“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
This is a question that many of us get asked when we are very young. Some of us come up with ridiculous ideas–some even outlandish, like an doctor in space. However, for Jeremy Byers, at age 14, he knew exactly what he wanted to do, and he continues to pursue that dream: he wants to make movies.
Byers, now 19, created his first film in high school, and since then, has created his own film company titled Joker Studios. He says, “I taught myself how to do everything, learned from other filmmakers and looked up to famous directors like Stanley Kubrick and Sergio Leone.”
Byers’ accomplishments especially hit home for me, specifically because of his location and his interests. He is from Tyrone, PA, which is only about half an hour from me. Seeing his accomplishments in film is fascinating to me because I know how difficult it can be to grow in a location that is seemingly slow. Byers says, “Tyrone was just a small town with nobody else in my field, so it would’ve been foolish not to capitalize on that.”
Byers continues to work towards his goal of someday working on a big film for Hollywood. He continues to make films he loves, and enters them in film festivals to gain more exposure.
When asked about his advice for young entrepreneurs, Byers says, “Don’t quit. It takes years to establish yourself, and it’s hard sometimes. If you quit, you really didn’t have a passion for what you wanted at all.”
It is so interesting to me that Byers was able to teach himself everything that he needed to become a successful film maker. This just goes to show that many of the most successful entrepreneurs don’t necessarily need a college education, just a strong and persistent work ethic. I like the quote included at the end because I think that is important advice for young people that are struggling to find success.