Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob Rannik.
Hi Jacob, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and moved to Vienna, Virginia, in the winter of my Second Grade. I grew up playing lots of sports, such as soccer, taekwondo, and diving. It was safe to say that I was a pretty active kid. I have a deep love and appreciation for taekwondo. It was a place for my brother and I to learn discipline and also be crazy kids who loved to pretend we were the superheroes we saw on TV.
It was while I was in Virginia that my love for storytelling began. I grew up with a book in my hand everywhere I went, from comic books to fantasy novels I was constantly reading. I knew that I wanted to tell my own stories, so I started the only way I knew how to act them out with my brother after our cartoons and writing mini comic books. I always had something in my head that I wanted to tell. This love for storytelling only grew stronger after I got to act as the big bad wolf in my Spanish school’s production of “Little Red Riding Hood.” I wanted to act any chance I could and tell stories to anyone who would listen.
At the end of my freshman year of high school, I moved to Mansfield, Texas. It was in Texas that my passion for filmmaking and acting truly flourished. I took a film class in my junior year, where I won a third-place prize overall in narrative films. This achievement made me realize how much I love to tell stories, and filmmaking was the perfect way for me to tell mine. I am now a senior at Savannah College of Art and Design and will graduate this June with a Major in Film and Television and a Minor in Acting for the Camera.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Some of the biggest obstacles that I’ve had to work through are trying to find a balance and not letting my fears stop me from pursuing opportunities. Growing up I was in a lot of activities. I was in soccer, taekwondo, Boy Scouts, chess club, and so many more. I don’t know how I didn’t just explode from all the stress. The same can be said now. I find myself working on too many projects and getting easily overwhelmed. These past couple of years have taught me that no matter how many projects I get on I still have to find time to balance my personal life and my other responsibilities. It’s an uphill battle, but I’m determined to find my balance through every project I’m on in the future.
My life changed when I moved to Texas. It was a brand-new environment, and I was completely out of my depth. I was so scared. Making new friends, having new teachers, and the fact I had to wear a uniform every day intimidated me. Everything had become too much, and I felt inadequate and far behind everyone. I couldn’t find a balance in all these new things, and I was stopping myself from thriving. I was taking everything in too fast, and I couldn’t keep up. But one thing kept me going: “Take a deep breath and go one step at a time.” My mom loved to say this to me, and I’ve been using it ever since.
I’m pushing through my insecurities and finding my equilibrium. As I’ve been at SCAD, I still find myself getting in my own way. So, I stop. I take a deep breath, and I go back. I take it one step at a time. My growth has been slow, but I’m glad that I’ve had my mom’s voice in my ear every time I get overwhelmed.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Since coming to SCAD, I found myself doing a lot of producing work. After two classes and lots of sets, I was able to help produce three thesis films in my time at SCAD. I came to SCAD focused on learning to direct and write and officially give acting a go. Now that I’ve been here four years, I know what I want to do – direct and act.
For my last year at SCAD, I had the privilege of directing and acting in my senior thesis. For my thesis, I wanted to go all out and truly push my skills to the limit. I know that I want to be an actor and director, so I saw this not only as an opportunity to show off my skills but to learn and make mistakes. Many of my peers put so much pressure on themselves to make everything perfect that it feels like we forget we are still students. I had to remind myself that now is the time to make mistakes and learn from them.
My thesis, “Painted Grief” is a combination of things that I love – Fantasy and Drama. This film follows widower Domingo, who is commissioned to paint his friend Victor’s dead wife, Marta. Domingo must decide to continue painting Marta or succumb to the voices of his paintings and paint his own dead wife instead.
I was lucky to have a great team with me because, without them, this film wouldn’t have been possible. Jackie Jones my amazing producer, my Director of Photography Jordan Werner, my Assistant Director Cade Harrison, my wonderful costume designer Lauren Ostanek, and Production Designer Catie Miller. Without a good and dedicated team of people, this film wouldn’t have gotten off the ground like it did. I’m so proud of and thankful for every single person who helped my project.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The biggest characteristic that has helped me get to where I am today is learning to be fearless. Every day, we have the choice to do something that puts us in our comfort zone or something that pushes us to go a little beyond that. Fear has been a big factor in whether I’ll give the next project a shot or if I’ll take the leap and audition. I’ve had to learn to look at things as a new and fun opportunity instead of letting fear dictate my choices. I’ve learned to be honest about things that make me fearful and learned to push past them for projects. In a lot of producing projects, I was learning on the job, so everything was scary and new to me. I was fearful of doing things wrong, but as I’ve grown, I’ve realized that my fears have slowly lessened and made way for more confidence in my work.
Contact Info:
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-rannik-42431220b
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfXtQfrGvHVzGxMF5S7od0A
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/paintedgrief.film/?igsh=YTlzZnV6Nmlqc2hl
Image Credits
Tan Perez
Tim Borowiec
