Conversations with Omar Perineau

Today we’d like to introduce you to Omar Perineau.

Hi Omar, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
It all started during the worst snowstorm of the winter of 78, I was born in a wooden house built by my dad, somewhere on a hillside of the beautiful Appalachians. It was an idyllic childhood in the great outdoors, surrounded by hippies (and rednecks). Then we moved to France for my entire schooling. Or should I say years of rocking back on my chair, staring out the classroom windows and daydreaming. I just preferred riding dirt bikes and watching movies. Since we rarely had a TV at home, we’d go to the cinema as often as we could and I spent uncountable days watching films on the VCR at a friend’s place. I graduated thanks to effortless high scores in art, science and mathematics. And after traveling through Europe for a while, an internship opportunity turned up. I was going to Amsterdam to work as a PA (Production Assistant). I was nineteen, never been on a film set and didn’t speak a word of dutch. Just packed my bag for a three weeks trip not knowing I wouldn’t be coming back to live there anymore. Neglecting heading back to France for film school, which had been the original plan, I ended up working on commercials and feature films for the next seven years before opening my own production house. It started as a one man show: I was producing, directing, sometimes also shooting and editing commercials all together. Pretty soon, I was working as an EP (Executive Producer) and had a team of directors and producers working in my company.

A few years later, I set up an animation and post-production studio followed by a sound and music studio. A terrific ride and exciting time running the companies but after a decade or so I felt an itch build-up and a strong need for a total reboot. I wanted to work as a Director. To build a portfolio, I used some of my savings and shot three short films back to back with lots of help from my friends in Amsterdam and Paris. I had also been California dreaming when I unexpectedly ran into a shaman from Cambodia who looked me in the eye and told me out of the blue “what the hell are you still doing here, you should be on your way to Los Angeles”. A few months later, I’m stepping out of a Boeing 747 at LAX with a suitcase, my surfboard and my snowboard. I hadn’t been in the cab to Silverlake for more than ten minutes when it struck me. This was going to be my new home. During the first year, I focussed on the post-production of my films and building a website to show my work. The rest of the time was for going out, meeting people, surfing and discovering this wonderful city and state. Then the most unexpected year ever slowed things down a lot, but still managed to land my first job as a director, shooting commercials for Dom Perignon, Tom Ford and Dior.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Yes and no. I really liked relocating and find it fascinating how things tend to pop up along the way. Making your own films with very little budget and lots of help from friends takes a huge amount of time, patience and determination. There are days I think it would be easier to go out in the wild to live in a cave and hunt grizzlies with a stick. And you’re far from your friends and family so there will also be lonely days. 2020 has been a challenge all together, but then again with enough determination, you can still make things move forward.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a film director and specialize in fashion films. The first film I made two years ago was shot in Paris on 16mm with anamorphic lenses (I’m super proud of that, hahaha) with fifteen amazing models and actresses playing a bunch of well-dressed gangsters. The film was screened in festivals all around the world with countless nominations and won best fashion film in Barcelona, Porto and Los Angeles.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I took a big risk going for a career switch and moving to Los Angeles at the same time. Letting go of my companies and my comfortable lifestyle in Amsterdam to start all over again in LA in a very complicated industry is not a safe bet. Besides the financial discomfort, broken dreams can also have a heavy impact. But taking risks is also operating outside of your comfort zone and that’s where you can find all kinds of new opportunities, push your luck and widen your perspectives. To me, it’s an essential part of my development and of my work. And I just love a good adventure.

Contact Info:

• Email: mail@omarperineau.com
• Website: www.omarperineau.com
• Instagram: @omarperineau
• Other: https://vimeo.com/332609856

Image Credits:
Pavel Ananich, Victoria Chernuckha, Jennifer Fein