By:Krzysztof Scibiorski
Appearing as a key extra on a network show would be a big deal for just about anyone, but Hillsborough’s Matt Pellowski has his sights set on bigger things in the entertainment business.
"It was really fun to be on the other side of the camera," Mr. Pellowski, 22, said of his upcoming appearance on the April 22 episode of NBC’s "Third Watch." "Usually, I’m behind the camera but I try to learn about everything in the industry."
Mr. Pellowski, a 1997 graduate of Hillsborough High School, has been actively pursuing a writing and directing career in New York and combining it with studying at the School for Visual Arts. He will graduate with degrees in film production, screen writing and film production next month.
"I’m definitely happiest when I am writing and directing films," he said. "I am very prolific and that is when I am most satisfied."
Mr. Pellowski says that he would eventually like to write and direct on a Hollywood scale and with an equivalent budget.
So far, he has written and produced a total of 10 films three of them feature length. "We’re going into post-production on ‘Dead End,’ a mock-umentary of a murder investigation that I had written," Mr. Pellowski said. "Fifty percent of it was filmed in Manhattan with the rest taking place in Hillsborough, Manville and Bound Brook, among others."
‘Dead End’ will be shown at the upcoming New York Independent Film and Video Festival, a venue where Mr. Pellowski has presented his works before.
Three of his films will be shown at this year’s Cannes Festival in France. " ’82," a dark comedy has been the most accepted and well received of the three films and has inspired the most interest," Mr. Pellowski said.
He believes that his interest in both action and independent cinema will help him pursue his career.
"I think I have a really good balance of business awareness and artistic influences in my work, I know that you have to be realistic in your expectations and keep trying to get my foot in the door," he said.
Mr. Pellowski began his involvement with the entertainment industry as an intern on NBC’s "Conan O’Brien Show," where he worked in the video research department.
"It was a great experience, I met celebrities like Pee Wee Herman, Juliette Lewis, Shaquille O’Neal and Adam Sandler as well as staffers who have helped me land internships on other shows and at production companies," Mr. Pellowski said. "It’s all like a chain reaction, you meet somebody and they can point you to other projects or ideas. It’s very important to make connections in this business."
Mr. Pellowski hopes that by making enough connections and continuing to work at his craft, he will find himself behind the camera in a Hollywood production.
