Today we’d like to introduce you to Jack Serra.
Hi Jack, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey into filmmaking started really early. My dad bought me a camera when I was a kid, and from that point on I was always making stuff. I made short films in elementary and middle school with friends, just figuring it out as I went, and by high school I was actually showing my work to people and taking it seriously. After that, I went to film school at the University of Texas, then New York Film Academy. Not long after, I went into production on my first feature film, which was kind of a trial by fire. It taught me a lot. After the pandemic, I ended up in Los Angeles and started working on music videos. I took a pretty long break from narrative work until I was about 23, when I came back to it and started developing Generation Well, which became my most recent short film.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Absolutely not. I’ve struggled a lot with doubting my abilities as a filmmaker and questioning whether this is even a realistic profession to pursue, especially not having any real connections going into it. There have been plenty of moments where I wondered if I was crazy for trying to make this work. But for the most part, it’s been nothing but joy. Even when it’s hard or uncertain, there’s genuinely nothing else I’d rather be doing.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work is mainly narrative-driven, usually somewhere in the realm of surrealism and realism. I tend to emphasize music and visuals over heavy dialogue. I’m really interested in how much you can communicate through tone, rhythm, and imagery. What I’m most proud of is starting to feel like I’ve established an actual aesthetic. That takes a long time, and I think because I started so early, I’m finally beginning to see it take shape, which feels really rewarding.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I think you really just have to get comfortable putting yourself out there. A lot of networking follows naturally once you do that. It can be uncomfortable, and it’s definitely not easy, but if you see someone you want to work with, you should always ask. There’s really no reason not to. The same goes for mentors, you have to be willing to ask for help and seek them out. They’re not going to come to you. If you find the right ones, though, it can be incredibly valuable. I was able to cast Jenny O’Hara in a small short film simply because I reached out to her agent. You never know what people are going to say, and you have to be okay with hearing no.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jackserra.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacktserra/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jackserra
- Other: https://www.arzpic.com/
Image Credits
Photos by Anton Sinitsyn
