Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashton Kennedy.
Ashton, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
What do you want to be when you grow up? That not so simple question you’re asked over and over again as a kid. I thought I had it all figured out at 16, but after an unsuccessful six years attempt to get represented as an actor, I decided I was going to be a director and tell stories for the small and large screens.
I started working on sets as soon as I could drive, then eventually packed my bags for LA at 18. During film school, I interned for Participant Media, Sony Music, and then landed my first full-time job as a post-production coordinator at a small production house called Monkey Deux – helping create all those special features on your favorite DVDs as well as marketing content for major motion pictures and TV shows. While I was organizing media, laying off tapes and editing, I was always jumping at any opportunity to create as a freelance producer – in 2013-2014, I produced my first feature film “Back to Awesome” and created a number of short films and web commercials for Expedia. After a year of searching for my next role in LA with no luck, I decided an MBA might be a great way to kick off the next phase of my career – so I moved back to Dallas and completed my masters at UT Dallas. While there, I pushed myself into a new career of virtual reality content creation, learning how to produce interactive applications with help from Oculus Launchpad and landing my latest job as a producer at Groove Jones.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I have always followed my passion with the loving support of my parents and friends, but it certainly hasn’t been easy to land a job right away. It takes a lot of time and networking. LA was definitely a struggle to get a foot in the door and keep the door open for more than a single opportunity. That’s why it’s important to always be creating opportunities for yourself, design a new project and collaborate with new friends, gain new skills with education, and so on!
Groove Jones – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Groove Jones is a creative technology company that produces next-generation experiences for world-class brands. We are best known for our award-winning work in AR (Augmented Reality), VR (Virtual Reality), ML (Machine Learning), and AI (Artificial Intelligence) Application development. We are a single interdisciplinary team of artists, technologists, industrial designers, brand strategists, graphic designers, usability experts, interior designers, content creators, engineers, fabricators, and project managers. Our team hails from diverse disciplines – from creating location-based entertainment and amusement park rides, developing enterprise Apps and video games, to directing broadcast commercials and feature motion pictures. Our focus is on creating new and dynamic solutions for our client’s challenges across multiple platforms.
As a producer at Groove Jones, I work with clients and artists to design, develop and deploy VR and AR experiences that surprise and delight their customers. We pride ourselves in our ability to create the best work for our clients, while using the latest and greatest technology out there, to help them sell their products or widen their brand. There’s never a dull day at Groove Jones!
I also freelance as a video editor and video producer – if you need a small video created or edited for your company please reach out!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
If I can positively impact at least one person’s day and help them achieve their goals, that’s success. But success should not always be linked to other people because you cannot control others or whether or not you can see your impact. Thus, I also derive success from my ability to grow and learn everyday. If I can improve upon one thing for myself, I feel successful that day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.groovejones.com /
/ www.vimeo.com/ashtonkennedy - Phone: 2146361714
- Email: ashtonnkennedy@gmail.
com - Instagram: @cinemadolce // @groovejonesvr
- Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/GrooveJonesVR/
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