We had the good fortune of connecting with Nick Solorzano and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nick, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Yeesh. This question really got me. The film industry is such a crazy place.. and its full of crazy people. You have have to be crazy to sustain yourself in it. The lifestyle is completely built on risk taking.

Most of the jobs in the film industry are gig based. Each role hired out to a specialized contractor (which is usually always by referral alone). You won’t have a steady paycheck (unless you’re working on a feature film) and you won’t have a steady work schedule. You get what you get when it comes and sometimes it doesn’t for a while. It’s risky. And it’s not for everyone. Sometimes I go several weeks without any work at all.. and you have to be prepared that this MIGHT happen at any time. Im always taking a risk when I buy something expensive, just hoping I’ll have a job around the corner to cover it!

Being trusted on set is another one. Some of these jobs I work will have budgets in the hundred thousands. They’ll have huge crews and people relying solely on your decisions. It’s insane to think how much I’ve held in the balance. And this goes for several roles on set. When you’re the person, you have to be able to make the right calls. The wrong call could cost the production a LOT of money. The funny thing is, in order to move up the ladder in the film industry, you HAVE to “fake it, till you make it”. I’ve secretly put myself on the line so many times to get higher positions. You have to be risky haha. If you don’t, people will keep hiring you as what they know you as. But shhh.. I didn’t say anything.

As a creative, working in any creative field, you risk your emotional well being every time you release a new piece of work. You have to be vulnerable to put yourself and your art into the world. It’s probably the biggest risk we take. Gambling for likes, appreciation, and acceptance.. When it’s a dud, it really eats at our soul and lowers our confidence. I’ve met so many extremely talented filmmakers who have burned out and quit over the years because a project didn’t live up to their own expectations or wasn’t well received. Some (like myself) have decreased the amount of content they release to a trickle. Only showing our BEST work. It’s the off chance that something will be successful, funny, liked, that we risk everything for.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Im all about asian food. So my go to spot is always Buford highway.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t be where I’m at now without all the support I’ve received throughout the years working in Jacksonville.

Website: www.gravitydogproductions.com

Instagram: @nicksolorzano

Image Credits
Image 1: Self Portrait Image 2: Snapped by Joseph Provenza Image 3: Snapped by Alex Wahoski Image 4: Snapped by Mordecai Lecky

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