James Pratt

You have an impressive background as both an actor and a director, working with people such as Edward Norton on Longevity Hackers and award-winning projects like Malibu Crush and West Coast Fashion. How do you balance the demands of acting and directing, and do you have a preference between the two?

Thank you very much for the interview. I think a lot of the core techniques in acting and then the experience on set has helped me later with directing. I just love making movies, whether that’s as an actor or director so both are very special to me.

Your role in Malibu Crush and other notable projects have gained you recognition as an actor. What initially drew you to acting, and has your motivation evolved over time?

The idea of telling a story and then going on a journey as the character really motivates me, along with the feeling you’re making something that other people can get joy from. I remember after Malibu Crush came out, I received emails from people across America and even people in France, all with the same message, telling me how much they loved watching the film because at that point in their life they needed to laugh, It was important to them to get an escape and the movie meant they laughed for the first time in a while.

You’re not only a creative professional but also an accomplished real estate auctioneer with several major awards. How did you first get involved in real estate, and how does that experience complement your work in film?

I’m originally from Sydney, Australia and the real estate auction scene in Australia is huge. However the film industry isn’t as big as in America. So, before I moved to Los Angeles and went full-time in film this was something I loved doing back in Australia. I was very lucky with auctions, and it taught me a lot about business and opened doors in networking. However, film has always been in my heart.

The auction is very much like a live TV show. It’s unscripted and unpredictable. Some weeks, I would be auctioning 20 luxury homes all different vendors and all unpredictable situations, so this was something that helped my improv and presenting training.

You’ve been a finalist and 4x winner of the Australian Auctioneer of the Year multiple times, and you’ve pioneered live real estate auctions with cryptocurrency. How did your real estate career influence your approach to innovation in the film industry?

I think this was a great learning curve for me as I specialized mainly in luxury real estate. I learned very fast about business, dealing with high-net-worth individuals, and handling different personalities under stressful situations (real estate auctions are stressful for sellers and buyers and deal with big emotions). People who can invest or make decisions—this has transferred over into Hollywood and being able to thrive under pressure when the stresses of film making and completing times on time come up.

As someone who has worked extensively in film festivals, from sitting on boards to judging panels like Cannes, what do you believe is the most critical role festivals play in a filmmaker’s journey?

From a filmmaker’s perspective, film festivals are invaluable in showcasing your work to the right people, especially distributors, studios and potential collaborators for future projects. I’d think about it similar to a platform for filmmakers to reach audiences beyond just friends and fans which is crucial for growing your career. The other side is festivals create a unique environment where you can connect with others in the industry who understand the passion and sacrifice that goes into making film

Growing up near a professional surfer and competing in surfing yourself, did sports shape your approach to your career in film and real estate? Do you see any parallels between the two?

I think that was my summer camp before I became an adult, in high school I used to surf a lot with my friends and just enjoy that Australian sporting lifestyle without thinking too much about my future, it was very far from the Hollywood I live today which I feel nostalgic about sometimes because that time had a real purity to it.

Can you tell us about your award-winning experience as a director on Malibu Crush and West Coast Fashion? What was unique about directing these projects, and what did you learn through each process?

Malibu Crush was a buddy comedy, written in a style similar to the Farrelly Brothers films such as Something About Mary and Dumb and Dumber where the humor is very obvious and over-the-top. I wasn’t planning on directing Malibu Crush, but we started prepping just as COVID hit, and all the directors we asked didn’t want to shoot a movie during that time. So I eventually stepped in simply to make the film rather than wait around. It was a lot of fun directing though.

West Coast Fashion was a fashion campaign, which I’ve done quite a few of—I’m very fortunate to have had that opportunity to do these fashion campaigns you can really explore incredible lighting set ups and new lenses which makes everyone look amazing.

Your journey from auctioneering in Australia to becoming a member of the Australian Directors Guild, to American Producers Guild is remarkable. What advice would you give to others looking to transition into the film industry from an unrelated field?

The greatest danger in life is not taking one.” Don’t wait for the perfect moment, because it will never come. Keep pushing forward, and always remember: the hardest paths often lead to the most rewarding destinations.

With accolades in both Australia and internationally, like 4x REB Australian Auctioneer of the Year and Best Actor at the American International Film festival, what would you say has been your proudest professional moment so far?

They are all very special moments, even the ones that are less glamorous. I remember a big producer once told me early on, Remember to celebrate the little wins.

Winning Best Actor at the Beyond Hollywood International Film Festival was a nice moment, though reflecting. I hadn’t had much time to stop and reflect over the 12 months leading up to it. It was a big event, held at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills with a lot of well-known faces, actresses, actors, and directors and suddenly it hit me once I was there I had come a long way from that small $200 short film in outback Australia.

Finally, you’ve collaborated with some of the industry’s top creatives and brands, including Conde Nast and NBC Universal. What’s the next step in your career, and are there any dream projects or collaborators you hope to work with in the future?

Thank you for asking this, Longevity Hackers is something I was a producer on ( Edward Norton, Tony Robbins, Mark Cuban ) it comes out this month which is very exciting, last month I wrapped the feature film, Texas Nightmare which we shot in Los Angeles, I play the role of Tepes alongside Lew Temple ( Walking Dead ) Felissa Rose ( Sleepover Club )  and next month I’m really excited to start a new feature film called, The Three Killer Pigs with Brian Austin Green, Anson Williams and Robert Carradine. I’m very lucky to get to do this as a job.