Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob Vu.
Hi Jacob, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started making films with my friends in the 4th grade. What was a tool for a bunch of kids wanting to be action heroes became a passion for telling stories, and somewhere along the way, my middle school principal picked up on that and offered me a classroom where I could teach my peers what I knew about video production. In high school, I dissolved the video production club and made it a company known as “Vuboy Productions.” Today, the company continues to run strong, producing video with the mission to explore the cinematic arts and apply what we know to the commercial video world.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
A lot of my steps, from beginning to now, were in an effort to convince my family that filmmaking was the job I was made to do. I self-taught myself every editing program, including visual effects programs like After Effects and Blender, from the moment I became fascinated with making films in 4th grade. Commercial filmmaking became a vector where I could justify making videos- even if they were client-based. I definitely grew from the process, adopting many entrepreneurial values and mindsets.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a commercial filmmaker with a pure passion for the cinematic arts. I’m very multifaceted- mainly because I enjoy too many aspects of filmmaking. I’ve directed a feature-length film series, produced and edited multiple films- commercial and narrative. But, I’m generally known for my skill in visual effects and motion arts. Personally, I’m very proud of the recent documentary series I produced with David Magida. He has such a commendable story of his comeback to the global hybrid racing scene and it has been an absolute pleasure to tell it in a cinematic medium.
I suppose the difference in what I do compared to other commercial filmmakers is my application of more “cinematic Hollywood” practices, such as the use of visual effects and technical stunts to convey the message of a commercial interest. Besides that, I simply love the craft and I’m certain every commercial filmmaker can agree that that is the core to why we do it.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I’m a big fan of the science-fiction work by L.E. Modesitt Jr., such as Gravity Dreams. He has a great sense of description with the abstract features of the sci-fi world while also keeping great consideration to the emotional, social, and religious shifts of his characters. His works are exceptional reads for those who value imagery and a different perspective on future societies.
Regarding podcasts, I personally enjoy shows like Story Break, where a group of writers has an hour to outline a screenplay stemming from a generally odd premise every episode. The show is very comedic and light-hearted, which is why I enjoy it, but it also indirectly teaches important philosophies in writing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.vuboyproductions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vuboy_
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/vuboy_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VuboyProductions
Image Credits
Ravi Mody, Kylie Govinchuck, Erin Kimball
