What do architecture and filmmaking have in common?

The parallels may not be obvious, but alumnus Keith Gerchak, (M.Arch ‘93), has reflected on the synergies between the two disciplines in the wake of his film’s premier at the Newport Beach Film Festival and on the eve of its release in 500 theaters nationwide beginning on November 7, 2025. Gerchak is now based in Los Angeles but he first came to New Orleans from Cleveland, Ohio to pursue a degree in architecture. He was motivated to become an architect as a fallback plan to his original passion of acting because, as an adolescent, he experienced a chance encounter with a New York actor. In response to Gerchak’s earnest proclamation that he too wanted to become an actor, the gentleman gruffly responded, “It’s a tough business, kid. Get a backup.”

So Gerchak came to Tulane seeking an environment that would be much different from his childhood in Cleveland and, as he reflects on his past, he believes he got what he came for. He found that, "New Orleans and the surrounding areas were a living, breathing laboratory, and the mixture of students from across the country assimilating into this rich gumbo of music, food, history, and les bons temps rouler attitude was not something [he] was going to find in a state university back home in Ohio."

He remembers being particularly influenced by his Junior Year Abroad, in the coal district of Northeast England. Exposure to all of these different ways of living deeply broadened his perspective. Building on his education at Tulane, he developed a career as an architect back in his hometown, carving out a specialty in the design of performing arts facilities. But after a decade, he still felt called to performance and decided to try out a career in the theatre arts. He moved out to Los Angeles, relying on his experience as an architect to build on his niche as a designer for the performing arts. He is currently still a Design Principal of TheatreDNA.

Out west, he also met his writing partner, Marisa Guterman, and began his journey as a screenwriter and director, one which would ultimately lead the pair to write and direct Lost & Found in Cleveland.

Reflecting on his the connections between his education and his current work, he says, "Architecture is a very well-rounded career – it’s the perfect blend of art, science, and showmanship, unlike any other profession I can think of. An architect is a master storyteller, and design crits in school prepare you for a lifetime of presentations - whether pitching to win the commission, presenting a design to the Owner or an entire community, convincing a plans examiner of a code interpretation, or communicating to a contractor why something has to be built a certain way.  The architect is also a master problem solver, creating a design solution that addresses programmatic requirements and then setting the project’s direction by which they guide their consultants and make every decision, informed by the three legged stool rule: budget, schedule, and quality in balance, otherwise the stool tips over.

"That could just as well be describing the filmmaker who wears all three hats of writer, director and producer. We know that as architects, what we drew will see changes during construction. Similarly, they say there are really three films – the one you write, the one you shoot, and the one you edit."

While the path from architect to filmmaker might not seem direct, in the case of Gerchak, his persistence and an ongoing investment in his interests have paid off. His new film will be released nationwide in November. Congratulations!

Read more about Lost & Found in Cleveland on the Cleveland International Film Festival website and check local listings for showtimes.

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