Preston J. Cook

Preston J. Cook’s name pops up in indie film circles for good reason. The guy’s got this vibe—sorta scrappy, a little mysterious, and definitely not afraid to take a weird script and run with it. If you saw “Bruno Penguin and the Staten Island Princess,” you know what I’m talking about. That movie’s not your average coming-of-age dramedy; it’s got talking penguins (well, one penguin, but he’s got more personality than half the cast), a Staten Island princess who’s nothing like any royal you’ve ever imagined, and a bunch of New York oddballs tossed in for flavor. Preston just nails that offbeat, kinda-sweet, sometimes-sad tone that’s hard to pull off without going full-on quirky for quirky’s sake. Then there’s his work in “Wish You Were Here” (2025). Not much is out yet, but there’s buzz that it’s leaning heavy on nostalgia—think Polaroids, late-night rooftop chats, regrets you can’t quite shake off. People say Preston brings this raw, relatable energy—like he’s not even acting, just living through these messed-up, beautiful moments on screen. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, but it’s honest, and that sticks with you. Whether he’s playing a lovable loser or a guy on the edge of something big, Cook has a way of making you root for him, flaws and all. If you haven’t caught his films yet, you’re honestly missing out on some of the more interesting stuff happening off the Hollywood main drag.