Meet Joshua Nicolás Prits | Writer and Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joshua Nicolás Prits and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joshua Nicolás, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Creativity is one of the most divine acts anyone could undertake. I was fortunately nurtured in an environment in which my world was in flux, so I had to define it by developing a creative instinct. I am a dreamer, and my dreams have time and time again gifted me with the vision and foresight an artist must possess to accurately portray a world in reflection. Artistry is finding the poetry in the scenery, the rhythm in your veins, the colors dancing in the eyes of the woman in front of you, and then referencing it in your own personally enriched terms.
As Aristotle has laid down in Poetics (among other works), art is an artist’s imitation of the world as they see it. It seems as though creatives are the sources of interpretive commentary on our existence at large. The paintings that inspire us, the movies we watch, and even the digital content we inhale are humanly skewed imitations of the world we are familiar with; in turn, that world we knew is expanded with the fusion of our consciousness and that portrayed slice of another artist’s own vision.
For example, I have gazed into a sunlit Levantine desert, drawn in the yellowing colors of the sandy dunes, and mounted the impression of each pigment of each grain of sand onto a page; This I cannot erase. It is those painted memories that dazzle in my soul. It’s the yearning to admire the world in all its spectacular colors and hidden gems that drives me forward. Art is the lifeblood of the human condition. I cannot escape the luster of art and storytelling. In a sense, creativity defines me. We have all been created by others and are continuously creating ourselves, it’s only natural.
As far as career-wise, it might seem counterproductive, but I decided on an artistic field to make a difference in the world. I take after the artists and storytellers that inspire me most, driven to share enriching stories by my heroes. Storytellers and artists such as Jorge Luis Borges, Yoshitaka Amano, Federico Fellini, Wes Anderson, Wong Kar-wai, The Strokes, and The Marias have evolved my spirit and granted me a profound appreciation for the world within reach. It’s in mastering my craft and culminating all those influences into my own metaphorical brush strokes in which I am driven forward in this career.

Is it easy? No, it’s grueling and unforgiving. Success, for the most part, is incredibly limited. While there may be love and appreciation scattered all about, there is inherent animosity embedded in this career. There are people who seek to reject and refuse to accept due to contrasting personalities, bad timing, or out of pure misfortunate circumstance. But it’s the individuality and sense of self that perseveres. We are in a time of artificial mimicry, so what holds a good artist above the crowd of algorithms and embittered critics is the sense of distinct style and the action of a nuanced portrayal. Know thyself.

I pursue this career to shed a light on the stories of the many people whom I love. I pursue this career to inspire and to teach people about themselves. I pursue this career to bring dreams alive. The sands of time are favorable to the most profound artists, even with the natural erosion of every era.
Every grain in the sea of sand has had its own lifespan. Take some sand under a microscope and gaze into its form; It is quite miraculous how uniquely beautiful each grain is. There are billions of untold stories in this universe. I am just doing my part by sharing a few of them.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a writer first and foremost. Lately, I have portrayed stories that start with a dive into the corruption of humanity and are alleviated through redemption by recognition and interpersonal good works. I love to embed mythos and echoes of folk tales into the structure of my stories. As in life, I always include a touch of Heaven in every worthy story. What sets me apart is my mileage and my multicultural palette. I have traveled across Spain, Perú, Thailand, Israel, the US, Italy, and several other wonderful lands in search of myself, and in turn discovered the vast array of binding points humanity shares across borders. We are all connected in so many ways on this beautiful earth.
Another thing that sets me apart is my multi-religious upbringing, which allowed me to get a good understanding of the Jewish and Christian interpretation of the world. This has helped me portray western characters with somewhat of a spiritual basis. The notion of a divine relationship and the sense of a grand purpose always has a place in my works.
As far as stylistically, I am enriched by my artistic influences, from garage rock to ibero-american magical realism to impressionism to Italian neorealism and so much more. It’s hard finding someone at a bar that shares those particular interests. Maybe that’s why I’m still single. I hope nobody reads this and casts me in a dating show for niche artists.

