Connect
To Top

Meet Jonathan Latona of JohnnyBoy Films in North Hollywood

Avatar photo

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

Thanks for sharing your story with us Jonathan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I began my journey as a Filmmaker a little over ten years ago when I realized making movies was all I wanted to do with my life. I was living in South Florida at the time, fresh out of high school when I realized I didn’t want to continue my education in Florida. My mother was leaving Florida at the time and headed to North Carolina, so I followed and we moved to a small town called Wilmington, NC. A town off the coast of North Carolina, about 90 minutes north from Myrtle Beach. The biggest difference between Wilmington and every other town in North Carolina at the time was Wilmington was primarily a Film town. Many productions were taking place around Wilmington and areas nearby for their diverse scenery. For about a decade and a half, Wilmington, NC dominated the Film scene shooting Films and Television Series, like Dawson’s Creek. When I arrived to Wilmington, a little show called One Tree Hill was filming and had been a North Carolina staple for years. People flocked from all over the world to be lucky enough to catch production of the show.

When I arrived to Wilmington, NC I enrolled in the Film program at Cape Fear Community College. I later learned that the Film Degree was not at the campus I wanted to frequent, therefore I took every film class I could while opting to be a Film Studies Major and took courses at the Downtown campus with some of the most talented Instructors from Cal Arts & San Diego State. I learned everything from the best people you can imagine. If it wasn’t for David Kreutzer or Lucinda McNamara, I wouldn’t have learned all the camera and editing tricks I currently know. They were the first people to let me go haywire and evolve my creativity through the medium I loved so much. Nothing was off limits. Creativity was encouraged as Kreutzer once said “If you’re serious, you’ll go out there and make a film.” His mantra always stuck with me.

Despite the small numbers attached to the Film Department at Cape Fear, we were given the chance to Intern for the Production Department on Warner Bros. One Tree Hill. My grades were high enough one semester that I could participate, only to fall that semester because I was stubborn and took on more than I can chew. I made great contacts and had the experience of a lifetime, working as an Intern on one of the hottest shows in America (at the time).

Thus began my Filmmaking Career. Once I had witnessed how an actual film set operated, I felt more confident in my journey to make my own projects and figure out how the industry really worked. Life itself was becoming more difficult, as the semester took its tole and I was also kicked out of my mom’s house for my poor grades that semester. This changed my life and opened me up for the greatest experiences I’d ever have.

That summer, I found a job and moved into my first Bachelor Pad with three other guys who were all going to school at the time. We all had our own educational experiences, some were better than others it seemed but regardless, we were all in it together. I took some time off and visited my family in Greece (whom Ive never met before till then) and upon my return, I was ready to embark on my first short film experience.

For about three years in school, I took the time to film as many local bands as I could, often filming them with my Canon Handycam at that point (which still took Mini DV) until I had the chance to purchase my very first DSLR camera– A Canon Rebel T3i. It shot in 1080 at a time when 4K was relatively new and only on Cinema Cams like Black Magic and Red systems. Too expensive at the time for everyday users. This was the age of YouTube, at a time when people were starting to make money from their videos. I was relatively new to the platforms so I couldn’t find a way to capitalize off Youtube. Instead my goal at that time was to make short films and get them into as many local film festivals as I possibly could. At the time, Wilmington had two: the popular Cucalorus Film Festival (which is where I saw my first Gaspar Noe film) and the not so popular (at the time) Cape Fear Independent Film Festival. I shot my fist short film, CLEANUP COMEDY, the story of a struggling stand up comedian performing his act at a local laundromat. We filmed it in a local laundromat during off hours for only 4-5 hours each evening. This was my first real challenge as a filmmaker and my first real short film. Sure, I had made plenty of short films and music videos but nothing I was really proud of until CLEANUP COMEDY. The short landed in a few festivals in Wilmington and won me my first award for filmmaking, the Audience Award at the first and only Parallelogram Film Festival.

After that, I was hooked. I continued writing and working on productions made by local filmmakers and friends. I networked in a small town that was becoming less of a filmmaking town and more of a community of filmmakers. However, this didn’t last long, as politics took hold and denied the state of North Carolina a decent production tax incentive, so everybody scattered–some went to New York, others went to Atlanta. I took my chances and headed for Los Angeles with my two other roommates and fellow actor/filmmaker team from my first short film. Everybody I know is trying to make it work.

Upon moving out to Los Angeles, I received work right away, then nothing. I spent much of my time freelancing, receiving opportunities here and there, working with companies promoting Social Media. Then nothing. Then I shot my first feature film with a local Actor/Director Doug Burch. Then nothing. My experience as a filmmaker in Los Angeles has been kind of like surfing. There are highs and lows to everything and you have to stay optimistic about catching the “perfect” wave. Sure, nothing in life is perfect, that’s why it always considered a waiting game. After my first few years living and gathering experiences in LA, I wrote my first feature film that I also Produced & Directed myself called DOUG starring Doug Burch as a down and almost out Actor struggling to make his dreams a reality. The project is five years in the making and I’m almost done with the Post Production aspect tweaking sound and gathering music needed to bring my film to life.

In 2018, I had the privilege of filming six short films and Directing my first Feature Film, DOUG. All six short films have been accepted to festivals all over the world and have won several awards. I am currently working on making DOUG my first major project to hit festivals and take the leap to gather representation. I am currently trying to make my second feature right after my first to keep the momentum alive.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Living and working as a Filmmaker in Los Angeles is always a challenge. Its a lot like surfing and waiting for the perfect wave. You have to keep optimistic and never give up because eventually you will catch the 30 foot wave and get the ride you want.

I’ve done all sorts of work for clients as a freelancer, which is a waiting game in of itself. I’ve worked with friends I’ve gone to school with and have done my own projects. Opportunities provide themselves every now and then, the trick is to find something that makes it work for you.

One of these days I’ll be able to find work on the regular as a Director/DP. It’s just a long hard road until then.

Please tell us about JohnnyBoy Films.
My business is making content come to life. Whether it be as a Director or Photographer, I am always interested in working with people who are serious about their craft. Staying on top of trends is also important. I specialize in filming live events, bands, films, commercials as well as photographing Actors & Models. I also make Reels for Actors trying to make it in the industry and advertise the cheapest rates in town.

I like creating a safe space for Actors & Models to give me their best work. I enjoy working with people I’m familiar with and who also love the process. It’s important to work with people who you are familiar with so it eases tension and gives the performer the opportunity to properly represent themselves. It is also important to work with people you know so you can use them in one of your productions. In the end, everyone wins. That’s the goal.

I’m most proud of the fact that I’m working out in LA trying to make it all happen. This town is filled with competition and that’s part of the fun. The goal is to find a way to do this for the rest of my life and so far I’ve been extremely lucky in getting this far.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over, I would have gone the traditional University route and stayed in WIlmington, NC after my mother had passed away. I received her inheritance and the idea was to stay in school or risk everything (which seemed like it would have a greater reward) but honestly who knows. Nothing is set in stone. Might as well try when you’re young and have no responsibilities other than yourself, which is a hassle in of itself. The goal would have been get the degree then come out, however nothing was guaranteed that I would be able to make it out in LA after having spent the inheritance. It would have been harder and I wouldn’t have the experiences I had when I first got out to LA.

Right now, it seems like I’m right where I need to be.

Pricing:

  • Reels $200
  • Cinematography Rates $25/hr or $250/day.

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Headshots of me by Schuyler Dalenberg, BTS of my feature DOUG by Mike Wargo

Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Related Items

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in