“The Wolf of Wall Street” and “Click” actor and NYU alumnus Jake Hoffman recently began his first endeavor as a director with his new film “Asthma.” It is currently being entered in several film festivals before the official release date, which has not been determined.

“I’ve always thought about acting as a kind of education toward film making,” Hoffman said. “Not to say it’s not rewarding on its own, but directing has always been my dream.”

Hoffman’s directorial debut was at the Karlo Vivary International Film festival on July 5 with the premiere of “Asthma.” The rebellious art house film stars Benedict Samuel and Krysten Ritter as a couple of misfits trying to escape a city in a stolen Rolls-Royce.

“The time between 18 and my early 20s, a lot of my friends struggled with addiction, and that was a lot of the inspiration for the characters in my film,” Hoffman said. “It’s not autobiographical at all, but it is very much inspired by things that I saw in that time period.”

Since graduating in 2003, Hoffman has worked alongside distinguished actors and directors, including Leonardo Dicaprio and fellow Tisch alumnus Martin Scorsese.

“It was like being drafted to a new team — Phil Jackson is the coach and Michael Jordan is a player on your team,” Hoffman said. “That is such a corny quote, but Martin Scorsese is a living legend. Leo’s big speech scene where he’s banging the microphone on his head — he was really sick that day. They were bringing him tea, his throat was killing him, he could barely speak and all of a sudden they say action and you would never know it. He is a gifted true professional.”

Hoffman said two of his favorite moments at NYU were taking Sam Pollard’s film class and attending an advanced screening for his favorite movie, “Punch Drunk Love.” He once lived in Hayden and Alumni residence halls, and said his most frequented spots in the NYU area were the classic student favorites Cafe Habana, Mamoun’s Falafel and Joe’s Pizza.

Hoffman plans to continue making films and has advice for current NYU students looking to go into the field.

“Enjoy time in school to develop and try different things, because when you’re out in the world you are fitting into someone else’s vision,” Hoffman said. “For directors, be bold and do it your way. It’s necessary to stay true to that as an artist.”

A version of this article appeared in the Monday, Sept. 29 print edition. Email Aicha Fall at [email protected].