I am truly excited for my written works to gain traction and eventually find a place on the screen. I’m pitching a couple feature scripts that I authored, including the action/drama 50/50 K/O , the magical realist drama Sunspinner, and my absurdist comedy A Word From our Sponsors.
I recently produced and co-wrote a short film about a Peruvian-American singer that I am excited for the world to see. It had always been a dream of mine to work on a film with a predominantly Peruvian cast/crew, and I managed to help assemble this film stateside. Producing this project was a difficult endeavor, but absolutely worth the stress. I am fortunate to have worked alongside some very talented Peruvian artists on this film, such as Camila Vidal, Sierra Shay, Cesar Reyes, Renzo Puch, Samuel Sunderland, and Stefano Meier.
Breaking in as a screenwriter is very difficult, especially since I am a first generation American and do not have any family in the film industry. It takes grit, tenacity, good taste, and pure confidence to keep the momentum going. Before the strike, I would go to the Writers Guild every week to study and work on my projects. I figure that being surrounded by the greatest screenplays of the english language has got to rub off at least a little bit on me. Every time I emerge from the WGA building, I feel enriched and more motivated than ever before. I highly recommend the experience to any screenwriter.

Another shoutout I must include: I am incredibly grateful to the WGA for sticking out the strike and negotiating a deal that will give due credit to thousands of writers such as myself. I spent some hours on the picket lines, and I found it to be somewhat grueling, yet incredibly inspirational. But that is the duty of the writer: to chronicle the injustices of the world and tackle them head on. I am proud to be among this class of professionals.

I’ve discovered many lessons in this field, but primarily I have learned how incredible humanity can be. On my journeys of self-discovery and artistic development, I have learned many profound lessons from some truly inspiring people. Like how to prepare for the coming storms and how to provide warmth on the coldest nights. I have learned how to cope with absolute misfortune, and I have learned how to provide light in the darkest pits. I picked up on traversing mountains and breathing in the airs that matter most. I learned how to live.
What I would like the world to know about me can be found in my many writings and pieces.
Another thing I would like the world to know about me: Yes, I would love to be staffed in the writers’ room on a TV show. That would be super.

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.
Oh boy, I love LA. Here are some of my recommendations:

The Sunset Strip – My inner rockstar always comes to life in this stretch of music venues, bars, and restaurants.

Sawtelle Japantown – The best ramen in the city, some really fascinating shopping, and excellent desert. I’m craving taiyaki and boba just writing this.

Malibu – The sun, the scenery, and the placid sensation of warm life against the cold Pacific.
To top it off, take a tour of my alma mater Pepperdine, voted one of the most beautiful campuses in the country.

Koreatown – Korean BBQ sizzling on the grill, bottles of creamy yogurt soju right beside, and good company all around. Follow that up with a night of clubbing, and you’ve got yourself a perfect night.

Universal Citywalk – yes it’s über commercialized, but there is a distinct fusion of cinema culture and urban thrill you won’t find anywhere else aside from this neon stretch of the valley. It’s like the Funko Pop of urban centers: highly curated, purely referential, but scratches that pop-culture itch.

Melrose – The best fashion in town. You’ll find the clothes and accessories you didn’t know you needed, right here on this eclectic stretch of the city. Niche articles, 2nd hand gems, custom apparel by craftsmen from around the world, and so much more. People always ask me where I get my sense of fashion, I would say Melrose did a good job at forming it.

Castle Park – The Sherman Oaks hub for a good time: minigolf, arcade games, and batting cages. Load of fun for the whole family. I grew up on this place.

Chios Peruvian Grill – My favorite local eatery of my favorite world cuisine.

The Academy Museum – To relive your cinematic passions, this is a stellar home for the reminders of the brilliant craftsmen who created all the movies we know and love. In the words of George Clanton, “Play that thing again”.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shoutout my four sisters: Diana, Angelique, Ella, and Lauren. Despite our nontraditional relation, you girls inspire me more than anyone. I hope I inspire you right back. I also want to shoutout my four ex girlfriends: Thank you for dealing with this passionate loverboy. You helped shaped my heart, and for that, I am eternally thankful.

Website: https://joshuaprits.com/

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

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

Other: https://www.threads.net/@jnpnico

Image Credits
Profile photo shot by Andre Taylor