Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh LaCount.
Hi Josh, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m from the Outer Banks of North Carolina, but I’ve lived in many different states growing up – we moved around a lot. I started playing music when I was about 15 years old. I found my mom’s guitar in our garage and started playing by ear – that was my introduction to the arts. While I was in plays and random school productions growing up, I knew I wanted to branch off from music eventually and dive into acting and the arts. Most of my time growing up was spent playing various instruments, fronting bands, making records (I spent a good amount of time in Nashville, TN), writing music, and performing, which eventually led me to NYC. After driving to NYC from Nashville, I remember feeling so inspired by all the possibilities the city had to offer. It was in NYC that I got my first acting job in a feature film (Men in Black 3), and it inspired me so much that it sparked my passion for diving into the entertainment industry full-scale like never before.
During this time, I still performed musically in NYC, playing in venues and bars all over the city – but eventually, I felt the pull to LA. So, I drove to the West Coast. Long story short, I ended up performed my songs at casinos in Vegas and various venues all over. But once I got to Los Angeles, I knew this was where I loved to be, I love the creative atmosphere, and the excitement in the air. Over the years, I worked various jobs anywhere that could really help me move forward. I assisted directors and producers and learned from anyone and everyone I could.
After a few acting classes, I realized I needed an acting reel, and I figured, why not just make it myself? That led me to needing a script, and I thought, why not just write it myself? My background in songwriting really set me up for writing scripts and telling stories. At that time, my acting reel consisted of small clips I filmed in my room of monologues, and also a few scenes I made with friends who were also actors to help build my reel. I started auditioning, started emailing agents, got an agent, and that was the beginning of my acting career.
I acted in anything I could get, whether it was student films or TV shows – anything that would allow me to work the craft and get time on set. I also worked behind the camera, driving trucks for productions that needed truck drivers or working as a PA, art department, camera assistant – anything really. If I was willing to be open to learning and asked enough questions, most of the jobs that brought me on had crew members willing to teach me or answer questions about the positions. I do remember taking certain jobs that I was clueless of what it entailed or how to do it when I got hired – but learning on the job and not being afraid to try really made it possible for me to grow.
For a few years, I worked many jobs behind the camera and also acted in front of the camera on shows such as Gotham, Blue Bloods, The Young and the Restless, The Time Traveler’s Wife, etc.
I’ve always been the kind of person who likes to always be doing something creatively. So, if auditions were slow, I would keep myself busy behind the camera and soon realized, “Why not just make the films myself?”
This led me to dive headfirst into filmmaking. I started making short films that I would also act in. Some films had small budgets, some had barely any budget, which compelled me to learn everything from editing to cinematography. Now I direct, write, produce, and edit my own films – some I even DP them myself. Some I act in, some I don’t – it depends on the story.
At first, I started shooting on iPhones to learn the basics, which led me to learn camera work and using cinema cameras. I have always been inspired by movies that are driven with heart, movies that make you feel something long after you’ve stopped watching them – and those can be any genre. Some of my favorite movies are Back to the Future, The Green Mile, Inception, The Light Between Oceans, Goodwill Hunting, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and the list could go on and on. I love movies in many different genres; if it’s a good story with memorable characters that you can get behind and care for, then I am pretty certain I will find it interesting.
When it comes to my filmmaking, each film that I made, I learned from. I would see what didn’t work and what did and try to apply that to my next one. Eventually, I wrote a couple of feature films and TV shows that I also put together with pitch decks, lookbooks, and storyboards in hopes of pitching or making whichever comes first.
Alright, 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?
I think with just about anything in life, there are ups and downs. Creatively, I have always wanted to be doing something, so it was always hard when I felt like that wasn’t happening. After I started making movies myself, I realized that anything was really possible, especially nowadays. I try not to dwell on the hardships but rather learn from them. Every side job I’ve had, or experienced I feel has been an opportunity to learn from, and even the hard times, whether it was creatively or when it comes to the journey as a whole, I am thankful for in hindsight. At the time, I may not have been aware of the significance of why I was going through something, but as cliche as this sounds, it all works together, and the journey really is what matters. Moving away from my family and friends and being absent for many life moments that I’ve only witnessed through videos or photographs has been challenging at times. Family is everything to me. But I feel like being out here and pursuing my passions is my path, and I’ve never questioned that. I couldn’t imagine my life any other way, and I do believe it will pay off. For the sake of time, I’m leaving out a lot in this answer, but I firmly believe that we only learn from the ups and downs. The failures make us stronger, and closed doors only point us towards where the next open one will be.
