We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jeremy Long a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jeremy, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
That is a strong word: purpose. One that I have been thinking about a lot lately. What is anyone’s purpose? It’s hard to say really and, of course, it is different for each individual. Some people feel their purpose is in their work. And, for some jobs, especially life saving ones in the science and/or medical fields, that feels very apt. Others say their purpose is to be a mother or a father. Others may say their purpose is in community service; helping the homeless or saving the environment. In order for one to answer your question, one would have to know what their purpose is and, at this point in my life, I am unsure if I have nailed it down yet.
To the best of my ability, I believe I have surmised that one’s purpose is what brings them joy in life. The common thread through all of the examples mentioned above is happiness, or some sort of fulfillment, in that particular thing that you may consider your purpose. So, then, why am I having such a hard time discovering mine? Perhaps it is because I am a man of many hats. I am a film writer, television producer, stand-up comic, drummer, etc. The catch being that all of these things bring me joy and fulfillment in life. And, though I consider writing my main focus and passion, you could talk any of the above cookies out of the jar and leave me with only one, delicious, white macadamia nut cookie and I would still be happy; I would still be satisfied.
Meanwhile, I am a huge cinephile and going to the movies is one of the things that brings me the most joy in life. The dark theater, the big screen, the audience reaction. Surely going to the movies couldn’t be my purpose, right? It brings me joy and I do it on a weekly basis, but no, that’s not a purpose. Or is it? Well, watching so much cinema directly influences the passions in my life and the art that I create. However, if we are saying that watching film could be someone’s purpose, which would make logical sense, perhaps, for a film professor or critic, then what about spending time with loved ones? Friends and family. That brings me the ultimate joy and I would go to the ends of the earth for the ones in my life that I truly care about. Could that be my purpose?
So, where does that leave us? The dictionary defines purpose as the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists. So, based on that definition, my purpose has to be the reason I exist. At this stage in the convoluted downward spiral of my soapbox ramblings, we start getting dangerously close to the meaning of life. What is the meaning of life? Well, it is something philosophers have been trying to answer for decades now; philosophy being another major hobby and study of mine that brings me fulfillment. Seems to me that the meaning of life is something different per person and, perhaps, interchangeable with a person’s purpose. For example, when Aristotle used the term purpose, it was to refer to the final cause of a natural organ or entity, or of human art; in other words what do you leave behind when you die? Is that someone’s purpose?
What do I want to leave behind when I die? My art? A family? Or, more simply, that I was a good person who lived life to the fullest? Let’s break this down even further, shall we? Telos is the root of the modern term teleology, the study of purposiveness or of objects with a view to their aims, purposes, or intentions. Breaking it down to its roots actually makes it a bit more complicated because what are someone’s intentions? I have several intentions every week, perhaps even daily. For example, I intend to answer your interview question before I drop dead of old age. Is that my purpose? To complete this interview?
Anyways, by now, I am sure you can see what I am getting at, but guess what I am really trying to say, in a roundabout way, is: I believe my purpose is to be a toll booth operator in Poughkeepsie.
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?
Well, thank you so much for your interest. Since my last answer was so long, I will keep this one more brief. I was born in a small town in Central Pennsylvania in the spring of 1992….just kidding. As mentioned in my previous answer, for those who didn’t tune out, I do quite a few things. I am a writer, mostly for film, having one feature and a few short films released and under my belt. I am also a television producer, mostly reality shows. I am a stand-up comedian for over 15 years now, which is hard to believe for me, let alone any audience member at my shows. And, I am even a musician, primarily a drummer, and have played in several bands, as well as a few legendary venues.
I believe what is most exciting, to me, in any of the jobs listed above that I have the privilege of doing in my life, I get to provide entertainment to so many people in so many ways. The same way that I was entertained by movies, music and stand-up as a young boy and an only child. I am not saying I was lonely or a hermit, quite the opposite actually, but as a boy these various forms of media and entertainment kept me company and filled me with joy. Whether it be a silly sitcom or a cartoon on Nickelodeon. Whether it be my former disc-jockey dad introducing me to some more oldies music and one-hit wonders or stumbling upon George Carlin when I was way too young to fully appreciate him. All these things not only entertained me, but helped me transport to other words and open my mind to new thoughts and ideas. They shaped my literal being and helped mold me into the person I am to this very day. And, now I get to be a small part of that for other people.
