Rising Stars: Meet Justin Patten of Sherman Oaks

Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Patten.

Hi Justin, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I moved to Los Angeles in 2011 to start a career in the entertainment industry. I had no connections so I was using Craigslist to find film work (a word of advice, do NOT use Craigslist to find film work). Persistence was key, and I eventually found people I could call and work with over and over. I’ve never been one who likes solely relying on others to get work so I eventually started my own business doing production design for student films and low budget features. That was going well and led me to the next thing, and the next thing. My goal wasn’t to be a production designer though, it was to be a major player in the industry: a director, a producer, a writer who makes the movies people think about for years to come. Eventually I started my production company, A Great Adventure, with my husband Mykell. We are a boutique production company and we’ve dabbled in music videos and corporate work, but our main focus is film. We currently have three short films circulating in the 2025 festival circuit. A Great Adventure has made some big moves in the last year and done some significant growth, and while we still have so much more room to grow I can see things taking shape. It’s very exciting.

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?
It’s never a smooth road, is it? Especially in the last five years. We’ve had a global pandemic, an industry crippling strike, and while we all want things to be normal I think it’ll be a few years before we even have an idea what the industry will look like. I keep an observant eye on the industry and I’m constantly trying to make moves alongside it. The old pathways in don’t necessarily work anymore. Even the ways people were breaking in just a decade ago: youtube, viral videos, popular characters, don’t seem to work as well. The current regime leading the entertainment industry is very cowardly and numbers focused. If there isn’t an algorithm that leads to immediate success they get spooked and pull the plug. This is really unfortunate for artists, and the reason Mykell and I decided to push forward with A Great Adventure. When work in the greater industry is slow, we will make our own work.
There are struggles in that as well. Not enough money, not enough resources to fulfill our vision. So we always end up back at the script, retooling, making something that maintains the spirit of the story while meeting the requirements for us to bring it to fruition. It can be really frustrating and really rewarding. It’s a great adventure!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a filmmaker specializing in stories that help people see the world differently. I believe art can change our perspective of the world, and film is the combination of multiple forms of art, creating an experience. I tell stories about people in situations bigger than themselves. About people finding the wonder in the mundane. People feeling the full weight of life and reacting in exciting and entertaining ways. I believe that’s what sets me apart from other directors. This is a fun pursuit, but I carry a deep reverence for the result. What I create could shape culture, so I approach every story asking: will this make the world better? Will this open peoples eyes? Will it inspire them to live bigger? I’m proud of the films we’ve made because they vary in style and genre, but I believe they all point in the same direction.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Like so many other dreamers I was considered a weird kid. I had a lot of empathy, a lot of energy, and a desire to make people laugh. I loved doing voices and re-enacting scenes from movies. I think I carried a lot of that with me, sometimes tucking it away, sometimes reconnecting. I loved dinosaurs, painting, and walking in the woods.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.agaproductions.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agreatadventureprod/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AGreatAdventureProductions