Today we’d like to introduce you to Jake Reynolds.
Hi Jake, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
In high school, I always gravitated towards photo editing and manipulation. I loved being able to create something and then make something that already existed look like something else. Did I think I could make a career out of it? No. It was just fun. I was in the Construction Management program at NKU when I was a freshman, and a couple of weeks into my first semester, I woke up in the middle of the night saying to myself, “I don’t want to be a roofer for the rest of my life.” After the epiphany, I changed my major to Electronic Media & Broadcasting (EMB). In the program, I developed a liking to editing footage and became very good at it. It wasn’t until around 2013 that I started to love creating the shots I was editing. I started working on becoming a cinematographer, since then, my style has evolved and has become something clients and others in the industry want for their projects.
My first cinematographer gig was with Kennedy MaGill and his short film called “Ernest”. MaGill liked how I worked and how I made things look he brought me on board for my first feature film “How To Succeed in Business With a Best Friend & a Handgun”. Shortly after finishing that project, we started working on “The Big Part” (working title was “Formerly In Love”). We worked together on a lot of short films after that. When Kennedy left for Los Angeles to chase their dreams, I needed to find others to work with.
In mid-2019, I met a very talented local writer and actor, Vaslav J. Rice. He asked me to shoot several comedy short films. Later that year, he asked me at the ‘nth hour to be camera op and editor for his 48 Hour Film Project, “Joan La Femme’s Vacation.” That is where I met Rajiim Gross, my business partner in Hollytucky. Ever since that weekend, we have sought to show everyone that Cincinnati filmmaking is serious. There is so much talent in the tri-state area that everyone should know our names.
In early 2020 Rajiim, Vaslav, me, and actor/producer Andi Gudgeon created a team for Kent Meloy’s Winterfilm and made a short called “NEVES,” which was the project I decided to completely change my shooting style. It turned out to be a good idea because it was nominated for Best Cinematography that year. After NEVES, I made it my mission to master the shooting style from that project and make it mine.
I have had opportunities to work with amazing filmmakers and clients, all of them loving what I can do behind the camera. One of whom is Stephanie Hensley. She helped me realize what I could be in the industry. I owe her several lifetimes for helping me become the filmmaker I am now. My favorite memory with Stephanie was when we were in production for “The Demons Within.” The writer, Roberta Griffin, came to set for a couple of days, and the first scene she saw she was blown away by what we were creating. Looking over at Roberta during playback, we could see tears. Not just any tears, but the tears you see when your child says their first word and takes their first steps. It was magical to see that what we were making was that meaningful; what I was shooting created that level of emotion. I love creating; I love being the one that makes people happy, I love being the one who people can rely on for quality product. Simply put, I love doing what I do.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
There are always trials and tribulations; I don’t know of any person who has had a smooth road to where they are today. For me, it’s always the struggle of how can I make myself better at what I do? How do I keep enhancing and improving my craft? How can I make people know I am the one that shot this project before the credits ever show up?
For me, the struggle was to find my shooting style and how I could make myself different. It wasn’t until 2020 when I found my style of shooting, and since we were in the pandemic, I had a lot of time to hone it, master it, and make it better.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a cinematographer, so I specialize in making the movie look its best. All joking aside, my style according to my industry colleagues and friends, is making the audience feel as if they are in the scene. From what I am told, how I shoot makes the movie feel grounded in their reality. Those remarks were prevalent in “The Demons Within.” When we sent the project to our producers for notes and review, some of them couldn’t watch the movie in one sitting because it was too real for them. To me, that is the highest possible compliment as a cinematographer; when a film is that immersive the viewer believes that they are in the movie, that they are a character.
What do you do that keeps you at your best?
You know, that’s a good question… I don’t listen to a lot of podcasts or blogs, my favorite author is Agatha Christie, and I barely use my phone for “fun” apps besides for social media, keeping up with friends and family, and 2048. What helps me do my best is building and modifying. Once again, creating things. Can’t escape it, and I don’t want to. <(^.^)>
I build the guitars I play, the latest one being a purple burnt finish Flying V with a fairly rare Ibanez neck. My other built guitars are an Ibanez Destroyer/Iceman hybrid made with the neck and electronics from my first guitar and a custom 7-string Explorer meant to replicate the design of the 1984 Gibson Explorer.
I built my own studio at my house with a fully functional sound-booth and about to build a bigger studio/viewing room for when producers and directors want to see and hear the status of any project during post-production.
I love learning. I love teaching. I love creating.
Contact Info:
- Website: linktr.ee/ReelCinnemonProducts
- Instagram: instagram.com/iamjaketoo
- Facebook: facebook.com/ReelCinnemonProducts
- Other: imdb.me/JakeReynolds
