Rising Stars: Meet Jakob Rippe of Seal Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jakob Rippe.

Hi Jakob, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I feel like I’ve been doing this my whole life, and to some capacity, I have. When I was a kid, I was always running around with a camera filming my pets, toy car chase scenes, and forcing friends and family to play characters in a variety of wacky stories. In high school, the competition really picked up, which significantly fueled my desire to learn everything I could about filmmaking. The best thing I did (and still do) is keep an open mind to being wrong or making mistakes. These early projects were far from perfect, but once I was able to realize that noticing imperfections was a sign of growth instead of incompetence, it got a lot easier to want to try again.

During my time at Whittier College, I studied filmmaking and business management. I was the president of our video production club along with the media council, which allowed me to dabble in journalism, live broadcast, radio, and theater. This was also when I landed my first job on a feature film, titled Carlos Through The Tall Grass. The contacts I made on this project led me to work as a grip, camera assistant, and 2nd AD on a variety of student films at the American Film Institute. Working alongside talented filmmakers at the top film school in the world was invaluable experience to me- and the best part was I didn’t have to pay tuition! Work was touch-and-go after graduation. One thing that helped a lot was using social media for its intended purpose: networking. I would follow, comment, and message other creatives in hopes of gaining wisdom and the occasional job offer. One thing you have to get used to in the entertainment industry is being told “No” or just getting straight-up ignored. That’s okay, though, because all it takes is one “Yes” to change your life.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been far from a smooth road, but it’s a journey worth taking. Things like the pandemic, followed by the writers’ and actors’ strikes, made for a long period of little to no work. Mix in the fact that I was trying to establish myself in a historically challenging industry to break into, and you have a perfect storm of obstacles. These setbacks forced me to explore multiple avenues of visual media, branching out from working purely on narrative films. To fill work gaps and grow my network, I have done photojournalism, commercials, music videos, and live events. Each new avenue has been a challenge, but in a good way. I love to learn, and this variety of skillsets has helped make each project feel fresh and exciting.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I market myself as a writer and producer, but in the larger scope, I create visual media. My work has consisted of still photography, acting, writing, music, and marketing, among other creative endeavours. I have been fortunate enough to gain varying degrees of experience in a wide range of film crew roles, which sets me apart as a leader on set. Knowing how to communicate with the different departments, using their lingo, and understanding the capabilities of my team have been invaluable assets in my work. My films aim to be heartfelt comedies that bring people together. My latest film, a short titled “One For The Road,” is a bittersweet tale about loss, brotherhood, and redemption. It has screened at several film festivals and received a Best Screenplay award at the Rochester Global Short Film Festival.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I had a great imagination and nonstop energy. There weren’t a ton of kids my age in my neighborhood, so I had to find other ways to entertain myself. I think this is really what created my love of filmmaking. Being able to create stories and worlds allowed me to further explore my imagination and keep exploring it into adulthood. Living in Southern California, I also grew up with a love for both the beach and mountains, and I enjoy taking road trips to explore the country. I’ve never been super interested in science fiction or mythology; my greatest interests have been in history, human connection, and nature. Being able to view ordinary, everyday life as the beautiful art it is has really shaped who I am today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jakobrippe.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakobrippe/

Image Credits
Emerson Little, Alex Oger, Lisa Rippe