Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesse Scimeca.
Jesse, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I first got into filmmaking when I was 11, by making videos on YouTube with some childhood buddies of mine. We would watch channels like Rhett and Link and Balloon Shop, which is what inspired us to learn about making videos in the first place.
Over time we created original content but then I became interested in filming and editing skateboarding videos. Creating skate videos taught me pacing and the fine-tuning of editing by timing the lands with music, mixing cinematic shots with action shots, and overall trying to give a unique and cinematic feel to ultimately what is sports videography. These videos were a lot of fun to make but I wanted something more out of it. I realized there are limits to making skate videos. They are judged by the tricks the skateboarders perform rather than the actual video. That’s what made me more interested in the storytelling side of the film. My senior year of high school I took a Sound and Broadcast Engineering class at a college for the last half of the school day.
During the first semester, they focused more on sound engineering and the second semester on film and production. The class really helped me learn the technical side of filmmaking and how important pre-production can be. After graduating, I got back together with the same guys I originally began making videos with. We created a new YouTube channel called Made Legit Media and worked on cinematic/story based skits and short films. Shortly after Made Legit Media was created I moved to Atlanta. At first, I wasn’t for the move. It was right after graduating and I really felt like I needed to be there with my friends to pursue filmmaking full time. But I gave Georgia a chance and later learned about the film community in Atlanta.
Slowly but surely I started making connections with people in the craft. In the process, I have been able to teach friends about filmmaking and get them involved with each project that we produce. With each short film, I try to do something different than I did before. When I first started out with family and friends, I focused more on action-based films because that’s what I could do best with the people who were willing to help. The more talented artists I meet, the more I can push what I’ve done previously and better the next project. This year we are working on 2 proof of concepts to pitch and develop for online streaming services. I hope to start production on one of these by the end of the year and then move on to the scary goal of doing my first feature film.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I honestly can’t say there have been many challenges. I like to focus on the positive. Even when things go wrong, there’s something you can learn from it! I try to always keep that in mind on the worst days.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Made Legit Media – what should we know?
I think what separates us from other companies is that we do everything. We don’t shy away from projects we’ve never tackled before and we’re always trying to create.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
My drive to constantly create and meet other creatives is what’s most important to being successful and reaching your goals. You need to surround yourself with people that know what they’re doing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/madelegitmedia/
- Phone: (918) 200-1640
- Email: madelegitmedia@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesse_scimeca/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madelegitmedia/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/user/madeLEGITmedia
Image Credit:
Bryan Tan and Patrick Bailer
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