Nicholas Ruff

Nick was born and raised in the beautiful city of Chicago, where he discovered his passion for filmmaking while creating short films with his brother. Saturdays were often spent recreating iconic scenes from The Matrix using their father’s MiniDV camera, while Sundays were dedicated to watching documentaries and Hitchcock films with their mom.

He graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts and The Marshall School of Business, earning a double major in Film and Business. His first project after school took him to India, where he worked on a short documentary series highlighting entrepreneurs using mobile technology to support underserved communities.

Upon returning to Los Angeles, Nick worked as a producer on music videos, short films, commercials, and feature films. His work ranges from Tribeca-nominated short films to viral music videos, high-profile commercials, and successful feature films.

Nick spent ten years as a freelance producer before finding a home at Breakwater, where he combines his extensive commercial and narrative experience with his love for documentary filmmaking. His goal is to tell impactful, human-centric stories that leave the viewer with a new perspective on the world.

When Nick isn’t working, you can find him backpacking through the Sierras or trying to recreate Lou Malnati’s deep-dish pizza in his kitchen.