As a kid, he was already making feature-length projects rather than simple short clips — but the Adobe editing boards available in 1996 only allowed him to cut footage in two-minute sections at a time, shaping the way he learned to build stories from a young age. Pivoting from the corporate world to executive film producer to now director and actor rekindled his spark and childlike curiosity for the craft.
Patten began building his foundation in film, creating features with his childhood amateur equipment. He continued laying out the groundwork for his film career by keeping himself surrounded by other creatives and film students while attending the University of Southern California. Upon graduation, he pursued a successful career outside of film for over a decade, but recently realized that he wanted to find that success with his first love and passion for filmmaking.
Spending so many years away from film, Patten’s approach to connecting with his roots required him to learn the business and creative logistics of the industry as a producer. Working alongside talented directors on projects like “Bandit” and “Die Alone,” he began to absorb and understand the craft of directing. He continued to build on his strong filmmaking foundation by studying the Chubbuck acting method under Michael Monks, who teaches the technique — clarifying that he did not study directly with Ivana. Initially learning how to better direct actors, he discovered his newfound respect and love for acting. “All in all, I love filmmaking in every form, writing, directing, acting, editing,” he reflects. “It’s a complete expression of creativity, collaboration, and truth.”
This comprehensive vision for storytelling led Patten to establish TBK Productions, where he focuses on building original content and developing new IP and independent projects. The production company reflects his commitment to creating meaningful narratives while maintaining creative control over the projects that matter most to him.
Naturally, this complete expression of art inspired his desire to lead the creative direction of his own film as a director and actor. His upcoming short film, “Self Custody,” is Patten’s debut film as both director and actor, and serves as a testament to his commitment to further deepen his work and craft. The film is a gripping suspense thriller about redemption, technology, and the price of lost access. Created with co-director Fernando Ferro, writer Daniel McCann, and starring Adrian Grenier, Odette Annable, Michael Monks, and UFC Champion Henry Cejudo.
The film reflects the dangerous realities of digital assets and financial desperation. “It’s estimated that 30 to 40 percent of all Bitcoin has been lost or stolen, gone forever. The idea that someone could hold a fortune worth hundreds of millions of dollars on a single drive, with no backup, no bank, no safety net, it’s complete self-reliance but also complete isolation,” Patten said. The film’s title, “Self Custody,” not only reflects the gamble of cryptocurrency but also the psychological state of being trapped within one’s own mind. “Both meanings mirror my character’s journey. He’s someone searching for control, and in the process, he becomes his own prisoner. The title reflects that tension between freedom and isolation, power and loss.”
Patten truly immersed himself during his creative process while writing the characters and stories, spending months living in his characters’ worlds. This level of immersion helped break down character objectives, inner objects, and their emotional triggers. “To get into that headspace, I drew from moments in my own life. It’s a process of letting go of yourself and allowing the character to take over,” he explains. His commitment to deepen his level of understanding was emotionally intense, often leaving him mentally drained on set. “But that’s also the reward when you fully surrender to the role, that’s when it starts to feel real. This role took me to emotional places I didn’t know I could go. When you fully commit to a character like this, it strips away a lot of what’s comfortable, and that’s where the real growth happens.”
His castmates elevated the material beyond his expectations. “Odette pulled performances out of me that I didn’t even think were possible,” Patten says. “We even rewrote some lines just a couple of hours before shooting, and those ended up becoming some of my favorite moments.” He praises Adrian for bringing unexpected authenticity, Michael for his grounding presence, and Henry Cejudo for his dedicated work ethic despite coming from a completely different world of Olympic medals and UFC championships.
Garrett Patten’s directorial debut with “Self Custody” continues to show his commitment and deep respect for the art of filmmaking. The short film has just wrapped up its post-production and will be making its way to film festivals this month.
