Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jake Harness. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Jake thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright – so having the idea is one thing, but going from idea to execution is where countless people drop the ball. Can you talk to us about your journey from idea to execution?

I’ve been making movies for like 10 years or so. I started out just making things with my friends, little movies in the woods. I guess I never stopped making things after that. I continued making short films and branching out into a variety of different visual arts all throughout high school. I then went to Cleveland State University for Film and Media Arts, where I’m getting a BFA in May.

I started freelance filmmaking around 5 years ago or so. It all starts on the ground level. I only work with artists, brands, or companies if I feel like I have some kind of connection with them. I started shooting music videos kind of on accident. A rapper I met on a movie set needed someone to shoot his music video and I mentioned that I had a camera, next thing I knew I was a music video director. I never stopped since. The process starts with an idea. I write every idea that I have down, usually its for music videos, movies, books, etc that I have some kind of interest in making and when I land on a really solid idea for a video I’ll kind of ponder on which artist would fit right for it. The next step is just pitching the idea and moving from there. It all has to happen organically for me.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Jake Harness, I’m a writer, director, filmmaker. I shoot and direct short films, music videos, commercials, etc. Really anything I find interesting. I’m based in the greater Cleveland area and have collaborated with artists and brands such as Will Cherry, Rico Blu, CAN Triennial, MTV, and a bunch more. I also recently started writing for a magazine called No Cover, where I talk about making things as a struggling filmmaker.

The main thing I’m proud to say about myself as a creative is that I always have new ideas to bring forward to whoever I’m working with. When I listen to music, I see the video play out in my head. When I read a script, I see the movie. When I get sent a song or a treatment, I usually have a gut feeling of what would work best for the video and so far it’s been successful for me. My favorite thing about my work is that I’ve always been able to make something that feels true and authentic to the client, while also being true and authentic to myself. I’m big on relationships, and being able to make friends with the people I’ve worked with has been a huge honor for me.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

For me, making things is just a part of what I do. It’s like eating or sleeping, I have to make things. If I go too long without being creative I start to feel sick, like genuinely ill. I make things because it’s really all I know how to do. I’ve tried my hand at just about every physical trade that I could and the thing that I always ran back to was the ability to be creative.

My main goal is to push myself. To see how far I can go with the art that I make. It’s like therapy for me. I love watching an idea go from my head, to paper, and then somehow be born into real life. It’s beautiful every time.

I also love the feeling of elevating someone else’s work. I love when I work with a musician and they have a wonderful song and I’m able to make a video that goes above what they had originally envisioned. It’s the ultimate collaboration. One of my favorite artists to work with is Will Cherry, we’ve done everything together. From small videos with no budget, to things that get on MTV and Complex, I love the guy. He comes up with a beautiful song and I’m able to complete the vision. It’s like Jordan and Pippen, I’ll take either one.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Absolutely. One of my favorite books on filmmaking is Rebel without a Crew by Robert Rodriguez. The book takes you through the entire process of how he made his first film El Mariachi, and you watch him go from being completely broke without any resources, to making a $7,000 movie which launches his career and makes him a household name in the world of filmmaking. What I love about the book is that anyone can read it. It’s like watching Rocky, you don’t have to have any emotional attachment to boxing and you still root for the guy. This book is the exact same way and you’re a creative person who struggles with confidence or feels like you lack the resources, this book is a great tool and a great reminder that anyone can do it. It might not be easy, but it wouldn’t be worth doing if it was.

I also idolize the work of Spike Jonze. I’ve talked about this before on so many other platforms and to friends, everyone is sick of hearing it, but this man has single handedly impacted my creative career/process more than any other person. If you need any inspiration, I’d recommend buying this DVD boxset (I know, hear me out) called The Work of Director Spike Jonze by Directors Label. It’s a massive collection of most of the music videos he’s made a long with a series of behind the scenes footage. It’s like film school in a DVD boxset. You can get it on Ebay or Amazon, it’s usually really cheap if you can find it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/jakeharness
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeharness
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-harness-9a4750117/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/imjakeharness
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HGJake

Image Credits
Jake Harness Maris Wirt