[Watch the video interview on YouTube here]
Jake Jalbert, Cinematographer/Filmmaker: We performed. They were like , “We want to give you another million dollars for your sign-on bonus” and we did our thing.
Everything was fine.
We went back home and then they sent us checks that bounced.
Film Courage: Did you go to film school?
Jake: I did not go to film school.
I bought my first camera when I was 22. Actually, if I go back, my dad had a small camera.
Me and my brother would go steal the camera and make little films in the backyard.
I actually used to have some of that footage which is really cool.
Then we started doing music.
Both of us had a little band back in the day.
We did music.
Then when I was 22, I bought a Canon XL1 that has tapes on it.
We just started filming.
Film Courage: In your band, who did you mimic yourself after?
Jake: I would say we were kind of like The Beastie Boys. We were like a hip-pop, rap, boy band.
Film Courage: Nice. So you’re making these films in the backyard or wherever you have this band, did you have other aspirations?
Did you want to get into music or was film something you sought out?
Jake: We started off kind of like stealing my Dad’s camera.
We were kids.
I was probably like 11 or 12.
We would film ourselves.
We put it on the tripod and then we would actually do little fight scenes and stuff.
We were in martial arts and karate…(Watch the video interview on YouTube here).
About:
Jake Jalbert began his journey into producing and cinematography 14 years ago, shooting his first feature film, *House Guest Massacre* (2013), starring Alex Vincent from the *Child’s Play* franchise (as Andy Barclay). Over the years, he’s worked his way up by contributing to numerous films and TV shows, collaborating with actors such as Burt Reynolds, Amy Smart, Sean Astin, Michael Shannon, Alexander Ludwig, and Charles Melton. From 2020 to 2024, Jake served as Director of Photography on several films, beginning with *Mind Games*, starring A-list talents Robert LaSardo, Jim Fitzpatrick, and Michael Paré, as well as *Soulmates*.
Jake was later hired to shoot two studio films, *Megaboa* and *Shark Waters*, both of which had small theatrical releases through The Asylum, the studio behind the *Sharknado* franchise. In addition, Jake was the cinematographer for the Tubi original film *DC Down*, directed by Geoff Meed and starring Eric Roberts and Sean Young.
In 2023, Jake produced and shot his most ambitious project to date, *Off Rip* (Sports/Drama), directed by and starring Jadon Cal, which is currently in post-production.
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