Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabe Rosenn

Hi Gabe, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?

I’ve always been interested in the creative arts; movies, writing, comedy, music, cartooning. From the time I could hold a pencil, I’d draw funny pictures, and later in grade school, with a love for Looney Tunes became interested in animation. At summer camp, I discovered claymation, and in middle school, did an exhaustive paper about special effects in the movies- ranging from the work of Ray Harryhausen in King Kong to Industrial, Light, and Magic with the Star Wars films. Later, in early high school, I pursued animation at the Museum School, part of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and developed an affinity for the irreverent humor of Ren and Stimpy, and films from the Spike and Mike Animation Festival.

it wasn’t until 9th grade that I picked up guitar and started lessons. At the time, I was drawn to punk music like Fugazi and Operation Ivy, because of friends I met in the art room. We’d listen to the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Black Flag, and others while driving around in the snowy Boston suburbs on our way to a late night IHOP hang. But my older brother is a dedicated jazz guitarist, and before long, I became obsessed with jazz. Drawn into the iconography and graphic design of classic Blue Note Records albums, I was hooked on discerning the subtle differences between horn players like Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, and Dexter Gordon, and adapting them to finding my voice on guitar. I loved guitar players too- ranging from Grant Green and Kenny Burrell to Jim Hall; as well as other guitarists- BB King, Eric Clapton and Cream, and beyond that, King Sunny Ade, the Meters, and Parliament-Funkadelic.

Through college and beyond, I’v sought to find a way to combine these passions, and have had the good fortune to do so, making promotional videos for artists from Blue Note Records, using music evocatively in my own documentary films, as well as playing guitar with several bands in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles.

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?

No career in the arts is a smooth road, but I’ve been lucky to find some great opportunities. After graduating from Vassar College with a BA in Film Studies, I worked for the NY Film Academy in Manhattan, and got a chance to “earn while I learned”. I worked on countless student films, overseeing productions, and supervising shoots, edits, and lighting workshops. A lot of those skills- being able to produce, direct, shoot, edit, and organize in general, are skills I’m using to this day.

I also worked on several shows and movies in NY, including (my claim to fame) being the production assistant who brought Will Ferrell his skates in Central Park for a night shoot on Elf, and being a swing PA on Cookin’ in Brooklyn. In college, I was a music assistant on Late Night with Conan O’Brien (when it was still in NYC), and got to assist guitarist, Jimmy Vivino and the band.

On the music side, starting in 2006, in Boston, I began studying the blues in a dedicated way and going to jam sessions every Sunday and Wednesday. In 2008, after I moved to LA, I was introduced to local bandleader, Big Joe Hurt at a blues jam at Cozy’s, and auditioned for his band. Playing lead guitar in that band opened a lot of doors for me and I played stages from Harvelle’s to Mrs. Fish, the Whiskey, and the House of Blues main stage. I also met some of my best friends in LA through that band and those experiences. It hasn’t been exactly a smooth road, but there’s been a lot of great adventures along the way!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

I’m a freelance filmmaker and guitarist. I’m best known for my independent documentaries: Hot Tubs (2012) and Justice Bound (2021) but also, for promotional video work for record labels such as Blue Note Records. This past year, I became the Head of Video Production at Cardwell Beach Advertising- a company I’ve been working with since 2017. With Cardwell Beach, I’ve produced, filmed, and edited videos for an eclectic range of clients- the Mob Museum in Las Vegas, the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island, NY; drug and alcohol treatment centers in Kansas City and Texas, and just produced a short film for Horton’s Kids, a non-profit camp for inner city kids in Washington DC. I think my ability to relate to people from all different backgrounds, be approachable, friendly, but also do top-notch quality work are my real strengths and what sets me apart from others.

How do you think about luck?

I’ve been lucky in general to have supportive parents and family that encouraged me from an early age to develop my talents and pursue my passions. Beyond that, I’ve always felt that I had good luck- and had an optimistic view that things will work out- which can be an issue when visiting Las Vegas, but in general, has worked for me ;)

Contact Info:

• Website: www.gprfilms.com, www.gaberosenn.com
• Instagram: @gprfilms123
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gr3music
• Youtube: @gaber735