Today we’d like to introduce you to Hunter George, a Multimedia Producer and Music Producer in Los Angeles.
Hunter, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in Reno, Nevada in the late 80s/early 90s, I was always fascinated with the entertainment industry and kept track of directors careers and which production company made my favorite films and albums, etc. My early inspirations were storytellers like George Lucas, Kevin Smith and later, JJ Abrams. I would always watch DVD Commentaries and absorb everything I could about filmmakers that invited those interested in on how they broke down their process.
Growing up, I always liked to try new hobbies and activities, my parents always pushed me to commit to things and be creative. Soccer, football, piano, and choir. In elementary school, we would write short stories. Most of the kids would write about their pets and babysitting mysteries, I would write new Batman, X-men adventures, and action stories, and then come home and my dad would help me film new “James Bond movies” on our video camera with my friends and cousins. My dad probably exposed me to Robocop and Terminator too young an age, for which I am grateful.
After I graduated high school, I decided I wanted to be a DJ but didn’t know what that really was, let alone how to do it. I had an awesome friend in college that had turntables that would let me borrow them and DJ our parties (thanks to Buck!). Before I could save up for equipment, I would just sit in my room with old hand me down records from parents grandparents and garage sales and just listening to music and writing down bits of songs that I would think were interesting. I would study music producers like Dr. Dre and Kanye West and try to investigate what the song they were sampling was and checking liner notes for “Contains Samples of ____”.
Pretty soon, I was learning what Music Producing was and couldn’t get the idea out of my head so I started researching options for someone to study under (these were the Myspace days). After a few unsuccessful attempts of no response or hearing back “I Charge for that”, I thought this can’t be right? Finally, I found a producer named Jimmy Perkins who was in the bay area at the time, He referred me to his friend in Reno, a producer named, Idol Hands, a.k.a. Matt Baker, who when I messaged responded with, “Yeah, come over this Saturday”. What was a seemingly regular day in his home studio in 2006 was one that changed my life forever. I would try and come over every weekend watching him absolutely crush beats on an MPC, and that expanded to whenever people were recording. We began producing music together, as I had been playing piano since I was 4.
We were producing for some really talented local acts and the Reno Hip Hop scene was highly underestimated. Producing artists like the Apprentice (Richie Panelli), Rameses, Tree Woods, The Halve Two, I was touring as a DJ around the casinos in Reno and other places in Northern California and we were competing in Beat Battles (and winning) til about 2009. One day, a hip-hop album we worked on with The Apprentice got converted to a play and was converted to a 32 piece orchestra and played in front of a few thousand people. This was another life changer because I realized, there was something bigger to achieve than just “making beats”.
In September 2009, I packed my shit into a Uhaul with $200 dollars in my bank account and my first months rent paid and moved to Los Angeles (so cliche I know) I had no job and literally pounded the pavement looking for work. I began working for a Famous Skateboarding and Sneaker store in West LA called Hot Rod LA (Thanks Cameron Postforoosh and Bernard Denney). I started in the back folding T-Shirts for about minimum wage and quickly worked my way up to help with marketing and Ecommerce, which then led to Marketing Director. In my time there, I became well known on major fashion blogs like Hypebeast, Kicks On Fire, and High Snobiety for my Sneaker Photography, Often breaking exclusive photos of new rare Nike SBs, Vans, Converse, etc.
Through Hot Rod LA, I became proficient at a variety of skills. because of its small staff, it required a lot of handling multiple duties. I would often photograph new sneakers and clothing, produce flyers for new releases and store events, social media marketing, e-commerce, and helping run the store. Direct and film the sneaker review videos, which we became well known for I would film with Kyle D Jordan (who later became one of my amazing creative partners for the better part of a decade).
I didn’t know how to do a lot of these skills but fortunately, my employers gave me the tools and the time to work on these crafts and learn/grow. To get good at Photoshop, I would create images of comic book art in real-world situations, which grew years later into Concept art and Custom Sneaker designs that would go viral, (i.e. my Dragonball Z Nike Dunks Series in 2012).
At this point, I was producing music at night/weekends constantly with a producer/partner named Brandon Hickok who is also from my hometown but living in LA. We came second in a Beat Battle in LA. But at this point, no one gave a shit that I was a “Music Producer”.
One day, I was working at The shop & this man walks in with his co-worker. I asked them what he did for work, He mentioned he was a Music Supervisor. Not really knowing what this was at the time, I inquired further. He said in the least boastful way possible, “I just got back from Atlanta, on set of Iron Man 2”. I said, “So wait, you put music in Iron Man?” He replied, “Yeah, I have done every Marvel movie since Daredevil.” Being a huge comic book nerd and collector, I couldn’t believe that was even a real job. Being the very green and fresh, I boldly and surely goofily proclaimed, “I’m a music producer, I would love to send you some music.” Very cool of him he said, “Here is my email, send over your stuff!” He introduced himself as Dave Jordan and his Music Coordinator, Jojo Villanueva. I became known for a while as “Dave’s Sneaker Guy”. Both of them are Veteran Music Supervisors, working on movies like (Dave) Guardians of the Galaxy 1 & 2, Black Panther, & Empire on Fox. (Jojo) Straight Outta Compton, Sing & Keanu. This started me on a path to “Film Music industry” and I began to tune my gears to this world.
I began attending the Los Angeles Recording School to learn to be a Film Composer and figure out the music for film and TV business. Still, not many people gave a shit about my music endeavors, so I ventured off on my own starting doing Multimedia and Brand Consulting freelance for companies.
After Graduating in 2012, I took a meeting with Dave Jordan and asked for career guidance and through that, my years of Sneaker Brokering, I was able to work under Film/TV Composer named Christopher Lennertz, Who has composed for projects ‘Ride Along’, ‘Sausage Party’, ‘Supernatural’ and the upcoming ‘Lost In Space’ Netflix Series.
