Meet Thomas Petborisooth | Director/Filmmaker & Podcast Host

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

Hi Thomas, we’d love to hear more about your end-goal, professionally.
I think the answer to that will change in five years so ask me then! What I mean by that is, it’s grown and evolved since I was a kid. I think then it was Academy Award Winning in the caliber of James Cameron, Peter Jackson, and as I grew up became more like Nolan or Fincher. And when I finally moved down to Los Angeles and started working in production on films and commercials it was to become a festival darling that was able to amble along financially through independent films. Now, I think the end goal for me is to a hybrid of both, I want to get theatrical releases for films that I find dramatically moving that matter to me, that have this very personal and indie feel but can also be loved by a large audience like Hayao Miyazaki. By the end of the career? Honestly, I don’t want it to be the end of the career but the end of my life and I can still make films and there will still be an audience for them.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
It took me a while to get to this because we are often asked so early in our lives “What are you about?” and I think there needs to be a lot of trial and error, attempt and failure, and importantly: Ego Death. At first I would say my art was Romance Drama, then it would be independent cinematic, but now several award winning films and online shows later, I’d say my art is best described as third space drama. It’s not quite coming of age or hero’s journey, it’s not quite horror or drama, but it blends both to make a third space.

I make things that I often haven’t seen before, a romance built in someones head one day in LA, strangers lamenting their failed relationship, a supportive husband pledging his unwavering support to his struggling wife with a supernatural curse. I mentioned a lot of filmmakers who I idolized and typically we imitate that which we look up to, but it took some time to think I don’t want to be “another one” of them, but I want to be the first me. The films I make are only made by the imagination and emotional intention that came from the life I led.

This is a lifelong journey, it takes a lot when things aren’t going well to keep going. Finances, personal lows, and professional set backs always give me pause if I am doing what I’m supposed to do. After years of meditation, it came down to Filmmaking and storytelling is the only thing I can do. I could switch careers, move towns, whatever, but in the end, I will always want to play with this art medium and tell a story, move people with moving pictures.

I learned that no matter what, I have to do this for myself. I have to be the first person that wants to tell this story, and I am the only one that can tell it the way I can. Someone else might wanna tell it, but it’d be their story, and that’s beautiful, so it is universally absolute that each artist craft their art the way they can. That little grain and texture enriches the world’s culture. I would love people to take away a sense that the best stories are the ones that feel real, that put you into uncomfortable places, but in the end offer a sense of solace or asks you to look inward and better ourselves. There is always hope and always something we can do.

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.
I think the best thing about Los Angeles is that there is something just around the corner. I have to recommend we grab drinks at Forman’s Whiskey Tavern in Toluca lake, it’s loud enough to feel fun, but small enough where you don’t get exhausted by the nightlife. Down the street from there are a handful of bars to make a small pub crawl.

I cannot recommend anyone visiting unless they are down to eat. If it’s morning, Marmalade Cafe in Sherman Oaks is a classic but weekend special if we are enjoying a few steps above a diner. But that all being said, I love a good diner like Foxy’s Restaurant in Glendale, there is something special about sliding into a booth to being welcomed by a napkin holder and their toaster on the table. Now for lunch or dinner, we have to swing by some Korean BBQ like Bulgogi Hut, Ayce Gogi, or Ramen like Tsujita for some Tsukemen, but if we have a Saturday morning, the Thai Temple on Roscoe is a must, for locals and anyone enjoying some authentic Thai Food.

The wallet of a yet represented Filmmaker is pretty thin, so things to do would be hiking Griffith Park, Lake Hollywood, or Runyon Canyon. I was a bit of a mall rat growing up so I have to suggest walking through the Grove and checking out the farmer’s market, and if you want a longer trek you can see the academy museum. And for all the cinephiles and fellow movie lovers, I’d have to catch whatever is playing at Vidiots in Eagle Rock or at The New Beverly. There is something so fulfilling to enjoy movies the way people did in the 80s and 90s and these bastions of the tradition shine brightly in my favorite things to do in Los Angeles.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I think there isn’t enough love for Teachers and Educators. Some of the greats in my life were my JROTC instructors SGM Thomas Halbrook and Major Larry Lineback. The two really instilled a level of responsibility and this competency to be a self starter. Beyond all of the Army values they taught in class I spent many hours in after school programs where it wasn’t devoid of juvenile antics but in the end we participated in food drives and community service. There was also this special nugget of “lead by example” so it made me acutely aware that I needed to present myself in ways that were approachable and confident when it came to the workplace as well as times of crisis.

I would be remiss if I didn’t include Dr. Doug Rice, my film theory professor. There was not a faculty member that I feared more, because of his intense intention that we educate and push ourselves in the engagement of film. “In order to make movies, is to take your love, learn how to hate it by tearing it apart and see it for all its parts. Then if you can learn to love it again, you’ll master the craft” This was insanely insightful when I watched films, I would look at its craft and intentions after my initial viewings. He really enforced this level of not being lazy when engaging with the medium, and I still use that lens when I make a film or engaging with my peers.

Speaking of my film peers, the first producers I worked with Nick Erickson and Tyler Zelinsky were absolutely paramount to the knowledge base in experiencing how film shoots are run like a smooth machine that has enough slack for creative improvisation. Top to bottom, they exposed me to a work ethic that mitigates and predicted obstacles that the crew would experience and being on top of those have ensured my productions have never been in catastrophic danger.

I want to give a group shout out to The Capeless Crusaders, Storybored, and Nerd On! The Podcast crew that trusted me with creative decisions and brought me into the fold to entertain the online audiences. Podcasts and Webshows are a wild ride, there’s not a lot of right ways to do it, but a lot of wrong ways and the learning curve is steep. Maybe it was then, but now with the saturation cutting through the noise is particularly hard unless you have a really well oiled machine.

Lastly, I’d like to shout out Patrick Garney who has given me many opportunities to grow and work in the Television Network systems. Not only do they hold decades of experience and knowledge, Patrick has the best interests of the people we worked with and has helped me out immensely the last few years that definitely feels proper to pay forward.

Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6958427/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-petborisooth/

Twitter: https://x.com/talldarknotugly

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4PoFarkuxLxwfRS3IATApg

Other: https://nerdon.tv

Image Credits
HAAPIFEST
IFS LOS ANGELES
CALIFORNIA FILM FOUNDATION