October 15, 2016

Meet Filmmaker, Photographer & Writer: Jonathan Reyes

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Reyes.

Jonathan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
When I began my undergraduate studies I had not an ounce of ambition to pursue anything in the arts. I had my heart set on becoming a cardiologist. My undergraduate degree is in Biology, with a Molecular emphasis. However, the summer before my sophomore year I took an internship at City of Hope, in one of their research departments. I absolutely hated my time there. Don’t get me wrong, I met a handful of wonderful people at the hospital. Yet, my heart had no real passion for the sciences as I had once thought. Thus, I went on Craigslist and applied for a Production Assistant position for an indie film. And I loved every moment that I worked without pay. I showed up early. I was always one of the last to leave. That was the moment when I realized that I had a passion for filmmaking and only an interest in the sciences. So, I continued on, taking several internships at production companies across the industry here in LA and working on set in the Art Department. Yet, the path I was taking catered more towards becoming a producer, and after some time I halted working in an office setting.

I was fortunate enough to get to know LA fashion designer Maria Dora, who allowed me to direct my first fashion film. That experience truly lit the fire for my passion towards filmmaking and photography. I am grateful to her for the opportunity.

Has it been a smooth road?
My largest struggle is always fighting a sense of impulsiveness to get projects done. I could elaborate more. But, in short, I am constantly keeping tabs on myself to focus on actually ‘doing’ the work, as opposed to getting it ‘done.’ I have looked back at projects that I’ve done in the past, only to realize that mistakes that were made could have easily been avoided had I taken an ounce bit more of time in those moments to do it right.

How would you describe the type of kid you were growing up?
Growing up, I was shy and in retrospect had a level of anxiety when it came to any form of public speaking. It was to the point that even asking where the restroom was in the mall would have induced a level of anxiousness and mumbling. My summers were filled with movies. Jurassic Park and Memento were two that I watched religiously. Also, from Junior High and into High School I had a growing passion for the news. I would always watch the 10 pm nightly news, and it was common for me to watch Tom Brokaw. I did play soccer, sing in show choir, and do theater in high school. But, I grew into who I am today by getting a job at Hollister co. That job forced me to be in front of people who I didn’t know. And despite how boring that job could have been at times, it is an important moment in my life as it broke me out of my shell.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My parents traveled with us a lot as kids. However, after a lightning storm caused the turbulence to be little too much for my parents taste on a flight to Boston, we began taking road trips instead. I remember driving to Colorado and Wyoming many times. Those road trips were amazing. Nature in an almost untouched state is awe inspiring.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
In the immediate future, I plan on gearing up and completing a personal project. I hope to begin shooting it by January. Also, it will be shot on super 8. I know working in a film format instead of digital will slow me down enough, and be that pace I need to make the right choices. In the long term, I plan on getting back to writing, as writing is the first aspect of filmmaking that really captivated me at the beginning. Other than that, I’ll just go with the tide.

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