Life & Work with Alec Salerno

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alec Salerno.

Hi Alec, 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?
From a very early age, I remember falling in love with going to the movies. I remember going to the theater with my family and just being mesmerized by what I saw onscreen. When I was around 10 or 11, my friends and I started making really bad “movies” which really turned into us laughing throughout the entire film because we didn’t know how to act or make films. We just had fun. I didn’t really think of it as a career option until early high school. I didn’t know how to start, so I just picked up a camera and started taking stills as well as tried out acting onstage. I fell in love with photography and knew I wanted to do something creative with my life. Fast forward to me graduating high school and I decide to pursue filmmaking. I went to film school and made countless shorts and I’ve worked on numerous projects ranging from television shows to music videos to commercials. Right now, I currently freelance as a director, camera assistant, and a production stills photographer.

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?
Haha, it has not been smooth. There have definitely been times where there’s been little to no work for weeks, there have been times where I just don’t feel creative, and there has been the mental challenge of asking myself ‘am I talented enough to continue pursuing this?’

But I always tell myself, “Always choose this over a 9-5 job.” For me, I’d rather have a non-consistent schedule where I don’t know what I’m doing the next weekend over a consistent 9-5 job doing the same routine. I feel like filmmaking is so different on every project that I’ve never felt like I’m doing the same thing twice.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The main thing I do is direct. Whether that be short films or music videos, directing is my passion. My goal is to write and direct feature films. I also freelance as a 1st AC and shoot production stills.

Some of the projects I’m most proud of are my thesis film Blue Cherries (you can see more here https://www.instagram.com/bluecherriesfilm/) and honestly shooting bts for a lot of my homies and creative friends. There’s something pretty unique about capturing the creative process live on set and capturing the perfect moment is something that I really enjoy.

Something that sets me apart from others is my constant flow of creative work. I’m always trying to constantly create something whether that be writing scripts, poetry, my photography, or just the art I create. Having that mentality to work hard and have goals in mind while also balancing your personal life. I know it’s easy to get ‘burnt out’ in this industry and it’s important to me to balance my work. Take your time crafting your most authentic work. Filmmaking is not a race, it’s an art.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
High risk = high reward. If you’re not trying to push yourself creatively and stepping out of your comfort zone, then I don’t think you can achieve your goals. This is not an easy business.

A lot of the risks I take are creative risks. Trying things on set that may not necessarily turn out in post or writing yourself on the page in a vulnerable way. I think the most vulnerable is the most creative you can be.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://alectsalerno.myportfolio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alec.salerno/?hl=en

Image Credits:
Alec Salerno Chetco Timmmins Graham Skinner Andrew Etzweiler