We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jack Schudy. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jack below.

Hi Jack, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I learned to direct by directing. I know that’s trite, but it’s also very true. I took film classes at the University of Kansas for a few years, but I didn’t end up making it to the higher level courses because everything else about college was so uninteresting for me. By the time I went to school to pursue directing, I’d already directed two features and two short films. Now, granted, none of which saw much success or had anything even remotely resembling a budget- but nonetheless- I had directed them.

I had no practice, no training, and no advice besides what I could find on YouTube, and I made a film worth showing to my friends (and hiding from everyone else). Years later, after I moved to Los Angeles, I knew I had to get the show moving again. Two and a half years into my time here, I decided it was time to start things up and direct my first budgeted feature, “QLC”.

“QLC” is in post-production now, and it was my first time casting, crowd-sourcing, and pitching myself as a director. It was also my first time directing people who weren’t just my friends I was forcing to be involved- it was a revelatory experience. Our 21-day shoot showed me that I knew both more and less than I thought I did, somehow. If I had received more concrete training as to how directing works in practice, I likely would’ve done everything different. BUT, if I had done everything different, I wouldn’t have ended up with the fantastic-looking project I know find myself editing together.

I learned out there in the field, and I couldn’t recommend it more.

Jack, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hello readers!

My name is Jack Schudy, I’m a 26 year old writer/director living in Los Angeles. I moved to LA from Kansas City in 2021, and have been expanding my network since then for one purpose: making films. Writing and directing engaging stories is the only thing I’ve ever seriously wanted to do, and whether or not I find success in the field, I’ve committed myself to it (sorry mom and dad!)

I recently wrapped production on my first budgeted feature film, a process that took 4 months of pre-pro, 21 days of shooting, and (at the time of writing this) 3 months in post production. The film is shaping up now, with an assembly cut surpassing my every expectation! When we are finished with the editing process (likely in early winter), our film will head to the festival circuit and my name, and most of the crew’s names, will be officially attached to a completed feature for the first time!

In my opinion, it’s a very exciting time to be alive, and an even more exciting time to be creating- whether it keeps you afloat or not. I intend to live by those words for as long as I can.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The mission for me has always been to make something that can move someone. I know how it feels to be moved by a story, specifically in the cinematic medium, and it’s a feeling that I wish to inspire in others more than anything. To know that something me and my team have put together has deeply affected someone… there’s surely nothing like that.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Our feature, “QLC” exists because of social media. Our entire campaign, from casting to funding, was delivered to our audience through social media. My instagram page was the main source of “advertising,” with my producer and cast eventually hopping on to help spread the word as things became more concrete.

Something I found, and the piece of advice I would give, is to just be yourself. Don’t look into any resources that claim to have found the “hack” to gaining attention on social media- you won’t be able to maintain that. You need to be yourself so that an audience that genuinely believes in your craft can surround you naturally, or else it’ll all fall apart. For instance, most of my posts and shout-outs were a little silly, a little corny, a little un-serious- and I think without those qualities the posts would’ve failed to grab anyone’s attention.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: jack.schudy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-schudy-342a45220/
• Other: [email protected]