Today we’d like to introduce you to James M. Perry.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Growing up, I did move around a lot. I lived in many cities throughout Maryland. Baltimore city is very different from other cities inside Maryland. It has own identity, separate from other cities. I was always a lover of film and music videos but it wasn’t until I was in high school that I made a music video. It was for fun and it later led to working with a filmmaker from LA. He was working on music videos in Baltimore, a mutual rapper friend had linked us up. We worked on various film and video productions from Baltimore to North Carolina. I stepped out on my own to make a name for myself, away from what I was previously known for. I wanted to pursue film. This led to me producing my first written/directed short film. I knew to step into the world of filmmaking that I would have to ready to invest in myself. This was something that I was willing to do. This opened the door to my first screening in New York, and various film festivals later.
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?
Like any road, it’s not always smooth. There are so many things to deal with. We have our creative struggles and our personal ones and sometimes the lack of support can weigh heavy on you, both emotionally and psychologically. Many of our own peers can’t fathom investing time or money into their passion. They only see posts on social media. They don’t see the late nights, the early mornings, the pre-production, rehearsals, the hard work while attempting to maintain momentum and progression. This is when will power enters. As artists and creators, we must fight through adversities to achieve progression and success. Everything that I learned in this field was out loud. There was no celebrity co-signs or big-time investors. This is a very hands-on journey and it begins not in your favor, especially as a young black filmmaker coming from Baltimore city. There is a struggle, but I look forward to that struggle because the reward is not earned without risk.
Please tell us about Six Ten Production.
After my first film, I decided to invest in my own production company called Six Ten Productions. We do production in narrative film and video productions. What sets us apart from others is our willingness to cover my ground. We are very hands-on; from being on set to post-production. I’m very proud of the work from Six Ten Productions; in which it led to various awards and nominations for narrative films both foreign and domestic. It only progresses from here.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
One of my favorite childhood memories would be going to my first concert. I traveled for almost 4 hours to watch one of my favorite rap groups. It was a great experience because this also allowed me to venture more outside of my birth town. I haven’t been able to stay still since.
Contact Info:
- Website: JamesMPerry.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/james.perry/
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/directorjamesmperry/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mdotperry
Image Credit:
Akio Evans, Latisha Breaux, Lindsey Brown
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