even better, I’m telling the stories that I want to tell. I love films that have big hooks and equally big heart. That make you think, laugh or cry (ideally all throughout the same story).

So yeah, I might not have that traditional definition of Hollywood success (yet). But for me, true joy comes when I put an idea that’s been eating away at me on the page. When I’m on set and I see an actor take my words and elevate it in ways I never thought possible. When I’m editing and I take two clips, add some music and SFX, and suddenly, the scene just comes to life.

If you can love every second of the journey, then where you ultimately end up doesn’t matter as much.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

I love going to the bowl and seeing a movie with the live orchestra. (I know, it’s very on brand.)

Since we’re in Hollywood, I’d take them to the best Italian restaurant in the city, L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele.

After, we’d have a drink or two at Harvard and Stone and see their rad Burlesque show.

Lastly, my dog would insist that we take them on a few hikes (she’s bossy like that). So the Hollywood sign is always fun. Caballero Canyon is a good under the radar hike.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve grown extensively in the last few years thanks to the help of the BlackMagic Collective and their fellowships/programs.

Working as a fellow in their First Frame Initiative and under the tutelage of Jenn Page as well as guidance from John Parenteau, I was able to direct three short films in under a year. I like to say that I started the program as writer who sometimes directs and ended the program as a director.

This past year, I’ve been really lucky to continue with their Directing Actor’s Program. Being able to watch and practice various directing techniques every month has been a fantastic opportunity. It has especially helped give me new ways to communicate with my cast and crew.

I would also be remiss to not mention Greg Popp who’s an incredible commercial director and has been a huge supporter of mine for many years.

And, of course, my wife, Judalina. She’s an incredibly talented and successful writer and gives a lot of her time helping elevate my material. However, the most important gift anyone can give an artist is belief. That’s something she’s given me in spades since we first met.

Website: jeffperreca.com

Instagram: jperreca

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffperreca/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jperreca

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