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

Hi Jeremiah, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
Werner Herzog always used to say: “Don’t be the fly on the wall, be the hornet that stings.” He’s speaking about making documentary film and acknowledging that the presence of a camera in an otherwise “real world” environment inevitably alters the events that occur. So the point is to acknowledge your presence and then act decisively. I think this applies to life more generally though also. We change the energy in a room simply by being there. So we might as well recognize the power we have as conscious activities of the universe and take ownership over how we make decisions, spend our time, and perfect our craft.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I spent the first 15 years or so of my professional career as a camera operator. And for a while I taught documentary film in the south side of Chicago. I would direct whenever I could and I would receive most of my chances to do so in music videos and branded content commercial work. I have always worked in the documentary film space – having spent time in Egypt during the Arab Spring and subsequent elections, in South Sudan, Pakistan, and on doc projects throughout other parts of the globe – but in between bringing long-form documentaries to life which often take years to complete, I started to do more docu-news journalism for hire.

It kept me on the road, filming all the time and on top of current events. I really loved it for a long time. But shortly after the pandemic came around, I found myself less and less interested in hopping on a flight last minute to film something I had little control over and was starting to feel like the work and the approach was all becoming too similar. I made a pact with myself around that time that I was going to transition away from camera work to focus more on creative. I felt like the time was right to sink my teeth back into my own projects, which ultimately took me on a journey back into music, starting the Hidden Fortress project, and forging new creative partnerships with other musicians, artists, and engineers across the city.

The creative life is never an easy one. You’re often tasked with trusting invisible forces, navigating people undervaluing your craft, and riddled with the crippling forms of anxiety and self-doubt over whether or not you made the best decision. But when it the creative life is working best, you truly feel free locked into that creative space, anything feels like it is possible, and the sheer curiosity of creativity in action returns you back to the present moment, creating space for vital and transformative possibilities.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My wife and I recently relocated to Eagle Rock after living in Los Feliz for over a decade. As much as we loved East Hollywood and the proximity to Barnsdall Park and the Griffith Observatory, it was a welcome change of pace to move down the street into the slightly quieter beautiful neighborhood sandwiched between Glassell Park, Highland Park and the 134.

If a best friend landed in town tomorrow, I’d probably take them on the Eagle Rock tour, grabbing some Hammerling Wines at Walt’s Bar for a game of pinball, or a film at Vidiots. We’d maybe.do a walking tour down York blvd if it were early enough for a stop at Delia’s or if it was later for some raw bar at Queens Street. Of course if it’s late night on Eagle Rock blvd you have to stop at Angel’s Tijuana Tacos Pop up in front of the Target. Where you will find some of the best street tacos in the city.

If it’s time for some R&R we’d go to WiSpa in K-Town and spend a couple hours soaking and sweating before making our way out for some KBBQ. We lived in East Hollywood for long enough that I will forever have a taste for some of the immaculate Thai flavors and so of course, Jitlada, Thai Patio, Palms Thai, Crispy Pork Gang, and the funky flavors of Northern Thai are all fresh on the palette too.

We’d probably go on a museum tour, hit LACMA and check for special screenings at the David Geffen theater which is the best place to watch a film in all of North America and one of Hollywood’s best kept secrets. And if we made our way west maybe we’d have an ocean view brunch at Elephante or make our way into some color light and sound therapy at Chromasonic.

I have become really enamored with the quiet charm of San Pedro too so if you make it far south enough you can go to the Sunken City and spend time on the chill beaches or Marina. And of course for how many things Los Angeles has to offer, there are just as many amazing day trips to get you out of town for a moment. Whether that’s a quick trip to the desert, a weekend in Baja, or a trip up Highway 1 towards Big Sur and the Bay Area whenever the road is open.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve been lucky over the years as a documentary filmmaker to meet people from all over the world who lead vastly different lives from one another. Each of them have been inspiring in their own ways. I would say I really respected Sergio Mayora, the poet and musician from Chicago, IL who fostered the careers of many now famous Chicago artists, comedians, actors and musicians. He taught me that irreverence to a system you disagree with paired with comfort in your own weirdness can pave the way for a truly rewarding artistic career even if all the hallmarks of that success go largely unrecognized by society. There’s power in blazing your own trail, on your own terms.

I also was lucky enough in 2013 to meet Reynaldo Reaser, an intervention worker in South Los Angeles who worked tirelessly to restore order and peace to the neighborhoods at one time he wreaked havoc in. I learned a real valuable lesson from him that I will carry for the rest of my life, which is that redemption is always possible, and to be sincere in your desire to help others is often a thankless but deeply noble job. I will forever be moved by the selflessness and the sacrifice that I saw in Reynaldo in the service of others. May you always rest in power.

And finally, in this new chapter of my life, I’ve become more committed to projects that combine all of my artistic interests beyond the documentary form, from composition, music, sound design, animatronics, collage, psychedelic pop, mysticism, and science fiction. I was lucky enough to also meet Robert DeVine a couple of years ago, the founder of Anatomorphex in North Hollywood, and we quickly became fast friends and soon enough business partners in our new company Esovare. We have been building an open world through a series of music videos for my music project Hidden Fortress which we are also working on turning into a show. It’s pop mysticism in a sci-fi setting envisioned as a re-enchantment project meant to engage community, curiosity, and connectivity in a time of disillusionment. I’ve been very excited by this new collaboration with Robert as it’s built entirely around fostering creativity and bringing wild, mythic imagery to life.

Ultimately – there are so many people who have changed my life for the better, All of them would be worthy of mentioning here in terms of helping shape me to who I’ve become today.

Instagram: @hidden__fortress

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hidden__fortress

Other: Spotify “Hidden Fortress”

TIKTOK @hidden__fortress

Image Credits
Jeremiah Hammerling

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