Check out this exclusive StepFeed interview with James Jurdi, a promising actor, screenwriter and producer who is on his way to making his mark on Hollywood. As his family name suggests, he's originally Lebanese. After studying cinema, play-writing and performance arts in the USA, Jurdi acted in shorts, soaps and indie films and wrote and produced shorts. He then plunged into his first feature film, Reaper (a supernatural sci-fi horror film), which he starred in, wrote and produced. Pocket Listing, a satirical thriller, soon followed.
What initially drew you to the film industry?
"I fell in love with cinema at a young age. My parents would take me to movies every weekend as a child. It was like going to a retreat, a magical journey into a parallel universe. I knew that I wanted to study, absorb and eventually partake in the magic of movie making."
Do you prefer acting or screenwriting? Why?
"I enjoy both in different ways. Each is complex and creatively rewarding. Sometimes it's nice to focus on just one, but doing both on one project is a true artistic high because your understanding of the character becomes so rich and psychologically nuanced."
What challenges did you face while working on your first feature film, Reaper, and how did you overcome them?
"Filmmaking in general is extremely challenging. There are tons of obstacles, from lighting to weather to hitting your marks, meeting deadlines, not going over-budget, making sure both cast and crew are treated properly, etc. On "Reaper," we were blessed with both a terrific cast and a top-notch production team. We all worked together to avoid any worst case scenarios and in the end, it was a wonderfully collaborative experience where a lot of talented individuals all contributed to the pot."
What inspired you to focus on the real estate sector in Pocket Listing ?
"There have been a lot of films about Wall Street and financial corruption, but not many about the real estate market. I thought it was an interesting backdrop where characters from different ends of the spectrum were all vying for a piece of the American dream. Also, we wanted to tackle the subject matter in a darkly comic, satirical manner rather than get too heavy about it. I think the film is a nice fusion of socioeconomic commentary and just pure, pulp entertainment."
Do you feel like your Middle Eastern roots are helping you succeed or are hampering you in Hollywood because of prejudice?
"Cinema has become a universal sector where artists and filmmakers from all over are visually telling their global stories. I think having an international background is creatively beneficial in the sense that it opens you up to different parts of the world and all of the potential stories that could come out of it."
Do you have more feature films in the pipeline?
"We are definitely hoping to move forward with new material in the near future, but for now we are just happy to be globally releasing both "Reaper" and "Pocket Listing" and helping them find an audience."
What advice would you give aspiring filmmakers in the region?
"I would encourage them to follow their dreams and visions but to at the same time really educate themselves about the intricate mechanics of the business side of the industry. Filmmaking is often regarded as just glitz, glam, and premieres. But in reality, it's a great deal of hard work, big risk, and serious commitment. It is truly a tough business any way you cut it, but for those who have passion, persistence, and drive, I would say go for it."