When I first moved to LA years ago, I assisted a well-known producer and practically lived at their studio—literally. For two years, I slept in a loft hidden behind a small door concealed in the wall that you would push to open. I met so many great artists and talented people during my time working there. I don’t think I’ve ever been afraid of taking risks, and I believe that has really helped me move on to the next thing.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My musical background has played a pivotal role in shaping who I am today, influencing my filmmaking and scriptwriting – I don’t think I’d be able to do what I do without it. I’ve experimented with various approaches to creating short films, but what I find most rewarding is drawing inspiration from movie scores or musical compositions that evoke emotions. Often, a song I’ve never heard before will trigger a scene in my mind, leading to an emotional connection that moves me to explore that concept further. If a movie or script idea stays with me persistently, I know it’s something I need to dive into. I firmly believe in the value of hard work, especially when it comes to endeavors I’m passionate about. The journey from an idea or thought to words on a page, then translating into a storyboard, interpreted by actors on set, and finally, the edited product with music and emotional resonance on screen—this transformation inspires me. Being on set is my passion; whether it’s editing, writing, directing, or acting, I absolutely love every aspect of the filmmaking process.
For my films, if the crew is small due to budget constraints, I take on multiple roles, wearing many hats in the production. I enjoy the entire process, from writing and prepping to location scouting, casting, directing, acting, producing, filming, and editing. I’ve even shot films with just myself on camera and the actors, utilizing stands with sandbags to set up microphones/lights and handling the camera work. In my scripts, I strive to identify what I call “heartbeat moments,” those unforgettable scenes that linger in the viewer’s memory long after watching the movie.
These moments are the ones that make the whole filmmaking experience worthwhile, resonating emotionally and leaving a lasting impact. While I lean towards fantastical films, I aim to infuse my work with these heartbeat moments, ensuring they feature strong characters and a heartfelt narrative.
I also love the idea of sometimes making things just because I want to in the moment. If something inspires me or there is an idea that I can’t get out of my head—whether it’s a scene or a short film—sometimes I just have to do it. I like to try to start the film right in the middle of something happening, hopefully giving the viewer enough information to understand the characters and what’s going on from the moment they start watching. Ultimately, I believe storytelling, especially in movies, is powerful and a constant for me. I probably think about it all day, every day, nonstop—I can’t help it.
Over the years, I’ve discovered that making movies with my friends is a blast. When it’s a collaborative effort, and everyone is just doing it for the love of it, the experience is genuinely different. It hits differently when you finally have the finished film, and you’re sitting there, watching the combined efforts of everyone involved. I believe authenticity is key. If you’re creating something that you genuinely love and care about, it ultimately enhances the end result – at least, in my opinion.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
I believe that things can happen that are out of our control, and sometimes we can attribute that to what we call luck. However, I also believe in making our own luck. I truly belief with all my heart, that it all starts with how I perceive a situation and how I respond to it. Whether it’s an obstacle I need to navigate to make a film or learn lines, approaching it with the mindset of “Okay, I don’t know how, but as long as I keep trying, keep moving forward, then it’s going to be okay, and it will work out. Eventually, the right door will open.” I know that I will always face challenges, but as cliché as it sounds, I wholeheartedly embrace the words of Rocky Balboa when he said, “It ain’t about how hard you can hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” To me, this means that if I fall, it’s okay, as long as I pick myself up, learn from the experience, and keep moving forward—trying again and again. I strongly believe in surrounding oneself with people who uplift each other, learning from those around you, and recognizing the importance of having a solid team. Anything is possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.joshlacount.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/joshlacount
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/joshlacount
Image Credits
Nicholas Sitarski Photography
