Exploring Life & Business with Jesse Charles of Backseat Cinema LLC

 

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesse Charles

Hi Jesse, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in southwest Michigan. The Arts were always a really big focus for me, but aside from playing around with camcorders for my own enjoyment, I didn’t discover filmmaking until my early twenties. This quickly became my new obsession, so I decided to try to make a career out of it.

I moved to Los Angeles in 2016, where I lived for seven incredible years, immersing myself in the world of film and video. During this time, I started my own company, Backseat Cinema, and worked on a variety of projects ranging from indie films to commercials to music videos. The fast-paced environment of the city and the abundance of opportunities were instrumental in honing my skills and expanding my network.

In late 2023, I find myself back in Michigan. A decision driven by a desire to bring my knowledge and skills to the local creative scene and community of the Grand Rapids area.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Well, just like anything, it can be difficult at times. Everyone knows this industry is a competitive one, which is true, but really I can’t complain. I get to do what I love and that’s something to be thankful for.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We do it all! Commercials, events, films, and music videos. The best thing about us is that we’re small. Which means we have the ability to serve other small companies and individuals at affordable rates. Video service should be accessible to everyone without compromising on quality. Some people assume it’s way outside their budget, but that’s not always true. There are many freelancers and smaller companies, like mine, that would be thrilled to work with you. Personally, I love collaborating with independent brands and artists, as these projects are typically more hands-on and unique. I promise you, you’d be surprised by the budgets we can work with.
Anyone interested can contact me directly through our website www.backseatcinema.com

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Don’t wait for someone to ask you to film. Get a camera you can afford and just start shooting!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://backseatcinema.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessecharles_/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@backseatcinema
• Other: https://vimeo.com/jessecharles