Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Casey.
Kevin, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In 2004, I decided to begin my journey based on a dream I had one night. The dream was so crazy and off the wall, I had to put it into something creative. The next day, I begin writing my first screenplay entitled “The Afflicted” which is about a New Orleans Female trying to make it atop the Criminal Underworld. This was the first of many features and series scripts to come as I started with several different genres. In 2005, as a New Orleans resident, I was displaced by Hurricane Katrina and eventually made my way out to Dallas about seven months later. Having to start over didn’t deter me, and I continued working on screenplays sharing them with whoever read them.
As time went on, I decided I wanted to actually put my work into like action to let the world see some of the creations I’ve developed throughout the years. I entered one of my short scripts into a contest and won. The prize was to see my work filmed by an actual crew. It was my first time watching my work, and it motivated me to want to see more. I eventually met up with several people in the area and filmed my first full feature film. While the project did not go as great as I hoped, I learned a lot and continued to shoot a few short films myself.
Again, watching my work continued to motivate me as I went looking into my next project, which was animation. Using some online animations, I was able to make several cartoon shorts based on the characters from my script series known as “The Professionals” which in itself was based on my real-life antics working in a call center. People were instantly drawn into the characters I created, as I used the cartoons to advertise the script work as well.
After the animation work, I was still writing various movie scripts but there was one more thing I wanted to tackle with my creative work, and that was novelization. I never had the patience to sit a write a book which is why I chose to work on scripts and screenplays exclusively. I decided to overcome that fear and write my first novel entitled “The Diary of Lellow – Tales of a Call Center Junkie” which is semi-autobiographical. What I mean by that is, the book is written entirely as a diary, so what you’re reading is the words of the main character Lellow as she sees it. While writing as a diary, the character experienced life as I did. When I had a good day, the character had a good day. When I had a bad day, so did Lellow. Some of the stories she tells in her writings are directly from activities I witnessed or were a part of when it came to her work life. It was a character I became attached to, and I loved the way it came out.
I was scared to release it to the public because I didn’t know if my unique writing style would work for people. It wasn’t until one of my best friends asked to read it, and motivated me to release it because she was so attached to the character and the book. It made me overcome my “George McFly” attitude of not wanting anyone to read my work, and I released it to the public with positive responses returning to me. I self-published my work on Amazon, and as of this writing, I’ve just finished my 5th novel, which brought me back to the beginning of it all, as it’s a story about the same female character in New Orleans that started my creative journey.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road was never smooth. Part of the struggle is overcoming your fear of letting the world see your work. You always feel you’re not good enough and don’t know what you will do if someone tells you they didn’t like your work. I tried pitching my work to agents, movie studios, and others in the business only to be turned down, or being forced to change my work to something totally different than what I set it out to be. Confidence has always been my biggest struggle, and it’s something that I still tend to struggle with every now and then. In my eyes, my work is never perfect, no matter how many great reviews I receive. I’ve had scripts that were optioned, but never filmed for various reasons. It’s one of the reasons why I started to take matters into my own hand and produce my own animations and film shorts.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with EnigmaKiddProductions – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My skills as an author and as an animator are what I use to showcase what I truly specialize in, the art of storytelling. I like to tackle various issues in my work, and unlike a lot of Hollywood stories, my stories tend to stay grounded in reality and don’t have such a happy ending when it’s not called for. My stories are works that people can relate to because I’m not trying to sell them a Hollywood ending. I’m selling them a reality. A character in my story may achieve their goal, but at what cost? That’s what sets me apart from others. That and the fact that I’m very versatile. I’ve written action, drama, comedy, character studies, tales about drug abuse, alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and much more. Even my novels are versatile as I’ve written diary books, crime drama, drama, and sci-fi. I pride myself to be able to tell a tale that keeps my readers entertained, or work on animations that are full of life and stories.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Currently, I’m completing my 5th book. Not sure about the title as of yet, but it was based on my first script known as “The Afflicted,” it will be the third book I have written this year (if I”m able to publish it before year-end). I’m currently adding my work to different online platforms such as Barnes and Noble, Lulu, and many others. I’m currently working on voice work for my next animation feature entitled “Life After Death: Rules of the Widowed” which is a comedy. I’m hoping to release that, and another animation feature entitled “Side Chick” sometime early next year. I’m also currently working with a client on a feature film script he’s requesting so I look forward to that as well.
No major changes are coming other than me continuing to express my creative side via novelization and animation. I already have my next book idea that I’m currently developing and look forward to starting that project at the beginning of next year. I’m also in the process of making my books available as hardcovers which several of my readers have requested in the past.
Pricing:
- Paperback Books anywhere between $12-$15 dollars on Amazon
- E-Books on Amazon starting at $2.99
- Hardcover books are coming soon to Barnes and Noble starting at $24.99
- Animations are available to view free on Youtube
- Add my Facebook page to see special offerings that are coming soon. www.enigmakidd.com
Contact Info:
- Website: www.enigmakidd.com
- Email: enigmakidd@gmail.com
- Instagram: enigmakidd
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enigmakiddcreations/
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