Meet RJ Solomon | Filmmaker & Songwriter

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

Hi RJ, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
There was never a moment in my life when I felt I made the decision to pursue an artistic career. Art is just my way of processing the world without going completely insane. I think it’s that way for most artists. Most of my ideas for film or music just happen when I’m sad or nostalgic about something. It’s a way to reflect without having to go to therapy. I think that’s the honest truth.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think I’m still developing a style, so it’d be hard to say exactly what my art embodies. In general, I try to make films or music that feels authentic. I like stuff that feels really raw like it hasn’t been processed by a ton of people. I love the little imperfections in things, whether it be the tiny shakes in a dolly move or the hesitation in a lyric–that feels most honest to me.

I’m most excited for an upcoming short film of mine called “How to Find Your Wisdom Teeth”. It centers around a son struggling to reconnect with his father after the death of his mother. I have an incredible crew and cast who worked on it and I’m really excited for people to see it once it’s done.

In terms of getting to where I am now, I think I just got really lucky. I got accepted into LACHSA (The Los Angeles County High School for the Arts) for high school, and was able to learn just about every aspect of filmmaking in the four years I was there. One thing I learned, however, is that at least in art, most of the learning that I was able to do came from actually doing it, as opposed to in a classroom setting.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Anytime one of my friends from out of state visits LA, I always seem to take them to Universal Studios. To be honest with you, I’m not sure why. It’s not because I love it there, that just seems to be the thing you do when in Los Angeles. If I were to break out of this confusing cycle of minions and overpriced T’s, I’d probably take them to a movie theatre or walk around Westwood Village. Both of which, give me an immeasurable amount of joy.

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?
There are so many people that I’d love to give a shoutout to. I think I’ll have to dedicate this one to my dad though. I think a big part of the reason why I fell in love with stories is because of him. When I was little, every single night, he’d come into my room and create these whimsical, yet heartfelt stories completely off the cuff. He’s honestly the most talented storyteller I know, and I think he deserves all of the credit that’s due.

Instagram: hey.hey.rj