We’re looking forward to introducing you to James Ferrero. Check out our conversation below.
James, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I love going to the movies but I haven’t really laughed out loud throughout in a theatre since I saw Bottoms. But I recently saw The Naked Gun and that broke that streak, I couldn’t stop throughout the whole movie.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is James Ferrero and I’m the executive producer/founder of Day for Knight Productions LLC. We’ve mostly operated within theatre so far but have plans to move into podcasting and possibly even film at some point.
We’ve had a lot of fun with two genres. Re-imagining Shakespeare & Horror. Some examples include Titus Kills (an onstage mashup of Two Gentlemen of Verona and Titus Andronicus reimagined as a 1980s slasher movie), We Need Better Friends (a comedy drama focusing on a scenario where Horatio and Benvolio bond over there problematic friendships and shared grief), and The Visitor (an original ghost story).
Horror is a classic genre on film, but no so much onstage. We aim to change that. And Shakespeare has stood the test of time with themes that feel all too real today. And strange as it may seem, these two elements overlap way more than you’d think.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Miscommunication and conflicting personalities are usually the most common factors in bonds breaking. Miscommunication can be addressed by clearing up facts that may have been lost in translation. More often that not, that solves most issues. Conflicting personalities is much trickier. Some people just aren’t meant to work together. I’ve found it’s no use fighting that uphill battle, so I find the people I can work with. And by that I don’t mean that we agree on everything, but there’s a general sense of respect in the difference of opinions.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I lost my mom to brain cancer almost ten years ago. It was without a doubt the hardest time in my life and still is to this day. But as I recovered, I found myself feeling emboldened to try new things. Both artistic and personal. Putting up a show didn’t seem so scary. I figured “It can’t be worse than what I just went through. Worst case scenario, it all fails miserably. Ok, you can bounce back from that.” It was grief, not success, that taught me how fragile life is. And we should never wait for permission.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
My co-executive producer, Megan Ruble. Besides being a masterful logistics person and creative thinker, she’s also never afraid to 100% be herself. She’s a loyal friend to so many people, a hard worker, and will stand up for you even if you don’t realize you need someone in your corner. To top it off, she has an infectious sense of humor and brightens every room she goes into. She inspires me every day and I couldn’t be luckier to call her not only my producing partner but also one of my closest friends.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I made them laugh. Or that a play I did made them scream. But mostly the laughs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dayforknightproductions.com/
- Instagram: @dayforknightproductions
Image Credits
Jill Petracek
John Hindman
