We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Joshua Cardenas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Joshua, appreciate you joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Over a year ago, I was working as a freelance videographer while working full-time at a grocery store to make ends meet. I wasn’t getting enough work, at least not enough work to be able to live comfortably and afford rent. I had recently moved back to Ventura County after receiving my Bachelors in Cinematic Arts from San Francisco State University, but I was prepared to return home knowing It would be some time before I would land a job in the industry.

It certainly didn’t happen overnight. At the time I was only using a Sony a7s2 while editing off of a 5 year old Mac Book Pro. Through trial end error, equipment upgrades and gaining hundreds of hours of experience, I was able to pick up enough work through word of mouth. Eventually, towards the beginning of 2023, I had acquired enough clients that I knew I had to quit my day job. Within a few months, I was a full time freelance filmmaker, with an emphasis on post production.

Now, fast forward to 2024. I have been able to earn a full-time living as an editor, director and colorist. I have worked on a variety of projects such as documentaries, music videos, advertisements, luxury real estate videos, short films, and more. As I continue to grow and perfect my craft, I strive to achieve my personal goals while reflecting on my past decisions that led me to where I am now. While I believe there are so many ways to accomplish something, such as becoming a full-time freelance filmmaker, I’m grateful to have had the opportunities and experiences that have gotten me to where I am today.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born and raised throughout LA County, I moved pretty frequently throughout my youth and into adulthood. Pretty cliche, but ever since I was a kid I loved watching movies. I wasn’t very outgoing or social until I began high school, so watching movies was always an escape for me. I never said to myself “I want to be a director, a writer or camera operator” or anything specific at the time, but I knew I wanted to be involved in the creative process of filmmaking in anyway I could.

The first time I ever got involved with filmmaking was when I was around the age of 12, I attended a summer course that specifically focused on stop motion filmmaking. We would have to create characters using materials like paper or playdough, and create a 30 second story by using conventional stop motion filmmaking techniques, then the instructors would edit it for us. It was such a great learning experience, but it also made me realize how self critical I was by comparing my work to everyone else’s. I felt that because my work didn’t stand out like some of the other students, I wasn’t good enough to explore my passion. This is something I still continue to struggle with, as I am my own worst critic.

Fast forward to 2011, I attended Santa Susana High School, which is a performing arts school located in Simi Valley CA. I remained here for all 4 years of high school, where I took classes such as video production and broadcasting. Then, I went to Moorpark College where I received my A.A. in Film and Television Media, which led me to transferring to San Francisco State University. While attending SFSU, I was also a freelance filmmaker trying to gain experience while juggling work/school full time. Here, I made a number of connections with peers and professors that I still continue to work with to this day. After successfully obtaining my B.A. in Cinematic Arts, I returned to Southern California where I continue to work as a full-time freelance filmmaker.

Between graduating in 2022 and to where I am now in 2024, I have directed and edited numerous projects for brands such as Monster Cable, elite luxury real estate companies, music videos, and multiple documentaries for El Dorado Films, which have been selected to screen at some well known film festivals. I have also started a company known as Jordan Studios, alongside my roommate and good friend Shawn Cross, where we continue to push ourselves as creatives and strive to make every project better than the last. With every project that ends up in my lap, I continue to challenge myself while making each moment as enjoyable as I can. I am a firm believer in the saying “you’ll never work a day in your life if you’re doing what you love”. While every project certainly doesn’t feel this way 100% of the time, the end result always makes those struggles and self discipline worth it.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

There are three books that come to mind that have had a significant impact on my philosophy towards not only filmmaking, but experiences in life as well.

First, “A Long Time Ago In A Cutting Room Far, Far Away….” written by Oscar winning editor Paul Hirsch, where he shares his story and provides a behind the scenes look at his fifty years in editing Hollywood films such as Star Wars, Carrie, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and more. Hirsch also dives into his decision making that has led to him cutting some of cinemas most influential scenes. It has given me insight into the process of filmmaking, and what it means to be a creative. For anyone striving to becoming an editor, I highly recommend this book. The same can be said for Walter Murch’s perspective on film editing in his book, “In The Blink of An Eye”. Murch, who went on to editing films such as The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, dives more into the technical aspects of film editing. The third and final book I highly recommend doesn’t have anything to do with filmmaking, but it certainly can be applied. That book is “Make Your Bed”, written by William H. McRaven. It’s safe to say that this book helped changed my life, gifted to me by my stepfather and the late James M. Fox. This book changed my perspective on the challenges of life, management, commitment, and how one person (you) can change the world.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Something I wish I knew earlier on, especially in high school, is that you will not learn everything you need to know by attending every film class and completing every assignment. While I think film school is a valuable resource and great for making connections and a safe place to make mistakes, you need to create filmmaking experiences for yourself in your free time. Whether it’s personal projects or you’re creating something for a brand, I cannot express how important it is to put yourself out there and create something, no matter how uncomfortable it is. I can confidently say I learned more from personal or client based projects by getting hands on experience than I ever did in a classroom. As a film professor once said, “I can’t teach you to become a filmmaker, but you can certainly learn”. Lastly, while it may sound silly, watching movies is also a great resource. Expose yourself to as much as you can to get inspired.

Contact Info:

• Website: jjcvideo.com
• Instagram: @joshjcardenas
• Linkedin: joshuajcardenas

Image Credits
Joshua J Cardenas Shawn J Cross Sean Rea