Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesserey Tugas.
Hi Jesserey, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In the summer of 2016, I suddenly decided to make a career change. I was an unhappy twenty-five years old, working in healthcare and living in Las Vegas, the city where I grew up in. I always had an interest in filmmaking and wanted to give it a try. So I moved to Los Angeles without any idea on how to get into the business and not knowing a single person in the industry. It was a shock to my family, my friends, and to myself but I felt as if it was something I needed to do.
Once I was in LA, I spent a couple of weeks sending over hundreds of cold emails to members in the Director’s Guild of America desperately trying to find work in the industry. A few people emailed back but was unsuccessful at landing a job. Then one day while walking around Hollywood, I received a text from one of the assistant directors I contacted asking if I was available for work the following week as a production assistant on a CBS TV show called S.W.A.T. Not knowing what to expect and having zero experience, I said yes. I was just grateful for an opportunity to get my foot in the door.
For the next three years, I worked as a PA around town on shows like American Horror Story, Marvel’s Runaways, Black-ish, and a couple of indie features. During that time, I was writing and directing my own short films. However, I never felt that those short films I was making at the time were “me”.
We all know the old writer’s adage, “write what you know”. So one day, when my girlfriend and I were driving back from Las Vegas, she suggested that I start writing about my experiences in Las Vegas and what it was like growing up there. She pointed out that there rarely were any stories on television or film about the locals.
During one of the features I was working on, I had the opportunity to get to know the main actor, King Orba. Right off the bat, we developed a great friendship. Then one day he asked about some of the things I was working on. So I told him of a short film I had written that takes place in Las Vegas. Much to my surprise, he was immediately drawn to it and asked if he could be a part of it. A few months later, he and another mutual friend of ours, James Paxton, son of the late Bill Paxton, got together and shot “All-In”; a short about a Las Vegas bartender and security guard who try to help a young girl find her gambling father.
Then, about a year after shooting it, we received news that our short was selected to The 21st Beverly Hills Film Festival which takes place at the end of April. I mean, what better way to celebrate 21 years with a story about Las Vegas!
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 definitely not been a smooth road and I don’t see it becoming any different. But if anything was easy to obtain in life, I don’t think it’d be worth it. If it was easy then everyone would be doing it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I see myself as a writer first. The whole process of filmmaking begins with the script so consequently, I find myself doing that more than directing at the moment. Of course, you find yourself thinking like a director while you write and there are instances when you’re on set and stumble upon new ideas that you and the actor would like to explore. But, everything starts with the script. The story and where it comes from.
I’m committed to bringing stories about the people of Las Vegas to the screen. Just like my favorite filmmakers have done with the cities they grew up in, I’d like to follow in their footsteps and do the same. I do believe the people of Las Vegas offer a unique perspective on what it’s like to experience life in a city synonymous with sin.
I’d say that one of the things I’m most proud of is taking my initial gut reaction of switching careers, to jump into the film industry, and running with it. I haven’t looked back since.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I’d say my favorite childhood memory is family movie nights on the weekends. One weekend in particular that I remember was back then, my parents owned one of those huge karaoke machines and on Friday nights, we’d go to Tower Records and buy two or three movies to watch over the weekend. The two movies I remember seeing on the karaoke machine was Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead and Last of The Mohicans; talk about polar opposites.
During those times, we’d lay down blankets and pillows in the living room and get lost in the movie. My mom and sister would eventually fall asleep but my dad and I refused to shut our eyes until the movie was finished. And I’m glad we did that because in hindsight, I don’t think my mom would’ve been very pleased with my dad who let me watch The Last of The Mohicans. The sequence leading up to the death of Uncas is one of the most memorable film moments that is forever engrained in my head. The violence is somewhat poetic to me.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessereytugas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessereytugas
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JesseTugas/featured
