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

Peter, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Success is such a subjective word. Personal success is more attainable. I speak as a person who has had success, but by no means do I feel I’ve “succeeded” or “made it.” Whatever that means.

I personally feel, and have seen it many times, to be successful in the film industry you must have persistence. As in, continuing to take steps towards your goal as an artist. There’s a few other things that help, but persistence is tops. This is an amazing quote I live by:

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” -Calvin Coolidge

I drove out to Los Angeles in a uhaul truck with my college friends from Miami, Florida with nothing except a finished short film. All of us on our trip to LA thought the same thing every filmmaker thinks: move out to LA, get discovered, be a success. That story rarely happens because nobody is looking to discover you. No producer or investor is sitting there waiting for you. It’s all on you. And it’s effort. There is no Artificial Intelligence program that will make your film for you, nor would I want that. It takes lots and lots of effort.

Luck obviously plays a huge part, but it’s all connected. You make your own luck by being ready to pitch your story or having a finished film for the right person.

Now I feel like I’m monologuing. Anyway, be persistent.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a filmmaker. The writing, directing, and editing type. I know a little bit about camera, but not much. I enjoy making stories that have character and originality. I’ve been fortunate enough to make many music videos, commercials, and short films. I’ve gotten into film festivals and even won a few.

When I made my films, I would edit them. So I got really good at that and quickly realized video editing pays well. I worked as an editor for companies like the Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan, G4, and Acitivsion/Blizzard Entertainment.

I’m originally from Minnesota and have been in Los Angeles 17 years.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I wrote a story called “You, Me, & the Internet” based roughly on my experience getting dumped on Facebook. It took me down the rabbit hole of social media and how important or unimportant the internet was. I got actors interested. I got investors at least leaning in a little on my pitches. One of them getting involved. BUT actors nor investors will get on the train until the other gets on. It’s paradox and I had no money to throw around for the budget just yet. A well known musician was attached which got everything rolling. I ended up shooting a scene from the film that I turned into a short film.

BUT investors got skittish when I didn’t have contracts with the musician or actors. Maybe I should have done more, but I’m not a producer. Somewhere along that path it fizzled like it does for many filmmakers. And you’re left holding the script in your hand. The only very real thing about the whole thing: your script.

From getting so close to making my first feature film it humbled me and I learned slowly that I need to keep going and be resilient. That stuff will happen. It’s very hard to do what we do.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I’ve pivoted twice in my filmmaking career, but both were somewhat of a tangent from the film tree.

One was when I became a video editor. I found that storytelling through images is what video editing is and I was good at it. It fulfils me creatively, yet I always continue to film or develop things.

The second was when I started TheFlushed.com and made this creative thing that I did with fellow creatives. It initially focused on the weird things that happen in the black hole that is the men’s restroom. It’s evolved since through our podcast where “the mysteries of the world can always be traced back to how we are in the bathroom” kind of idea. It’s a great creative outlet and we are slowly building it up with people who enjoy it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.peterbean.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nerdfilmmaker
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chispaproductions
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-bean-a555456/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/nerdfilmmakers
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@chispaproductions
• Other: The Flushed: https://theflushed.com/ The Flushed Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/TheFlusheddotcom My works in Video Editing: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6ifQv-dpfooAoUYm_MQczL_yCAXmutNO My works in Directing: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6ifQv-dpforW_0RHMJo88hXRveFHdVuq&si=hCU_2RHlg4BzZAd1

Image Credits
Set photos done by Rebecca Zenefski