Meet Jonny Servais | Cinematographer & Vfx artist

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

Hi Jonny, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
Ironically giving up on my dreams is how I got started. Before I became a music video director, I was a musician. Playing and writing music was all I wanted to do at one point. However, there did become a time where I started to hate music because I was not ready to turn it into a career.

Without going too much in depth on my backstory, I realized that I needed to stop forcing my art into a job, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t still make art into a career. Looking back, transitioning from music to filmmaking was the best decision I ever made. I get to still make music for myself without the stress of being in the spotlight, but at the same time I am able to work in the music industry and help other musicians launch their careers now.

In conclusion, I think we look at giving up as an end to our journeys. Sometimes giving up just means putting your dreams and goals to the side in order to not get in your own way of growing as an individual.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is something I’ve been immensely proud of since the day I started. Asking me what I’m the most proud of or excited about is like picking a favorite child for me. However, I would say I have milestones I am proud of, for example getting to do camera op work with bands like Lamb Of God and I Prevail. As well as getting to do all the CGI work on an Ace Frehley music video.

The reason I have been able to get as far as I have is simply by being willing to meet as many people as possible. When I first moved to the New York City/Northern New Jersey area, I remember taking a moment and asking myself, “how did I get as much success as I did in my small home town in Wisconsin?”. The conclusion I came to was I knew more people. It wasn’t that I was better than anyone or better at marketing than anyone. It was simply that I had a foundation of people that I had met throughout my whole life that I was able to have a great starting ground. So being out here, I simply just copy and pasted that technique into a bigger and more saturated market. I messaged every photographer, director, and music artist I could find in a 100 mile radius and just try to make friends. I didn’t ask any of them to work with me. I just simply started grabbing coffee with people and made sure that they knew what I do for a living. Then with time as people needed a someone to do video work, I slowly became the person they had in mind. I also I made a lot of great colleagues and amazing friends along the way.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Being completely honestly I don’t get out as often as I’d like. So I don’t know too many great spots. However, the first place that comes to mind right away spots like Black Rail Coffee in Hoboken. Great food, great coffee, and not to mention Hoboken has my favorite view of the city and is great for photos! The second go to spot is my favorite 99 cent pizza in nyc on 40th St. I’m not sure if it even has a name but its a hole in the wall spot that I make a trip to every time I’m in the city.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When I start to think about people that helped me in my career, I could easily look back on dozens of mentors, friends, colleagues, and family members that really helped me along the way. It’s arguably the secret to my success. I am all about learning from everyone and helping each other grow.

This might sound a little corny at first but my mom was a huge part of the behind the scenes for my story. When I first started this business, she let me move back home for a year to figure this out, totally rent free. Because of her I was able to spend my first year as a freelancer, not having to make sure I get bills paid or even worry about what I’m going to eat. Other than her, I’ve had the honor of getting to shadow and learn from some phenomenal directors such as Danny Villanueva Jr, Tom Flynn, and Alex Kouvatsos.

This only scratches the surface of all the friends and family that have helped me along the way.

Website: Servaismedia@gmail.com

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjqGrZUp7iKZlOePnwsOOJw

Image Credits
Dominic Delfino, Justin Mitchell, Nicolas Ferreria Campos, Joey Caride, Kenneth Cummings, Zak Yachera, Reilly Clark, Michael Anthony Tarsia