Podcast Summary: The Futur with Chris Do – Episode 329: "Finding Your Creative Path" with Adrian Per

Introduction

In Episode 329 of The Futur Podcast, host Chris Do engages in an in-depth conversation with Adrian Per, a multifaceted filmmaker known for his distinctive style and creative prowess. Released on February 22, 2025, this episode delves into Adrian's journey through the creative industry, exploring his struggles, successes, and the personal insights that have shaped his path.

1. Adrian Per’s Background and Early Creative Spark

Adrian Per, also recognized by his social media handle OMG Adrian, introduces himself as a lifelong creative with a focus on filmmaking. He shares his early inspiration, highlighting his childhood interactions with music and visual storytelling.

Notable Quote:

Adrian Per [02:14]: "Being creative is something that I've done my whole life. It's something that my heart decided to follow and never dropped. And it ended up me up here, which is crazy."

Adrian recounts a pivotal moment at age 10 when he was inspired by Dr. Dre's "Chronic 2001," breaking down the music into patterns and visualizing music videos. This experience ignited his passion for combining audio and visual elements, laying the foundation for his future in filmmaking.

Notable Quote:

Adrian Per [02:30]: "I was just picking out patterns in the music and imagining scenes, like I was in a music video."

2. Struggles and Career Transitions

Adrian candidly discusses the challenges he faced transitioning his passion into a professional career. Despite creating award-winning content, he struggled with self-doubt and financial instability, highlighting the precarious nature of creative professions.

Notable Quote:

Adrian Per [07:22]: "I really need to figure this out because in three years I will be 30... I gotta really figure this out."

At 23, Adrian took the bold step of leaving a dental program to pursue his creative ambitions full-time. This decision marked the beginning of a tumultuous journey filled with financial ups and downs.

Notable Quote:

Adrian Per [07:35]: "I was going to be a dentist... But I started getting paid for creative things, and I thought maybe this could be a thing."

3. Relationship with Parents and Cultural Influences

Adrian explores the complexities of being a child of immigrant parents, dealing with expectations and cultural stereotypes. He reflects on his parents' sacrifices and the pressure to conform to traditional career paths, ultimately finding reconciliation and mutual understanding.

Notable Quote:

Adrian Per [11:03]: "You can't fault them because... the sacrifices [they] made, they came here with this dream of, I want him to become the family's jewel."

Chris Do emphasizes the importance of understanding and forgiving parents' limitations, recognizing that their intentions were rooted in providing a better life.

4. Building the Production Company and Financial Lessons

Adrian details his experience running a production company with a business partner, handling both creative and commercial aspects. He highlights the significant financial disparities between production budgets and personal earnings, revealing the often unseen challenges behind high-profile projects.

Notable Quote:

Adrian Per [26:53]: "As a production company or a director, $100,000 budget does not mean you get a hundred thousand dollars... you’re lucky if you see like 10 grand, 20 grand out of 50,000 at the very end of it."

This financial mismanagement led to a near-bankruptcy situation, underscoring the critical need for financial literacy in the creative industry.

5. Transition to Content Creation

Faced with financial desperation, Adrian pivoted to content creation, leveraging his skills to produce branded content for social media platforms. This strategic move allowed him to monetize his creativity in new and innovative ways, aligning with the evolving digital landscape.

Notable Quote:

Adrian Per [28:02]: "What pushed me to do it was knowing that it was real... I had my back pushed up against the wall. My manager now, he was like, you have the skill, you should try it."

6. Creative Process and Filmmaking Techniques

Adrian shares his streamlined creative process, emphasizing extensive pre-production planning to enhance efficiency during filming and editing. He employs a "paper edit" approach, scripting and planning shots in advance to facilitate a seamless production workflow.

Notable Quote:

Adrian Per [42:43]: "I spend a lot on pre-production, which helps my post production and my filming be super effective and streamlined."

He also discusses his minimalist approach to equipment and his focus on using available resources creatively to produce high-quality content without excessive gear.

7. Personal Style and Aesthetics

Adrian reflects on his personal style, influenced by hip-hop culture and the Bay Area aesthetic. He views fashion as an extension of his brand, using it to express his identity and creative inclinations naturally.

Notable Quote:

Adrian Per [52:43]: "It's just another way to express ourselves... I just wear things that I like."

8. Recognition and Success

Highlighting a significant milestone, Adrian recounts being featured by Instagram's CEO, a moment that validated his efforts and amplified his presence on the platform. This recognition underscores the power of authentic content and personal branding in achieving success.

Notable Quote:

Adrian Per [55:57]: "The CEO of Instagram highlight my profile... I am incredibly honored."

9. Key Takeaways and Insights

Throughout the conversation, Adrian emphasizes the importance of balancing personal passion projects with commercial work, maintaining financial discipline, and continuously evolving one's creative strategies to adapt to industry changes. He advocates for humility, adaptability, and the relentless pursuit of creative excellence.

Notable Quote:

Adrian Per [35:20]: "Understanding that I need to deliver for the brand more than I need to deliver for myself."

Chris Do complements Adrian's insights by highlighting the necessity of soft skills and professional demeanor in securing and maintaining creative partnerships.

Conclusion

Episode 329 of The Futur Podcast offers a comprehensive look into Adrian Per's journey as a filmmaker navigating the complexities of the creative industry. From his early inspirations and cultural influences to financial struggles and eventual success in content creation, Adrian's story is a testament to resilience and strategic adaptability. His candid reflections provide valuable lessons for aspiring creatives seeking to find and sustain their own creative paths.

Follow Adrian Per: To follow Adrian Per and explore his creative work, you can connect with him on his social media platforms under the handle OMG Adrian.