Tolucan Times

Los Angeles native PRESLEY ARONSON is turning himself into an entertainment mogul. After his experiences as an actor in roles including Discovery ID’s “Murder Book” and Showtime’s hit series “Shameless” he decided he wanted to work the hardest and shifted gears to be behind-the-camera. He recently opened his own production company and currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Presley Aronson Enterprise (PAE). By the way, Aronson is 15 years old….not a typo, he is a teenager and very proud of the fact that 95% of his crew working for him is under the age of 18. PAE produces PSA’s (The Gift of Giving, The Spirit of Christmas), television shows  including “The Undercover Squad” about a group of teenage misfits taking justice into their own hands to get revenge on their peers tormenting them; and a number of shorts soon to become full-length features including Ocean, a romantic horror film love story gone wrong via jealousy. PAE also has almost half a dozen other feature films currently being created. The home-schooled adolescent is a singer as well; you can hear Aronson warble One Direction’s “Steal My Girl” and other tunes on CD Baby. And, as a dancer, he has performed at various events alongside young bands like IM5 and Breaking Tempo. Aronson also writes and edits. He kindly granted this exclusive interview to The Tolucan Times.

How did you become interested in show business?

I was raised in Santa Clarita, started doing plays when I was seven and really enjoyed them. They weren’t like ‘kids’ plays; the productions were quite amazing. I loved acting so I thought why not go into TV and movies…so I did. I performed in showcases and took acting classes, got a manager, an agent, auditioned a lot and started booking roles. I must say I am so thankful that my parents have been overly supportive of me.  

What made you gravitate to producing?

I would be on set and not at Craft Service eating all their donuts…I would be watching the crew film. It was so fascinating to me! Look at how hard everybody works.  As actors, we just show up, get paid to sit around and are lucky to get to perform while [the crew] works from pre-production, production and post. So I wanted to try the other side.    

How did you go about making that happen?

I had somebody write a little story and I wanted to film it so I decided to train myself to learn about behind-the-scenes, the production side. When I was 10 I got my first camera and started running around filming. I got a bigger camera every year. When I was 13 I started making my own short films and would wind up filming until 3am it was so much fun! I continued getting more equipment, making more productions, started my company and began taking on bigger projects. The beauty is we own all of our own equipment; camera cranes, dollies, multiple cameras, all the audio equipment and lighting. We don’t rent anything…that’s a big thing!  And I keep everything very neat. We have apple boxes and I don’t like when people put dents in my apple boxes! Everything is kept to perfection.  

Of all of your talents which is your favorite?

My ultimate favorite part is directing. The thought that I can take words off paper and turn it into real life.

Which directors influence you?

I love [Steven] Spielberg; I love George Lucas. I don’t idolize one specific director; I try to take different objectives from [a variety] of directors and make it into my own.  

What would you like to happen with “The Undercover Squad”?

I started creating the TV show along with a couple other projects in November of 2014 and in February we started shooting. I would like it to land on television as well as streaming and/or On Demand. I’d love to see it on MTV!  

What are you most proud of in your young career?

That I have come this far at the age I am and also in the small window of time. It’s only been since February [2015] and we already have 10 to 15 projects in the works. And I’m very proud how far my crew has come too! I think that everybody should have a say and an opinion, no matter if it’s right or wrong. They should still be entitled to be given the option for us to try it. I love when people give me suggestions.  To be a CEO of a production company you have to know how to run each job: you have to know how to direct, write, run the camera, run audio, be a grip – you have to be able to manage all of that and know what you are looking for. Sometimes I don’t think of everything because I have so much running through my head when I’m trying to manage everybody and direct. That is why I have multiple people beside me to help me.   

What are you looking forward to the most right now?

Our project Ocean; it really relates to me because I’ve grown up on the water, I’m a total beach boy… a lot of Lake Mead and the ocean. I have a Boating License and we have a boat that we will be filming on!  

What do you do for fun?

I surf, scuba dive, wakeboard and drive boats. I play ice hockey, was on a swim team and I ride dirt bikes. But I just love filmmaking!    

Where do you see yourself in five years?

My dream is to have ‘made it’ by the time everybody’s trying to get out of school and thinking of what they are supposed to do. When I’m 20, I see myself running a big studio and a network, directing multiple films a year.