PJ Gaynard – Pittsburgh Filmmaker

Today’s guest is Filmmaker, PJ Gaynard

PJ is Pittsburgh Pennsylvania based Director, Filmmaker and Educator.

He has more than twenty years experience, working in Rochester, Boston, LA, and currently Pittsburgh.  Recently he was ranked #23 in the book, “The Top 100 Indie Filmmakers In The World.  He currently is the lead instructor of the Film Technician Training Program at The Community College of Allegheny County.

Some fo the things we talked about in this interview include:

• His love for filmmaking
• Making it great, instead of making it big
• He gives so unusual advice to new filmmakers.

Here’s our interview with PJ Gaynard

Bio and Credits

P.J. Gaynard is a Pittsburgh based nuts and bolts filmmaker with over twenty years of experience. He has worked in Rochester NY, Boston MA, Los Angeles CA, and currently Pittsburgh PA. Along with directing and producing work, PJ is an accomplished director of photography whose work has been displayed internationally in theaters and on-demand. Recently he was ranked #23 in the book, “The Top 100 Indie Filmmakers In The World Part II”. He has a BFA in Film, Video, and Animation from Rochester Institute of Technology and an MA in Humanities/Humanistic Studies from CalState Northridge. He is a member of IBEW 5 and an honorably withdrawn member of IATSE 728. He has completed 30 days of work as a permit in IATSE 489 and soon hopes to become a member. He currently is the lead instructor of the Film Technician Training Program at The Community College of Allegheny County. 

Something Happens In The Night:
Winner:
Best Editing 2017 Pittsburgh 48 Hour Horror Film Project Best Digital Effects 2017 Pittsburgh 48 Hour Horror Film Project 

The Decisionists: https://youtu.be/Be0MSsHPgp4 Winner: 

Second Place
Best Sound Design Best Actress Audience Choice Best Digital SFX 

2017 Pittsburgh 48 Hour Film Project
2017 Pittsburgh 48 Hour Film Project 2017 Pittsburgh 48 Hour Film Project 2017 Pittsburgh 48 Hour Film Project 2017 Pittsburgh 48 Hour Film Project 

Official Selection:
2017 Pittsburgh Shorts Film Festival 2018 Pittsburgh Art All Night Festival 

Screened:
Filmmakers Corner on WQED – PBS affiliate 

The Eliminadora: http://www.eliminadora.com Winner: 

Best Narrative Best Screenplay Best Editing Best Screenplay First Place 

2018 El Paso Film Festival
2017 Red Phoenix International Film Festival 2017 Red Phoenix International Film Festival 2017 Red Phoenix International Film Festival 2017 Short Film & Video Festival, Arts on the 

Riverwalk Festival Best Young Female Performer2017 Action on Film Festival 

Runner Up for Best Fantasy 2017 Action on Film Festival 

Best Youth Actor
Best Picture Narrative Short Best Narrative Film 

Audience Choice award Honorable Mention Semi-Finalist 

2017 Austin Revolution Film Festival
2017 Oil Valley Film Festival
2017 West Virginia Mountaineer Short Film 

Festival
2017 First Friday Film Festival
2017 Rochester International Film Festival 2018 San Mauro Film Festival 

Screened:
Filmmakers Corner on WQED – PBS affiliate – Pittsburgh PA KCOS 13 PBS Affiliate – El Paso TX 

Official Selection:
2018 El Paso Film Festival
2018 Indiana University of Pennsylvania Film Festival
2018 Fort Worth Indie Film Showcase
2018 San Mauro Film Festival
2017 Rochester International Film Festival
2017 West Virginia Mountaineer Short Film Festival
2017 Austin Revolution Film Festival
2017 Oil Valley Film Festival
2017 Action on Film Festival
2017 Red Phoenix International Film Festival
2017 Short Film & Video Festival, Arts on the Riverwalk Festival 2017 Marcellus Movie Madness Family Film Festival
2017 Reading Film Festival
2017 Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival
2017 Kids Cinema Film Festival
2017 Carnegie Screenwriters Script and Screen Film Festival 2017 401 Film fest
2017 Capital City Film Festival
2017 Dawson City International Short Film Festival
2017 33rd Annual Kidfilm Festival
2017 First Friday Film Festival
2017 Film Kitchen
2017 Dances With Films / Dances With Kidz
2017 Cinegear Expo
2017 Plaza Classic Film Festival 

