Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Britos.
Matt, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, and moved to Los Angeles at 8 years old before settling in Anaheim, CA. In high school, I discovered my love for filmmaking, shooting short films with friends on a VHS camcorder and editing with two VHS players. I became obsessed with movies, spending all my lunch money at Walmart and Best Buy buying new releases, turning my bedroom into a mini video store decorated with discarded movie signs.
At 15, I landed my first retail job and fell in love with fashion, which became my focus for the next decade. At 22, I opened my first boutique, Convergence World Boutique in Cerritos, CA—one of the first stores centered around purpose-driven brands. Every product we carried supported a cause, and the store organically built a strong community of like-minded people. We grew to a team of 5 employees and 25 interns, all connected by the mission of making a difference through fashion.
After four years, the demanding workload caught up to me. Working 19-20 hours a day, I eventually burned out and closed the store, taking a year to recover and reflect.
That experience led me back to my roots: filmmaking. A short film project with friends reignited my passion, and I moved to Downtown LA, working at the film permit office. It became my “free film school,” exposing me to the inner workings of the industry. Three years later, I went freelance as a photographer and videographer, landing my first big campaign for RedBull thanks to my friend Ami Gan, which opened many doors and gave birth to PROJKT.
During this time, I met my friend Baba, who shared my passion for filmmaking. He believed in my vision and invested in PROJKT, helping us open our first photo studio in the Arts District with our friend Alex Rosa. Eventually, we moved into a 3,000 sq. ft. warehouse—a blank canvas we transformed into a creative hub, not focused on profit but on fostering community and collaboration. Since then, we’ve worked on everything from TV shows, commercials, partnering with an amazing organization Immortals for a soccer tournament including recent projects with Gordon Ramsay.
We couldn’t have dreamed of what this space has become. The creatives who’ve come through our doors—and never left—are the heart of PROJKT. From day one, our mission was never about getting rich; it was about providing a space for creatives to do what they do best while fostering a community of good humans making a difference through their art. People over profits—The World’s Worst Entrepreneur.
This June marks two years in our studio, and as we prepare to renew our lease, we’re filled with gratitude for everyone who has made PROJKT what it is today. We’re excited for what’s ahead.
PROJKT offers production services, e-commerce photography, studio rentals, and podcast recordings—all built on a foundation of creativity, community, and purpose.
Shoutouts to a few people that have made all this happened: Baba Peters, Ami Gan, Alexander Rosa, Anthony Serrano, Liana Levi, Sydney Clarke, Fabian Ceballos, Edwin Valle, Vino Feliciano, Jasmine Baeza, Xavi Soto, Brian Donna, Stefanie Guerra, Cecilie Kjaer and Digital Style House for giving me my first opportunity, & last but not least and the most important one, my MOM. <3
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This journey has been far from smooth. After closing my store, I faced the fallout of violating my lease, unpaid invoices, and even a few lawsuits. My company ultimately filed for bankruptcy to help cover my debts—hard lessons that taught me how serious the consequences of impulsive decisions can be.
Even as our production company began gaining momentum and landing well-known clients, challenges persisted. We trusted the wrong people, which led to being taken advantage of and losing a significant amount of money in the process.
Even through all that we kept believing in the vision and pushed forward.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
These days, I primarily focus on directing, producing, and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the studio. I still take on videography and photography projects occasionally, but only for a select group of clients.
What I’m most proud of, though, are the relationships I’ve built over the years and the incredible people I’ve had the privilege to work with. I’ve been blessed to never have to send a cold email to find work—the community has consistently supported me and kept food on my table. I truly believe your network is your net worth, and I remain loyal to the clients and people who’ve been part of this journey.
What matters most to you?
People matter most to me. Life is about creating meaningful experiences—and the people you share those moments with. You can’t take your debit card to the grave, but the relationships and memories you build will always stay with you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ProjktStudios.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projktla/
- Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/projktmatt
- Yelp: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ouecqf2QQx4yd8X79?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy
- Other: https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/64925365008d4d000ea7cbaf?utm_source=copy_link&utm_campaign=listing_sharing
Image Credits
Main shots on the white cyc wall- Anthony Serrano @Serranophotorgaphy