Sure, not everyone who comes to one of my comedy shows will think I am funny, or maybe they will, but not enough to follow my career, come see me again or spread the word to a friend. Sure, not everyone will even see my tiny name in the credits of their favorite reality show when it goes by at the very bottom of the screen and is gone faster than my self esteem any time I walk into an LA bar. And sure, perhaps not everyone enjoyed my first feature film, Clickbait – NOW AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY AMAZON PRIME AND YOUR FAVORITE TORRENT SITES! But, for some people, dare I say dozens of people, I get to provide them some relief after a long day. Provide a laugh after they got some bad news. And, at my very best, make them think about life just a little differently. It’s about more than simply entertaining, which is rewarding enough in its own right, but ultimately having some sort of impact is my goal in all of my artistic pursuits. And I always put 127% into anything I do and am passionate about. That is what I feel is most exciting and/or special about the work that I, and my fellow creatives, do.
As for anything new and fun coming up, I encourage anyone who is reading this and interested in anything I do (which let’s face it, with these golden answers I am giving in this interview, how could you not), to follow me on my social medias, which I am sure will be listed somewhere towards the end of this interview. There I keep everyone – family, friends, fans, stalkers – updated on all of my work, whether it be a new movie or show coming out that I wrote or otherwise had a hand in or an upcoming gig both with a band or my stand-up. All joking aside, thank you to anyone who has somehow stuck it out to this point in the article and is interested enough to follow my ridiculousness even further.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Honestly, it’s an old age cliche, but one I have found to be absolutely true in my nearly a decade in showbiz, and that is that a large part of this business is based upon luck. Right time, right place kind of stuff. The other cliche being “it’s all about who you know”, which I have found to be equally true. That being said, neither of those are really qualities or skills, per se, however accurate they are, so let me bestow some semblance of advice that I don’t feel qualified to give. Here are the three most important things that, based on my experience working in various subsections of the entertainment industry, I feel are the most important skills to have:
- Tenacity. If you don’t have this, what are you even doing? You should be doing whatever you are passionate about in life, whether that is in the entertainment industry or not. Don’t let someone else guilt trip you into settling; go after your dreams. I promise you that if 50% of the jobs and opportunities I have gotten in this industry were through luck and/or knowing the right people, the other 50% were from my tenacity; my passion for my craft, my art and my career. Employers, mentors, etc. look for this and they can tell when you have it or not. Despite what some Gen Tik Tokers may tell you, it is not cool to not care. People can see that fire under your butt and excitement to be a part of whatever it is you want to be a part of. And, if you have the knowledge and experience to back it up, that will absolutely be a reason you would get the job and that they would want to work with you; or at least a huge determining factor. As well as a factor in moving up the ladder in this industry; by being eager, showing your willingness to stay late, learn more in your free time, take classes, etc. Perhaps even more importantly, this tenacity will also show in your work. If you are passionate about what you are doing, it shines through in the final product, no matter what position you are. I can’t tell you how many films I have watched where perhaps I wasn’t a fan of the thing as a whole, but I loved parts or aspects of the whole. Like, “Wow, those sets were stunning, that person was on their A-game!” or “Holy shit, Carrot Top gave the performance of his career!” Your passion for what you are working on absolutely 100% will be received by your audience.
- Know Your History. Everything comes from something else. This is a fact. Writers pull from past influences, directors straight lift segments and styles from their influences and there are entire studies of acting based around the method of classic performers. The comedy world is no different. I can tell when someone is influenced by The Three Stooges as much as I can tell they’ve been influenced by Rodney Dangerfield. Whether purposefully or subconsciously, all forms of art are consistently pulling from past creations. I don’t mean plagiarizing, of course, although that certainly happens too, but more so influences, or a pastiche, if you will. It’s just how the system has worked for years based on how much art we, as artists, absorb ourselves. It would be insane to believe that that doesn’t directly affect the art we, then, go on to create. I mean, look at the famous Letterboxd video that went viral this year where Greta Gerwig lists all of her references in creating the mood, design and aesthetic of the new Barbie movie – everything from the work of the great Jacques Demy to the classic 2001: A Space Odyssey. This is why it is so crucial to know your history of whatever it is you are passionate about., even if it is multiple hours. I can’t tell you how much research I have done and books I have read about and from past comedians and film writers. Study and study hard!