In 2014, I began producing multimedia for an International musician named: Yoshiki and his Japanese heavy metal band, X Japan. Who’s international acclaim would start a movement called “Visual Kei”. My time working with Yoshiki, I was able to work on many projects including a sold out show and Madison Square Garden, New York Comic Con, His own Hello Kitty called Yoshikitty, but to me most personally significantly a comic book series called Blood Red Dragon following superhero character in his likeness, created by comic book legends Stan Lee & Todd Macfarlane.
This would jumpstart my work in the Comic book Community in a big way. Being able to work with and meet my hero Stan Lee, The Excelsior himself. but eventually leading to a helping produce a documentary coming out called ‘Cosplay Universe’ with Directors Jordan Rennert and Jonathan McHugh (also, a Veteran Music Supervisor and Film Producer)
Jonathan McHugh and Jonathan Platt his partner at J2 Media began throwing me work and through them, I worked on producing content for many projects and with talented artists like Balthazar Getty, Abstrakto, Peppina, Surreal McCoys, EZ Forest, Korean Rock Band YB, & many more. Notably directing 2 music videos for Finnish Singer/Songwriter Peppina called: “Young Hearts”, & “Keep This Love Alive” a song featured on the upcoming romantic comedy ‘Married Young’.
Through working with Jonathan McHugh, it leads to working for the Guild Of Music Supervisors becoming Executive Manager. The GMS works promote the craft of music supervision in film, television, games, advertising, trailers, and emerging media. Through them, I have co-produced many large-scale events such as the Guild Of Music Supervisors Awards & Education Conference partnering with USC. I am currently serving under GMS President Thomas Golubić, Music Supervisor for ”Breaking Bad’, ‘Better Call Saul’, & ‘Love’ for Netflix.
I began working very closely with the former GMS President and Veteran Music Supervisor John Houlihan, known for his work on ‘Deadpool’ 1&2, ‘John Wick’ 1 & 2, & ‘Atomic Blonde’. After a while working with him on the Guild projects I started working as his Music Coordinator on the Bruckheimer TV Series, ‘Training Day’ for WBTV & CBS starring Bill Paxton and Justin Cornwell.
Great, 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?
For me, struggle was my middle name. From chasing down Club Promoters as a 19-year-old kid in Reno, NV trying to get the measly $30 for a 3 hour set at 5 am. To later, finding out after delivering a project that we were working for deadbeat clients & getting ripped off with no contract. You know the usual pitfalls of the freelance struggle.
When I first moved to LA My Car broke down and I had no money to fix what was a pretty inexpensive issue, so I ended up having to sell it for cheap just to pay rent, I would spend my first 2 years in LA walking everywhere and taking the bus to Recording School until I was finally able to get a car.
Everything terrible imaginable has happened to me over the years. I would have these juxtaposing days where it would simultaneously be the best and worst day of my life. For instance, I’d be invited to work on a scoring stage with one of the biggest composers in the industry, but have to take the bus to Fox Studios because my car had been towed because they put up some temporary construction sign the night before.
My first Job was cleaning sweat off gym equipment for $6 an hour since I have worked in sheet metal fabrication, car sales, and telemarketing.
True Story: I once met Ridley Scott, Brad Pitt, Zoe Saldana and Jack Black on the same night as I was serving them passed Hors D’oeuvres.
But for all the failures, it usually has been the doorway to my successes. My career has had these freaky serendipitous moments that being in the right room at the right time or taking a random job that I was unsure about or underestimated, has gone on to change my life in unspeakable ways.
I am also too dumb and unskilled to claim any of the credit to my successes other than God or the universe/fate, whatever you may call it.
Can1live – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I started a partnership with my previous co-worker Kyle Jordan. He is a very like-minded talented and versatile Creative Artist. Together we started Tribe UNLTD, a multimedia freelance collective. We would struggle to keep afloat for years, Slowly but surely we went from scraping to get clients to working with major companies like Warner Brothers, Netflix, E3, USC, Cedars Sinai, DJ Skee, Bandmerch and more.
In 2009, I started Can1live as a way to channel my creative endeavors and stand out in the highly competitive entertainment industry. After years of pushing I was able to create a niche for himself and crossover into Music, Film, & Comic Culture industries. I host a Can1live podcast where we discuss New Media, Pop Culture, Nerd Culture.
Serving my 4th year as the Guild Of Music Supervisors Executive Director.
I am currently working on ‘Routines.exe”, my second music project releasing in Early Spring/Summer called: Featuring singles “Mirror.Gate” “Hdn.T3mpl3” and “P0werGl0ve.mkv”
And you can find me at Can1live.com and @Can1live on social media.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Most recently, I directed/wrote/produced a short film called, ‘Routines’, a fun live-action homage to the NES Video Game ‘Paper Boy’ juxtaposing a game designers life, struggling in his daily routines to make his dreams a reality, constantly looking back to his days as a Paper delivery boy, at a time when things were much more simple.
I was able to create this with Co-Director Ryan Vithal and Co-Producers Darren Passarello, Christina Hsu, and Kyle D Jordan. Notably, we wrote/filmed/edited and delivered in 48 hours for the AT&T Create-A-Thon challenge and it was awarded “Best Use Of Emerging Technology In A Short Film”.
We have plans for this project to spin off into a full feature.
Contact Info:
- Website: Creative: www.Can1live.com & Professional: www.Tribeunltd.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Www.instagram.com/Can1live
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Can1Live
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/can1livela
- Yelp: https://www.artstation.com/can1live
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/can1live
Image Credit:
Jay Farbman
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