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

Jay, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I have been fortunate enough to make 14 short films and 2 feature films, to date. I consider all my projects special to me. Each one I feel has taught me so much and helped me grow as a filmmaker. As a horror fan, I love various sub genres and tones, my favorites being the slasher, supernatural, and erotic thriller sub genres. From campy Blumhouse style to dark a24 style tone. Of all my films I still consider my 2016 LGBT erotic thriller, TASTE, my best film to date. This was the fifth film I wrote and directed. It’s the project that I feel is the most cinematic and displays the type of films I’d love to continue to bring to the screen. During that era I was really inspired by European horror and thrillers, especially French cinema. I love how European films always feel so honest and realistic. Whatever moment is depicted on screen, no matter how intimate or simple, always feels natural. My previous four films were all campy slasher and supernatural. So with TASTE I wanted dive deep into creating a truly raw and terrifying story. One that would leave a lasting impression and leave audience members thinking. The story was about a fashion model, suffering from an eating disorder, who recently moved to NYC. She soon becomes the object of obsession from a sinister female photographer. I wanted to tell a story that dived into the real horrors of the world. I applaud my talented lead actresses, Christina Toth (“Orange Is The New Black”) and Danielle Kronenberg. They both delivered truly beautiful and brave performances. Especially for a short film. They trusted my vision from day one and together we all brought this heartbreaking story to life. Their characters, “Roe” and “Evan”, are still my favorite characters I’ve written. “Roe”, in particular, being the one I find most relatable. I remember at its debut film festival screening in NYC, TASTE caused an audience member at the festival to faint. I was flabbergasted that a project of mine caused such a strong reaction. It felt like I was experiencing what screening a horror movie in the 60’s/70’s, etc. must’ve been like. When you heard stories about how audiences were fainting during The Exorcist, Psycho, etc. So as a filmmaker this bittersweet moment felt like a validation that this film is honest and leaving an impression on those who watched it . Also, at another film festival screening, I remember some audience members feeling offended by the story and asking “why did you have to go there?” And, this is the moment where I realized Q&A’s really are important, even though I’m terrified of public speaking. haha. During this festival Q&A I could feel all the harsh judgey eyes on me and Danielle, who attended the festival with me. But once I started describing why I wanted to tell this story and why I felt depicting the intense scenes so honestly, I could feel the judgey eyes softening. This film brought awareness to many taboo topics at the time, such as eating disorders, sexual assault within the modeling industry, and showcasing that attackers can be any gender. So to me, this film will always mean a lot to me and remind me that I am able to create art that has purpose. Another meaningful project is my feature film, SOULMATE, which I co-wrote and co-directed with my multi talented friend Andrew Froening (FroVideo). My talented friend Danielle Earle (PL Entertainment LLC), who co-produced my films, LÉA and PLAY, was one of the Executive Producers on this film. Andrew and I met a few years ago through a YouTube series he was doing where he interviewed various NJ filmmakers/actors. Afterwards we stayed in contact and formed a friendship and talked about wanting to collaborate on a film together. We wrote the script together in about 3 months and then a few months later we shot the film in 10 days. SOULMATE is currently in the festival circuit and won “Best Horror Feature” at NJ Horror Con, International Motion Picture Film Festival, and Hollywood Blood Horror Festival. I’m proud of what we all accomplished in those 10 days. This was the birth of the Dream Team. Many of the people I met on that project I am lucky to still work with.

Jay, 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?

I am an indie horror filmmaker and actor based in New Jersey. I’ve lived here my entire life. As a kid, films and television were my escape. I love being transported into this other world and experiencing what the characters are going through. Imagination was on 24/7. When I was in middle school that is where I had that moment of realization that I wanted to pursue filmmaking. I was in sixth grade and we had an assignment for Spanish class where we had to write a script to the Spanish fable/fairytale we were assigned. My group was assigned the legend of Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl. I wrote the script for my group and while doing so I felt alive. Like my calling had awakened within me. Instantly after this project, all through middle school and high school, I started writing and filming short horror films on my video camera with my friends as the actors and actresses. I think I made about 40 films with my friends. As a kid I was also incredibly shy in middle and high school. So I felt like filmmaking really gave me a voice and a way to interact with my peers. I was teased a lot in school for various reasons, ex. shyness, sexuality, and even for my filmmaking dreams. But creating these films with my friends and school theatre acquaintances really brought me happiness and an escape from the negativity. I’ll forever be grateful to everyone who has been apart of those early films. After graduating high school I attended the New York Film Academy. Living on my own in NYC during this time was honestly one of the happiest moments of my life. Being surrounded by so many artists from around the world who all shared that love for filmmaking, acting, modeling, etc. was thrilling. My shyness took a backseat. I had a voice outside of my films. Many of the people I had met during my time at NYFA I still work with and keep in touch with. Learning about life and art from everyone I encountered I feel shaped me into the person and artist I am today.

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

My goal is and always will be to create stories I believe in and would want to see on screen myself as a horror fan. Maybe I’m biased, but I feel the horror genre is the supreme genre. The way it can weave real life topics into these sometimes fantastical stories so effortlessly is why horror has always been vital and successful. There’s a reason the horror & sci-fi genres are the only genre of films that have film conventions and bring thousands of fans together. It’s a community and welcoming to all the “others”. Films like Night Of The Living Dead (1968), Psycho (1960), Black Christmas (1974), Homicidal (1961), Carrie (1976), Rosemary’s Baby (1968), etc. all had important themes interwoven in them. Like civil rights, feminism, lgbt, etc. As a viewer and filmmaker, I personally am a fan of female lead films and stories and this genre is really the only one that consistently has a female heroine. Our final girl. I love seeing strong women lead a story and come out on top when fighting their monster. Characters like Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), etc. are the blue print when I’m writing the lead in a new script. In general, I want characters a viewer can relate to or be interested in. Whether they’re the hero or villain. My absolute dream is to work for a24 and Neon. I feel my style of storytelling suits the films they’re releasing. Films like The Witch, Hereditary, Pearl, Longlegs, Revenge, The Substance, etc. are what keep me inspired and hopeful to join their ranking. Feature adaptations of my films, TASTE, LÉA, and PLAY, in particular would suit their filmography. Each film I make I feel will bring me closer to reaching this goal.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is sharing your voice with the world. Creating something and actually bringing it to life on screen is always a rewarding experience. Whether your art is viewed by thousands or just one person, I believe it’s an accomplishment to just make it. Building a community with fellow artists and supporting each others projects is my motto. I always highlight my friends art. I believe we should all support each other. We all succeed when we’re doing what we love. I’m truly grateful to every person in front of and behind the camera I’ve been lucky to work with. Without them my projects would just be ideas on a page. I love creating challenging and fun roles for my actor friends. Characters they can really sink their teeth into and take risks. I love collaboartion and being surrounded by it.. Being on a set is truly my happy place. It’s the place I feel most alive. The comradery between everyone involved is euphoric. Filmmaking saved me. It gave me purpose. I’ll forever be a storyteller till my last breath.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5018493/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jpalmieri13
• Twitter: https://x.com/JayPalmieriJr13
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jay2010P/videos
• Other: https://vimeo.com/user8004222

Image Credits

Jay’s Headshot: Blaine Pennington
Taste (poster): Eleni Karmiri
Léa (poster): Marc Geller
Soulmate (poster): Bill Foster