- Be Nice. No-one wants to work with an asshole. Period. This is a lesson in life as much as it is specific to the entertainment industry: just be a decent person. I have literally watched people not get a gig because someone on set had worked with them previously and said they were an asshole. And I have done the same on several of my projects. It may seem obvious, or even trivial, but it should be taken as seriously as either of my two aforementioned pieces of advice. Just be chill and gracious and other creatives will want to work with you again. They will hire you for other gigs or recommend you to friends looking to hire someone with your specialty. I have witnessed it time and time again. Be kind.
Again, I can only offer advice from my own personal and limited experiences in this industry, so feel free to take it or leave it. But, I can tell you that the three “skills” above have proven to be useful, if not downright instrumental, on countless occasions in my own personal career and I believe it to be some of the best advice I have to offer for anyone looking to do any job in the entertainment industry.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
Oh boy, this is my favorite question for two reasons: 1. Because it is an easy one and 2. Because it gives me the opportunity to give my two amazing parents the genuine credit they deserve for being so truly instrumental in not only shaping who I am today, but helping me go down the path I chose in my life. What is the most impactful thing my parents did for me? They encouraged me. Perhaps seems minor to some readers, but it could not be more crucial. I can’t tell you how many people, who I know personally or otherwise, I have seen not follow their dreams and not reach their full potential because their passions and/or aspirations were not nurtured and encouraged the way they should have been and, in many cases, needed to be by their parent and/or other loved ones. I can’t say for 100% certainly, but there is an extremely strong chance that I would never have even pursued this path in the entertainment industry without my parent’s constant encouragement. To hell with wondering if I would be where I am today within the industry, successes and failures combined, but I may not have even tried.
Because, as we all know, it is a hard dream to decide to go after, much less achieve. The discouragement is everywhere you look and hurdles constantly abound. Yet, my parents have been there with me motivating me and inspiring me every step of the way. From fueling and supporting my passion for film even as a teen (I had a huge dvd collection back then and they even built me my own movie room in the basement) to literally helping me to achieve those dreams (driving me to gigs in my very early stand-up days, coming to shows and watching my dumb little home movies and pretending they were good). My parents both together and separately, after they divorce, have been emboldening my passions and my dreams throughout my entire life, even up until I type these words to you now. Hell, when Clickbait, my first feature film I wrote mentioned earlier in this interview, premiered at the Geneblast Film Festival (the first stop on it’s very successful and multiple award winning festival circuit run), both my parents took off work and drove all the way to West Virginia to sit with me at the premiere and support me on my big day. Now, that doesn’t mean they have to like it, or anything I do/create for that matter. As a matter of fact, I remember my mom saying after the premiere “That was interesting…” But they were there. Just like they always have been. And that is what matters.
Dreams are like a plant that needs nurturing, love and attention to flourish and too many truly talented people in this world have had their dreams crushed and their hopes dashed because they never received that support system to encourage them to take they leap to move across the country from a small town in Pennsylvania to the big city of Los Angeles, California like I did. That is a huge step to make right there, and it’s only the very first step, but one I couldn’t do without the encouragement of my parents. So many people don’t get to take that leap. Sure not everyone makes it, but so many people don’t even get the opportunity to try, to experience it for themselves. Failure is a part of life, but wondering “what if?” would not be. Forget lack of encouragement, there are many parents who actively DIScourage their children to chase their dreams; especially if it is something in the arts, like me. Saying it is not practical, not realistic, not achievable, etc. And believe me, I get the fear. It is an extremely tough industry to be a part of in so many different ways and parents want to protect their babies. But, little do they know they ultimate protection is letting them go out into the world to experience it themselves, all the ups and downs it has to offer and then simply being there for them when they need you along the way.
Long story short (get it, cause my last name is Long), I was unbelievably lucky to have the parents I did growing up. I had such a good childhood that many people wonder how I ended up in comedy. I kid, my point is, not everyone is as lucky to me. So, if you are reading this and have a dream to do something in this crazy business we call show – please let this be your encouragement, please let ME be your encouragement. Because I may not know you yet, but I am excited to see what art you’re going to create in the future.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylong/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ComedianJeremyLong
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeremyLongMD
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@IDrinkForAReason
