Meet Jack Walterman

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

Jack, thanks for taking the time to share your lessons with our community today. So, let’s jump right in – one of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. Where does your self-discipline come from?
That’s a great question. Thank you for asking. I would say my self-discipline boils down to my natural desire to connect with others through stories, and my supportive parents. Because of this mix of nature and nurture, looking back and connecting the dots, I may have always been predestined for a career in the film and television industry.

For as long as I can remember, I have been a storyteller that loved bringing people together. In pre-k, I would create short comic book stories (essentially storyboards) of families on different adventures. During recess I would rally kids together to play games. This natural foundation in art and community building was affirmed by how my parents raised me.

Growing up, my parents were generous enough to expose me to as much as possible. Allowing me to explore what interested me most. I tried art, athletics, travel, and so on. Even as early as Montessori school, where I freely chose to create comic books, my love of storytelling was being supported. For that reason, I discovered what I was passionate about at a very young age. I found it natural to stay disciplined because I was always working towards something I valued.

On the flip side, a part of my explorations was discovering things that I was not as in tune with. Despite these realizations, I still persisted and followed through with my commitments until they were completed – shaping my self-discipline as well. Because of this dedication to do my best, I enjoy seeing projects through from beginning to end.

Over the years, my parents helped me strengthen my innate passion for video production. In elementary school they had a camcorder that they allowed me to shoot videos with. As a way to connect with more peers, in 5th grade, I joined the morning news that aired in every classroom. By middle school, I started writing scripts and gathering friends and family together to make short movies. During high school, I took broadcast media courses that laid a foundation for collaboration in production. In undergrad, I studied acting and directing for the stage and transferred those skills into making music videos for my singer-songwriter roommate. Immediately after undergrad, I moved to Los Angeles to formally study the art of filmmaking. I obtained an MFA in Film and Television Production, with an emphasis in directing and producing, from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. The foundation was always there, and my parents continued to support me as I refined what came naturally over the years – becoming more self-disciplined with my craft.

I have always loved stories because of their ability to transport us anywhere and be about anything. I find them to be a fascinating way to get to know more about others and myself. Filmmaking also gives me the opportunity to travel and live outside of what I already know. It has taken me to all 50 states in the US and abroad to the UK. I never feel stagnant. Instead, I get the opportunity to grow as an individual, and as an artist, with each new story. Through an inherent desire to build community and tell stories, combined with the lessons from my parents, I have been able to strengthen my self-discipline and become the lifelong learner, and filmmaker, I am today.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a filmmaker. When writing/directing, I focus on the horror genre. In my opinion, I am not a scary person – in fact I can be quite the “scaredy cat” – which has led me to take interest in exploring what audiences, including myself, find frightening through the safety of stories. Personally, I think the horror genre can be an exciting break from reality. One where we are both entertained and educated by the different ways characters cope with terrifying obstacles. Sometimes I like to sneak comedy into my stories to offset the scares. Think of a friendly amusement park with one large, intimidating, roller coaster. Those are the stories I love to tell. Currently, I am developing a horror feature screenplay with the intention of it becoming my directing debut.

Outside of narrative films, I also create music videos for artists like Courtney Govan (I Can See Your Voice, American Idol 21) and Sain Levrad (owner of Levraddigans Studios in Chicago). Music videos are my favorite way to work in genres outside of horror. It all comes down to the song. My ideas for captivating visuals are all inspired by the music.

When producing, I work mostly as an advocate for female filmmakers. Projects that I have supported include: FATHER BY LAW (Drama Finalist, Austin Film Festival; Best of Omeleto, July 2020) starring William Russ (Boy Meets World, American History X), Annie Clark (Degrassi), dir. Maria De Sanctis; BREACH OF TRUST (Shortlist, BAFTA Student Awards; Best Documentary, First Look, USC; Short of the Week, July 2020; Best Student Documentary, Impact Doc Awards), a documentary acquired by Women Make Movies, centered around USC’s $1.1 Billion sexual assault case, which was released by the LA Times, dir. Mishal Mahmud; and currently raising funds for AGG, a debut feature film to be directed by Shaina Ghuraya.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Off the top of my head, I would say three qualities that have impacted my journey are compassion, tenacity, and adaptability. Here are three quick stories as to why they have impacted me.

