We were lucky to catch up with Pat Battistini recently and have shared our conversation below.
Pat, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
Many actors, writers, directors, etc want to jump into film and television work on a studio level without preparing for it. The best thing anyone in our industry can do is to start making films themselves. Whether it be acting or writing or directing, make something and then get out to film festivals to screen it. You can “see” so much more about your work when you’re in an audience of total strangers. Also, you meet so many more like minded people that you can surround yourself with awesome creativity. You’ll be inspired to keep on creating whether it’s a short or feature or pilot. Don’t wait or settle.
Pat, 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?
My first professional career was a college football coach. I truly liked what I was doing but I wasn’t passionate about it. I had taken an acting class in college as an elective and I really enjoyed it. so after doing some soul searching, I left coaching and got into the arts.
I acted for many years in Chicago, Miami, and Tokyo. But after I got my Sag card, I decided to make the move to LA. Once here, to no surprise, the auditions and bookings slowed down significantly. To give me some creative satisfaction, I decided to start creating my own content as YouTube was just picking up.
After I discovered the writing and directing portions of making content, I fell in love with it. So since about 2005, I predominately work behind the camera. I still do a little bit of acting and audition commercially but my true love is behind the camera.
Since the time I started writing and directing, I’ve been fortunate enough to attend many screenings and festivals showing my work. It took some time but I figured out the “formula” to finding a common place with my voice and audience appeal. I don’t cater to an audience with my filmmaking as I make things that are passionate for me, but I do believe I receive audience approval as long as it’s screened with the right genre in mind.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
As an artist, there’s always high and low points in your career. I think what continues to drive me forward is realizing that I can always create something. There’s no pressure for me to be an Oscar winner because I don’t have to answer to anyone and I can make what I want. My process is very peaceful and rewarding because I just focus on the joy of my job.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
This has to be seeing how my films affect people. Whether I make a drama or comedy, it’s so rewarding seeing reactions and hearing what really hit them the most.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.HoosierDaddyFilms.com
- Instagram: @Hoosier_Daddy_Films
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HoosierDaddyFilms
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patbattistini/
- Twitter: @HoosierFilms
Image Credits
Jason Goulet