Meet Eduardo Jovanovic

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Eduardo Jovanovic a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Eduardo, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

To me, confidence is situational rather than a permanent state of being. It’s not something you can—or should—force. I see it as a byproduct, not a goal in itself.

I’m confident in areas related to creativity and art, and far less so when it comes to things like math or other unrelated aspects of life. I’ve always had a natural sensitivity to aesthetics, and I’m constantly thinking about and playing with artistic ideas in my mind.

In my career, this has translated into a deep well of experiences and successes in creative work—plenty of “evidence” my mind can lean on—so the confidence feels natural rather than manufactured.

That said, whenever I start something new, I rely on a mix of faith, curiosity, and a good sense of humor to carry me through the awkward early stages of learning.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m a Venezuelan filmmaker based in Portland, Oregon. My work spans narrative films, music videos, branded content, and nonprofit storytelling.

What I love most about filmmaking—beyond telling stories through light and composition—is its collaborative nature. I’m naturally introverted, but film constantly pushes me to meet new people and hear their stories. This career has taken me to places I would never visit on my own and introduced me to people I’d never meet in everyday life.

Last year, I began shooting restaurant videos in the Portland area, and it’s been one of the most fun and beautiful paths this career has taken me. Getting to know the owners, their culture, their food, and their personal stories has made Portland feel like an even more magical place to me.

Right now, I’m especially focused on “Paraisos”, a surreal, anime-inspired love letter to Portland. It’s the first project where I’ve had complete creative control, and I’m excited to use it as a way to push myself to the next level. I’m also serving as cinematographer for a feature film scheduled to shoot in 2026, along with two short films set to begin production later in 2025.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

This advice is just as much for me as for anyone else—because I’m the first one to forget to follow it. But looking back, the three things that have made the biggest impact on my career are: building a portfolio, collaboration, and outreach/marketing.

Before becoming a cinematographer, I studied architecture, so I tend to see this process like constructing a building.

Step one is the foundation: your portfolio. Build a body of work that highlights the skills and niche you want to be hired for. My motto is, “If I don’t have a portfolio piece in a niche I want to work in, I’m willing to work for free in exchange for it.” I see that as an investment in my future self and career.

Step two is the structure: your professional presence. This means having a professional email, a website, and a curated social media presence. The goal is to make it as easy and comfortable as possible for someone to reach out to you.

Step three is filling the building: outreach and marketing. Once you have the portfolio and presence, it’s just a matter of enough people and businesses knowing about you for one of them to take the leap and hire you.

And as an honorable mention—be an easy person to work with. No ego, no negative energy. Treat everyone as if they could be your next client, because one day they might be.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

First and foremost, my parents. They’re both entrepreneurs, and most of my family is entrepreneurial as well. I grew up surrounded by people who ran their own businesses and controlled their own schedules. Because of that, I had a kind of reverse pressure compared to many people in the U.S.—when I landed my first stable videography job at a big company, the family reaction was, “That’s good for now, but eventually you have to do your own thing.” Their support and wisdom have shaped every major career move I’ve made.

They’ve also been invaluable when it comes to handling difficult clients. With decades of experience dealing with every type of customer, their calm, grounded advice has helped me navigate challenges with confidence.

After them, I’d say my brother has been the most pivotal person in my artistic journey—despite not being in film. He’s the most excellence-driven and talented person I know, and I borrow from his work ethic every single day.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Image Credits

Audrey Booth

Ren Park

Andres Blanco

Karlee Boon

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