The Perfect Friend Request: https://youtu.be/AVwjdRNsxeo 

Winner:
Third place overall 2016 Pittsburgh 48 Hour Film Project 

Best musical score 2016 Pittsburgh 48 Hour Film Project 

Official Selection:
2017 Pittsburgh Underground Film Festival
2017 Indie Oaks Film Festival
2017 Pittsburgh’s Create Industries Festival: Entertainment and Media section 

Screened:
Filmmakers Corner on WQED – PBS affiliate 

The Incredible Case of Zara Gordon: https://youtu.be/0USjoxtmBR4
Winner:
Audience Choice Award 2015 Pittsburgh 48 Hour Film Horror Project
Best Use of Character 2015 Pittsburgh 48 Hour Film Horror Project 

Screened:
Filmmakers Corner on WQED – PBS affiliate 

Lost Dog: https://youtu.be/Y5XoN2D5hd4 Winner: 

Best Director
Best Cinematography Best Female Actor Best Picture
Best Sound Design 

2015 Haunted Oaks Film Festival 2015 Haunted Oaks Film Festival 2015 Haunted Oaks Film Festival 2015 Haunted Oaks Film Festival 2015 Pittsburgh 48 Hour Film Project 

Screened:
Filmmakers Corner on WQED – PBS affiliate 

A Fight To Propose: https://youtu.be/0MOLWg16MEY
Winner:
Best Micro-short 2014 The Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival Best Comedic SciFi 2014 Washington PA Film Festival 

Official Selection:
2015 ConCarolinas Short Film Festival
2015 Pittsburgh Independent Film Festival
2015 South Side Film Festival
2014 The Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival 2014 Washington PA Film Festival
2014 Indie Memphis Filmfest
2014 Iris Film Festival
2014 Action on Film International Film Festival 

2014 Austin Revolution Film Festival 2014 Johnstown Film Festival
2014 Glendale International Film Festival 

Screened:
Filmmakers Corner on WQED – PBS affiliate 

How To Make A Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich: 

Official Selection:
2017 Mindscape Online Festival
2017 Pittsburgh Humanities Festival – screening and hour long speech 2015 Northern Virginia International Film & Music Festival
2014 Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles
2014 Buffalo International Film Festival
2014 Action on Film International Film Festival
2014 Austin Revolution Film Festival
2014 Iris Film Festival
2014 Hard Acre Film Festival 

Screened:
Filmmakers Corner on WQED – PBS affiliate 

Love Sick Love: https://youtu.be/sFTC2z711XU / https://youtu.be/GsH4DEJiXFo Trailer has over 4 million organic hits on youtube.
Movie has over 100,000 organic hits on youtube. 

Winner:
First Place Short 2009 Philafilm Philadelphia International Film Festival 

Official Selection:
2010 Harmony Ridge Film Festival
2009 Philafilm Philadelphia International Film Festival 2009 Minneapolis Underground Film Festival
2009 Indie Memphis Film Festival
2009 Johnstown Film and Wine Festival
2009 Southside Film Festival
2009 Playhouse West Film Festival
2009 Lancaster Area Film Festival
2009 Artfest Film Festival
2009 East Carolina Film Festival 

Love Sick Love had international distribution through Ouat Media. 

Rooftop: https://youtu.be/GWt2cXsLPYU Winner: 

Contest Winner Third Place Short Best Film
Best Film
Second Place Short 

2014 Film Festival Flix monthly online contest winner 2010 Harmony Ridge Film Festival 

2009 Johnstown Film and Wine Festival 

2009 Lancaster Area Film Festival 2009 Philadelphia International Film Festival 

(another of our films got first)
Best Actress In A Grindhouse Film 2009 Playhouse West Film Festival 

Official Selection:
2009 Minneapolis Underground Film Festival
2009 Artsfest Film Festival
2009 Poppy Jasper Film Festival
2009 Hardacre Film Festival
2009 Sedona International Film Festival
2009 Secret City Film Festival
2009 Action on Film International Film Festival
2009 LA Shortsfest
2009 Downtown Film Festival
2009 Flatland Film Festival
2009 Rochester International Film Festival – Honorable Mention 2009 SoCal Independent Film Festival – Honorable Mention 

Rooftop was required viewing as part of the MFA degree at the Academy of Art University in 2011
Rooftop had international distribution through Ouat Media. 

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