Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenny Od.
Hi Kenny, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Kenny Od is a passionate playwright, producer and director based in the city of Atlanta.
Born with a unique gift of visual storytelling, I simply discovered my gifts very early in life, and I took my skills to the right market.
I believe there is something out there for everyone who dares to dream and follow their dreams passionately without distractions. My calling is to use my gifts to effect social change by sharing with the world ideas and concepts that will make us better humans while being entertained.
I have been producing movies for 10 years now, and it has been a wonderful journey indeed. Sharing my knowledge and ideals with the world gives me so much joy and happiness.
Like Oprah Winfrey said; “Find a way to get paid for doing what you love, and every paycheck will be a bonus”. This is how I feel because my greatest motivation/happiness doesn’t only come from the financial rewards that accrues from my work, but the feedback I receive from my fans. This is the reason why I was born, and the financial reward is just an icing on the cake.
Presently, I am working on several productions, but the most immediate of them all is the premiere of my movie titled: ‘Friends like sisters’ which holds on February 25th, 2033 at the cinevision corporation 3300 northeast expresses way Chamblee GA. It is a great movie I want to share with everyone. It will be a great night indeed. I hope to share my light with others that day and light more candles.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth journey. I would be lying if I said it was. Like every other establishment, filmmaking comes with its own puzzles.
The most challenging obstacle I encountered was dealing with the shady distributors who exploit filmmakers. I encountered several of them at the beginning of my Carrier.
I am a very simple person and I thought everyone will be honest and transparent like I was, but I learnt the hard way to watch and pray because there are a lot of wolves out there in sheep’s clothing.
But in all, what has kept me going is my motivation and faith in God regardless of external circumstances. I firmly believe that the water around a ship doesn’t make it sink, rather it is the water that gets into the ship that sinks it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Cross Films International?
I am a filmmaker, but there are several Classifications And denominations in the filmmaking world. While some produce horror films, drama, action, romance, comedy, etc. I do not classify my craft based on a particular genre. I rather see myself as a filmmaker who employs any genre I feel will help me put out my message in the most audible way.
Though judging from the fundamental elements that inspire my work, I will be described as a “faith-based” filmmaker. Yet again, I don’t like to be labeled that way. This is because many faith-based filmmakers ignore the use of entertainment in their movies, and this makes them produce movies that almost look like another sermon. While some include nudity, sex, and things of that nature in their productions to captivate the audience (which I see as an oxymoron).
Yes, we all know “sex sells”, but you don’t have to become a thief to save a thief. My father always say; “Don’t chase the butterfly, rather make your garden beautiful and the butterflies will come”. I will say what sets me apart is my ability to strike a balance between the both. I understand that my audience wants to see a captivating story that they can watch with their kids and at the same time learn one or two things, and this is exactly what I give to them.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Firstly I will say building a strong relationship with God and my family has helped me in tremendously ways. My wonderful wife and my twin brother (who co-produces with me) are always by my side. They motivate and encourage me every step of the way.
Secondly, I believe that living a purposeful life is the bedrock of happiness. Though I’m a diplomat by training. I have a bachelor’s degree in International relations, but I found out that while formal education has given me a lot of insight into the corporate world. Filmmaking brings me happiness knowing that I can really impact my world and deposit this thing the creator has planted in me while I am on this planet.
Just like birds are designed to sing, the sun designed to shine, and trees are happy bearing fruits, I believe the human heart will be truly happy when it bears its own fruits of purpose.
According to the words of Myles Munroe; “The secret to your lifting is in your gifting”. I have received several awards, some of which include the Go-festival award and I had the honor of meeting the Vice-president of the biggest black nation (Nigeria) in 2017 all under the osmosis of filmmaking. It is upward and forward, I believe that my best days are ahead so my next stop may be at the white house with president Biden [laughs]
Lastly, I just learn to stay thankful. While it is easy to say ‘nothing is a miracle’ and be sad, depressed, and unmotivated, I choose to say everything is a miracle and be happy. This isn’t a license to complacency but my way of celebrating little growth. Like they say; ‘ if you don’t know when you got it, you surely won’t know when you loose it’. So I just learn to live as though every day is a miracle. Walking this path makes my heart smile in tremendous ways.
Pricing:
- General entry for the movie premiere is $20
- VIP $40
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vimeo.com/667896082
- Instagram: Kennyod_1
- Facebook: Kenny Od
