Meet Zack Arch | Filmmaker, photographer, comedian

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

Hi Zack, what do you attribute your success to?
In short, curiosity. Knowing how things work helps me connect with people and the world around me creatively and emotionally. Anyone close to me rolls their eyes at the influx of skills I’m perpetually trying to learn. In 2020, I moved into a house with a 2 car garage and never looked back. It’s my creative space where I construct furniture, sew costumes, turn wood, rebuild electronics, develop, scan, and edit 35mm film. It’s where I fabricate any prop I could EVER need. In regard to creative collaborations, it’s my north star. Whenever I’m working with a new client or in a new space or on a new type of project, curiosity is what humbles me and allows me to relate with the individual and their vision. I just want to learn. Why this choice over that? What is the overall goal? How do we make this on a budget most people would spend on a month’s rent or even a month’s groceries?

For everyone, so many circumstances have changed in the last few years. Most of my clients are extremely talented, creative individuals who just don’t have the means to pay for a proper crew despite having an idea that calls for it. What I offer is savvy problem solving through the random tricks I’ve acquired over years of making projects that should have cost a LOT more. Knowing how things work allows you to cut corners resourcefully. We need a rig to puppet a plant for a web series? I have some fishing reels I’ve been saving. We need to launch someone’s scrotum out of their shorts across a room in a wide shot? I’ll make an air compressor rig. We need a dozen My Little Ponies suspended in space at specific heights for the desired composition? I have a grid from another project that will do the trick.

Everything is so hard right now for everyone. There’s so much bolstering and social maneuvering required to be successful in this industry. It’s easy to get lost when you aren’t creating and/or you don’t know how to film something for less than 10k. To the detriment of my bank account, I just want to make. And I like working with people who feel similarly. The best feeling in the world is when you’re working on a project and it’s just humming. Everyone’s working in harmony to get the shot. All the egos are dropped and everyone feels like a kid again, excited about what we’re making from nothing. Curiosity facilitates all dat.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve been reflecting a lot recently because I’m coming up on 10 years in LA. I’m so proud to have helped film close to 150 short-form projects in my time out here on top of countless portrait and event photo sessions. I owe everything to the ongoing connections I’ve made with passionate creators who refer me to other like-minded individuals. I’ve been lucky to work with many different kinds of artists who all have their own unique approach to creating. It truly brings me so much joy to help facilitate people’s visions by sharing my skills. I’ve learned countless lessons from these different perspectives. However, at times, the exposure to so many different voices would make me completely critical of my own way of creating, which makes everything harder. I’d wish I was more of a “true” artist who wouldn’t be able to eat or sleep because they were just so overtaken by inspiration. Or I’d wish I was more critical of everything so my voice as a comedian would be more defined. I felt like I had no perspective or personal story to tell and that I was just taking up space for more defined voices. I’d reject any idea for a project simply because it came from my mind. At the same time, I’d be completely unwilling to give up on someone else’s project because there is ALWAYS a way to make something work. That is a core belief of mine. And ultimately I think that belief is something that sets me apart. It’s so easy to scrap an idea because of budget or time or confidence. I know because that was my experience for almost all of my 20s. We’re all in our heads out here and finding someone who is as excited to make your project as you are is special. We all need that external accountability and support. I see it constantly and I try to honor that with the people that trust me with their vision. Personally, I’ve gotten better at facilitating my own projects, but it’s a battle every time. I’m still discovering what my voice is, but with every collaboration, it becomes a little clearer

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’m from the Philadelphia area so if it’s a friend from home, there’s a high chance we’re timing this visit with the Phillies, Eagles, or Sixers coming to town. The intuit dome is one of the most dystopian event venues I’ve ever been to so I’d love to share that experience. If that was too much of a bummer, I’d take them to Nico’s in Atwater or the Elysian to see a comedy show. We’d spend some time hiking around Altadena. Anytime someone visits, I force them to go to Angel’s Taqueria. They have a stand on Vineland and Victory and their al pastor is too good. Bar wise- Tonga Hut, Bigfoot Lodge, Nobar, Glendale Tap, maybe even the weird side room in Lancers in Burbank. RIP The Cork

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This is probably tacky, but the other two member of my comedy troupe, Flambé, Matt Newman and Charlie Fay. They are the most talented writers and performers I know. It’s easy to take for granted at pitch meetings or on set because we’ve worked together since 2012. But whenever I see them on stage at Groundlings or a variety show or in a national commercial, I’m just so impressed by their instincts. And it reminds me of how grateful I am to have filmed over 100 shorts with them.

Website: https://zackarch.com

Instagram: @zackarch @shotbyzackarch

Youtube: https://youtube.com/flambecomedy