Life & Work with Jameel Benson of City of Cincinnati

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jameel Benson.

Hi Jameel, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started Off at buckeye cable sports network in Toledo Ohio then came to cincinnati to start my own path with videography. I was at Woodward career technical high school for my first year and I didnt Even have a camera. I started off with the drone. you would see me on the sideline at games running down on the field, along with the receiver, running back and or whoever had the ball with my drone pointed at them the whole time.after putting the first game video out the kids loved them and began to get hipped to who I was. Then Looney Visuals was created. I got Hired to do a flag football with the Cincinnati Bengals and one of the safeties Shawn Williams asked me to do pictures, but I couldn’t because I only had a drone but that same day I took my last $250 and went to the pawnshop to buy my very first camera, which was a CANNON. From there, I started to take pictures at the football games as well as record. From there I began to have my hype when The Athletic director Jabreel Moton saw my work and decided to extend me for another two years while working at Woodward. Upon my contract coming to an end because of the football season ending I had A free Saturday to catch another team which was a rival school Withrow High school. I swallowed My pride and went to film the team one day and SHOWED. MY. A$#. I posted The video and Kali Jones a former coach at Woodward who was now the head coach at Withrow University High school made me an offer I couldnt Refuse. Little did I know That this was my way up…..I began To film at Withrow High-school and my name begins to skyrocket and ring bells all over CPS. Because of Jabreel Moton and Kali Jones I was Given a consistent platform to put out my work and get discovered. So big love and shout out to my Guys. Coach jones linked me With multiple people looking to get work done and relationsships were built from there. Some became clients some became family. Once Coach jones left Withrow he was offered. A position at Middletown high school as the head football coach. I was Offered a position out there. A little nervous I took It and Also was able to keep Withrow because of the relationships I had From there. Now I currently run a Videography Outsource company called Loonatic Cinema where I send Videographers to schools I have under contract. At this time I have 2 schools sealed and 4 in the works and I have Enough people to outsource to all. I’ve come a long way and am now entering my 7th year as a videographer. And I’m still learning and getting better each and every year which is great because I havent Plateaued yet.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It wasnt A smooth road at all because a lot of things were done for free and a lot of bills were missed because I wasn’t established yet. Just moving back from Toledo living with my mother it was Hard with a full time job and also trying to create a business with your name stamped on it for Greatness. A lot of sleep lost and tears shed.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work is straight videography. I film Parties, short documentaries, birthdays, proms, weddings, anything you want filmed its my job to create. I’m most proud of my creativity when it comes To creating videos because I myself Have a very dramatic and unique mind. The things I think About creating and putting into a football edit is different. It’s unique. It’s Looney.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I like Best about the city is the different creators from the age of 10-50+ special acknowledgement to drew bryant Photography.
The least I like About it is That most of the creators gate keep and won’t help the younger upcoming videographer in the city. I always Tell my guys if someone can steal your creativity this isn’t your field.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/looneyvisuals/profilecard/?igsh=cHBvYW5hc291ZjB4