Today we’d like to introduce you to Jalen Spencer.
Hi Jalen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
For me, it all started with my love for watching films. I can remember all throughout my childhood in the 00’s getting excited to hop in the car with my family to rent a few movies from Blockbuster or rummage through the different camera settings on display at the local Circuit City. I think for me the summer of 2007 is when my dad introduced me to the Back To The Future franchise. I can remember just being glued to the screen not knowing exactly how everything was put together. All I knew was that I enjoyed the range of emotions that I felt while Michael J Fox traveled back in time to a Huey Lewis & The News soundtrack. As soon as the movie ended all I could do was think about it. I wondered how I can make something like what I just saw, heard, and felt. I began to research everything I could about it, which sent me down this never-ending rabbit hole of trying to figuring out how all of these different directors made films.
I eventually stumbled upon Spike Lee. Who, for me at that time, was an instrumental figure to see making films as an African American. I consumed every piece of behind-the-scenes interview material, the books he’s written detailing his process during production; It made wanting to create films seem within the realm of possibility and not some pipe dream that was only accessible to people well off. In high school, I’d walk around with headphones listening to interviews from films I’d watched throughout the week. People like Jim Jarmusch, Steven Soderbergh, Quentin Tarantino, James Wan, and many more. I was hooked.
I played varsity basketball in high school and had plans to play D3 while studying film and business and to then play overseas to make enough money to open my very own production company. I ended up putting basketball behind to focus on filmmaking and attended Hocking College with the intent to transfer to Ohio University. I didn’t want to wait to transfer in order to have access to equipment. I wanted to be filming and gaining as much experience about the process as possible, not writing essays every night wishing I had experience. So, in 2018 I left and decided to began my freelance filmmaking career. Now operating as Columbus Cinematic Media, it has not been an easy journey to say the least, but it is always rewarding. Since freelancing, I have been lucky enough to work with many different artists throughout the city from musicians like Kid CHAO$, Models such as Arianna Wyant, and directors like Terrell Ujah. Cultivating documentaries, short/feature films, and commercial content for the likes of Ohio State University, Author Carole Mac, and other local Columbus businesses. Early 2023, I made my feature film debut as director of photography for the film “Without Love,” premiering August 12th at Studio35 Cinema & Drafthouse.
My ultimate goal is to expand and create a production hub that exclusively specializes in producing narrative feature films and web series.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has definitely not been a smooth one. It is has been much more like an unpaved road with many hidden potholes. Sometimes you hit one, and you’re good. Sometimes you hit one and contemplate about every decision that led you down said road. I’ve struggled with social/general anxiety and panic attacks all my life. One of the things in the beginning that scared me a lot was realizing just how collaborative of a process filmmaking is. I’d never done particularly well in school, especially not in group settings. During shoots, I would be less inclined to add my own personal input and suggestions in fear of losing out on jobs. As I continued to shoot more and learn more, I gained confidence in not only shooting but also figuring out technical and practical solutions to onset problems. Learning how to prep and how to prep for the problems that may arise helped greatly, and I recommend every filmmaker/image maker find their own way of organizing and planning before they go out and shoot. The road would be much longer without the love and support of my family. I would be nowhere without the foundation that drives me every day. Always be more prepared than you think need to be and prepare more!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I think because I didn’t have a formal education in filmmaking, I just assumed directing, writing, cinematography, and editing were all under the same umbrella. It wasn’t until I began to actively try and create work similar or as close as possible to the work of filmmakers whom I’d idolized that I realized my cinematography was far too weak for my liking. Studying cinematography alone opened this new avenue to expressing myself. It’s like learning a whole new language. No matter if I am inside a coffee shop, in an abandon warehouse, or outside at a park, I am constantly thinking about how I would go about lighting any location that I step into. I am also known to ruin some of the movie magic for some of my friends and family who aren’t as aware of the ins and outs of creating an image. For anyone reading. The next time you watch your favorite movie or tv series, see If you can notice a difference in the light on your subject between a wide shot and close-up. Normal a wide shot will be lit with a light from a further distance as to not get it in frame causing harsher light on your subject. In a close up you can walk that light in closer to the subject and add some diffusion in front of it in order to make those close-ups more beautiful and soft. Recently I was director of photography on my first feature film written and directed by my friend Terrell Ujah called Without Love. It’s set to premiere in August at Studio 35.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
If you’re someone who knows me, then you know the undeniable love for horror films I have. If there was a place where the season was autumn year-round, I’d live there. If I had to rank my favorite genres, it’d be Psychological/Cult Horror, Dramedy, and Romantic Comedies. I have an idea that started as a poem inspired by Edgar Allen Poe that I’ve been converting into a feature since high school for a romantic psychological thriller completely based in reality about a couple whose child goes missing during an annual family trip. It’s changed a lot throughout the years and is something I’ll continue to work on though I never know when it’ll be finished or if I’ll even ever shoot it. I just love the characters I created so much, and they’ve followed me and changed much like I have through the years.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.columbuscinematicmedia.com
- Instagram: jalenspencerdp
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jalen-s-4a5247127/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jalenspencerfilm/videos
