Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Stephens.
Jason, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Initially, my goal was to put on for the city. Now, my goal is to put the people of the city on. Music has always played a major part in my life. I have early memories of singing at my daycare graduation, to teaching myself to play drums at eight years old, to teaching myself to play keys and produce by age 13. Fast forward some years and I’ve learned the art of songwriting, audio engineering and have traveled across the states doing what I love to do. I won a few awards as a producer, artist, and songwriter, and have been nominated for even more than those three that I won. Throughout my adult life in music, I’ve had the opportunity to meet/work with some prominent people in the city such as Zaytoven and Montell Jordan. However, now being a husband and father, my goal shifted and I wanted to leave a legacy for my daughter when I’m not here. Something she could carry on other than bragging rights about great songs that her father made. That is how 12:16 Entertainment was born.
People often ask what the significance behind the name of the company is. Well, oddly, I was born on 12/16 but I was also born AT 12:16, so I figured there was a bit of significance to those numbers. To further drive the point home, my daughter was born on 12/15 and would’ve been born on 12/16 had my wife not been induced. That’s just a little backstory on 12:16 Entertainment, or a fun fact. Maybe a mixture of both.
Going into further detail though, this company is more than just singers, rappers and producers. My goal is to build it into a hub for creatives and invest in our youth. As I stated before, music has been a big part of my life since I was a very young kid, and I knew I wanted to do music before I turned 10. At that time though, we didn’t have the finances to funnel money into a 9-year-old kid that just loved music. My mom did buy me a snare drum so that I could be in the band at Mainstreet Elementary and Miller Grove Middle School and I’m extremely thankful for that. Now, as an adult, I want to offer kids the opportunity that I didn’t have, which is to live out their dream of making music, dancing, acting, etc. at the age that they are. I also want to breathe life back into the dreams of those that gave up on their dreams due to life and other circumstances.
That’s 12:16 Entertainment in part.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has been everything but smooth. The biggest struggles that I can attest to are:
1. Support, or lack thereof.
2. Finances
3. Social Media
4. Balancing personal and business life
5. Developing the right team
6. The constant grind after years of not seeing the fruits that you think you should.
Those were the biggest struggles for me.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with 12:16 Entertainment – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
12:16 Entertainment specializes in all aspects of the arts and entertainment.
I’m most proud of opening up our modeling division of the company. My daughter is our first client, and she’s done some modeling for Graco and Disney Bright Stars, and that was great. However, a couple of months back, she was requested to come to a casting call for a company that I can’t name, and although we gave them all of the information, they still wanted her to come out. She did a great job. They loved her and we just knew that she was going to get the part. Come to find out, we wasted our time because they were looking for 12 months and under when we told them specifically that she was 15 months at the time. At that moment, I decided to open up a modeling division and have our company represent her so that we could cut out the middle man, get all of the information that we needed and continue on without wasting any more time. Time is valuable, and we understand that at 12:16. I believe that’s also what does, and will, set us apart from other companies. We value time and understand life.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My plans for the future are to put on a few plays, start a comedy corner, shoot some short films, movies, and get our music licensed and synced for film and tv placements. Still, a lot to learn, but I’m willing and ready to put that extra effort in.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.1216entertainment.com
- Phone: 404-500-9827
- Email: contact@1216entertainment.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1216ent
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1216ent
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/1216ent
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