Today we’d like to introduce you to Will B Jenkins.
Will, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I always wanted to be a writer, my head has always been bursting at the seams with stories. But getting those stories out there for a writer is hard. I got involved in the Theatre Department at Texas A&M in College Station. While there I did a little acting, which I was never really fond of, and then I also got a chance to write.
Though the theatrical stage was still a little too small for the scope of my stories, so I turned to film. I would often write scripts, and gather a few friends together to help me read through them. Many of these scripts will never see the light of day again, because looking back, they were absolutely terrible. But it was nice to hear and see my stories played out and to get opinions on my creations.
I realized that if I wanted to get recognition for my stories and turn them into films, I would probably have to start out filming them myself. So I began to dabble in film. I used free software, cheap cameras, I called upon friends to participate as actors. It was fun, but it was a very low budget, to say the least. The first thing I remember shooting was a music video with a few friends to a Rachael Yamagata song titled “I’ll Find A Way”. It was a very depressing video, that has hopefully been eradicated from the internet.
So time marched on, and I eventually started a company called Useless Puppy Productions. My wife and I already had the Gmail account for Useless Puppy because we had a dog named Useless. I put out a few short comedy videos and even started to make some music videos for indie artists like The Reen and Jeff Texa$.
Though music videos were fun, I couldn’t fight the bug to share my stories. So I gathered up some resources, a very low budget, and I directed my first feature filmed titled “April’s Fool”. It was a great experience, and I made some life long connections on that set with some amazing people.
That film made me realize how little I truly knew about cameras, and I started focusing on my camera work. I became a director of photography & cameraman for feature films, such as “Cruzado”, which was directed by the very talented Jason Ramirez, it is set to be released in May of 2029. I worked as a director of photography for Grayson Berry, the owner, and director at Novel Trailers. With Novel Trailers, I have filmed and edited multiple small and large scale productions. I also was the director of photography for a deep-sea fishing show called “Blood on the Deck” which provided me with the opportunity to capture some stunning drone footage out at sea.
I still had my hand in the directing world. I directed car commercials, more music videos, and business commercials. Though I have had the opportunity to do amazing things and work with some amazing people, I still had my own stories to tell. Over the years I had compiled notebooks upon notebooks of story ideas that I told myself that I would one day see some of them to fruition. Then one day, while listening to some audiobooks with my daughter, I got the bright idea to try my hand at book writing. Which brings me to today, I recently started a business called “Will B Jenkins Writes” (www.WillBJenkinsWrites.com) where I write books. Currently, I have four children’s books published and a few more on the way. I have also started planning for a few young adult novels.
So here I am, writing books and filming stuff.
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?
My biggest challenge has always been my self-doubt, I never thought I would make it, I never thought anyone would really care about my stories or what I had to say. I was always a go to work, get a check, go home and then do it all over again type of guy. I would do my film work on the side but still, have a normal 9 to 5 job. My wife saw how stressed I was and harassed me to quit my job and just do film and my creative projects full time. It has been a rollercoaster of great gigs and not so great gigs, but through the support of my wife, my friends, and my family, I’ve managed to keep myself motivated and focused on creating.
Plus napping, napping is definitely a weakness. Luckily I have children who don’t allow me to nap too often.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
UP Style Productions, which is where I provide video and photography services. That’s where you can find most of my music videos, films, and creative projects, and collaborations.
UP Style Real Estate Productions, which is where I shoot real estate photography and video.
Puppy Love: Wedding Video & Photo, which is where I film and photograph wedding alongside some amazingly talented videographers and photographers that I contract out.
Will B Jenkins Writes, is where I have my books.
What were you like growing up?
I read a meme that described me perfectly the other day. “It’s not that I am anti-social, I’m just selectively social.” That describes my life perfectly.
Pricing:
- My children’s books are $9.99 for paper back, $3.99 for kindle on Amazon.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.UPStyleProductions.com
- Email: upstyleproductions@gmail.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/upstyleproductions
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