Article Be: Amanda Dobek
Photographs By: Kumasi Lewis

Interview with a Producer. Producer…the word alone is loaded with numerous meanings: someone important, and successful, someone who’s competent and has the potential to be the go-to individual for the production of a product. Someone who is the mediator between client and creator, who helps to ensure the crew works together as a whole and as smoothly and effectively as possible.  Sounds intimidating and damn near impossible, right? Well, our time with Producer Brian Jay Roth has proven that he is all of the latter and more.

Brian Jay Roth, a native from New Jersey, went to school at Rutger’s, The State University of New Jersey where he obtained a BA in Psychology and a BA in Economics. After college, he did what most recent college graduates do: working odd jobs, waiting tables, selling health club memberships, and even working for a printing company. Brian eventually found himself back in New Jersey where he landed a job working for a broadcast advertising company in New York. His time there was cut short as he was laid off shortly before the tragedy of 9/11. As a result, he found himself asking ‘why?’ and ‘now what?’ In seeking the answers to these questions he began applying to graduate schools and was ultimately accepted and admitted to Pepperdine University where he studied public policy.

So how did someone without any film background end up in the entertainment industry? Easy. He made his own path.

After receiving his first gig as a producer on a friend’s theatrical show, Brian was introduced to a cinematographer who was employed at the American Film Institute. In 2007, he then went on to co-produce an assortment of thesis films at AFI, and has not looked back since. “[I’ve] been going from one project to the next for the last two years,” Brian explains. Further adding that his entry into the film industry “was random and not planned.”

A few of Brian’s projects include:  Pawn, El Americano, and Flotsam, with his most recent feat involving the completion of a shoot for a spec commercial with a new production company he is currently teamed up with.

When asked, “why film?” Brian responded by stating, “What I like about producing is the ability to apply a skill set I know I have, to something that happens to be film.” According to Brian, organization is definitely the key to success in his position. Attention to detail, ability to create a productive work environment for his team, and the ability to address concerns and issues in a diplomatic fashion, are all skills Brian feels are very integral to his role as a producer.

So what can we expect from Brian in the future? Brian plans to produce a few more shorts with the production company he is currently working with. As far as future long-term plans, Roth isn’t quite sure where he’ll find himself five or ten years down the road. “I don’t know if film’s where I’m going to be a year from now, five years from now.” One can only know though that whatever Brian does pursue, he will put his all into it.  It will definitely be interesting to see what Brian brings to the entertainment business over the next few years.

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Spec Sheet:

Name/Nickname: Brian Roth

Birthplace: Edison, NJ / Hometown: Clark, NJ

Height: 6′

Random/quirky facts: “I love sloppy  joe’s and stouffer’s frozen mac and cheese. I won a stuffed Gizmo (the gremlin) at the LA County Fair this year playing some carnie game (breaking plates with a baseball, i think) and he’s been on my bed ever since. No it’s not a stuffed animal on my bed. it’s Gizmo. And I’m proud of him.

Favorite things to do: “Eat sushi, go to church, play hockey, take photos of sunsets with my blackberry while driving, stay up on current events by have the NY Times delivered to my inbox every morning, then usually deleting without opening it.”

Most embarrassing life moment: “I’ll try to get back to you on this one…”

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Connect with Brian Roth:

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