One night, during my sophomore year of college, my roommate disclosed his secret musical aspirations. Right away I paused my homework and listened intently as he explained, for the first time out loud, his artistic dreams and how he believed they were unreasonable. To support him, I drafted a one year plan for his song releases and offered to direct, shoot, and edit his music videos. He eagerly agreed and together we purchased two inexpensive cameras from Walmart. We ended up shooting eighteen music videos during our undergrad career. Our schedules were full, which caused us to film thirteen of them in four days at the end of our junior year. What we lacked in budget, I made up for in creativity, making sure each video would be unique from the others. In our senior year, we decided to recreate Michael Jackson’s iconic “Thriller” music video – zombie backup dancers and all – which caught the attention of the theatre faculty who suggested I consider a career in film/tv. After contemplating their recommendation, I used “Thriller” to apply for USC’s Film/TV Production MFA program. My admittance letter read, “The Cinematic Arts faculty identified you as one of the more talented applicants in this year’s applicant pool.” This affirmation of my filmmaking potential was exciting. Two years prior, when my roommate felt comfortable enough to share his dreams, I had not intended to go to film school – filmmaking as a career felt out of reach – but in the end my dreams were becoming a reality all because I had compassion for a friend.

In middle school, a good friend of mine asked me to join Boy Scouts. Apprehensive, because I would be starting a year behind the rest of my patrol, I decided to give it a try anyway. Scouting quickly highlighted my capacity to have a strong work ethic. Leaning into my adaptability, tenacity, and kindness, I caught up to — and surpassed — my peers in rank. Eventually leading my entire troop with confidence, empathy, and humor. Over the six years I was on “the hike” to become an Eagle Scout, I developed leadership skills and patience for teaching; a strong appreciation and respect for nature; along with a sense of friendly attentiveness to community, volunteering and giving back. In retrospect, I am thankful my friend asked me to join, and that I had the tenacity to not quit even when I felt behind, inadequate, or overwhelmed.

During my final semester at USC, the pandemic hit. A few months into lockdown, I made the difficult decision to leave Los Angeles and stay with family in Minnesota. With all the uncertainty in the world, I wanted to make a positive difference in my hometown and felt the medical field was the best option. For nearly two years I filled prescriptions, administered COVID-19 tests, and assisted with vaccinations as a pharmacy technician. I pivoted again and got a second job working in health insurance. My intuitive gift for storytelling stayed alive as I invested the money earned into purchasing my own film equipment. I went back to my roots of writing scripts and gathering my friends and family together again to tell stories like I did in elementary school, but now with the experience of USC’s MFA program. I ended up creating a web series (link to watch the episodes will be below) and wrote two feature screenplays. Despite plans changing, I adapted, and that allowed me to stick with filmmaking while working two jobs until the world opened up enough to start freelancing.

Inspirational speaker Alexander Den Heijer once said, “You often feel tired, not because you’ve done too much, but because you’ve done too little of what sparks a light in you.” If filmmaking is that spark for you, my advice is to keep making films no matter the quality. Write scripts, grab your phone/camera, and tell stories over and over and over again. You will learn by doing, and as you gain experience, be tenacious and push yourself to try something new with each project. Work hard, but do not forget to be a compassionate leader to the people you bring on your projects. Filmmaking is a collaborative art form, and there is a world full of talented individuals who love storytelling as much as you do. Fan each other’s flame so that you may improve together.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am looking to collaborate with:
* Filmmakers who are creating new works (Narrative or Documentary).
* Artists/bands who are looking to make music videos.
* Clients that would like a director to help tell their product/services’ story in a clear, inviting and entertaining way.

For business inquiries please contact: jmwaltermanpro@gmail.com

Contact Info:

Image Credits
C. Sigel Photography

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