Rising Stars: Meet Captain Chaney

Today we’d like to introduce you to Captain Chaney.

Hi Captain, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Well after graduating from FAMU with my music industry degree, I felt incomplete as far as direction and career was concerned so I figured I would pair my love of music with video and focus strictly on being a music video director or something specific within the film & entertainment industry when I decided to attain an MFA in Film & Television at SCAD Atlanta.

All of that was quickly put to test as I matriculated through my degree, and ironically I’m left with as many questions and goals than when I started. However, I did have a clearer sense of direction for myself and what I ultimately wanted to accomplish within the entertainment industry as I love to write scripts & camera operate as well.

the Content Director for ArtLanta & C.H.A.C.E. Village now operating in Chattahoochee Hills.

Personal life, I’m 29, and I have a beautiful wife Suhaylah, and a beautiful daughter Juma Rue, both whom I’d do anything for.

Professionally, I’m the Director of Digital Content for Artlanta Gallery and CHACE Village, operating in Chattahoochee Hills, Ga. Currently our team is wrapping up a biophilic placemaking project with Chattahoochee Hills Charter School and we also have a documentary showcasing this creative project in postproduction. Alongside with that I am the founder and President of The Brainiaxx LLC – A Creative Company – a full service boutique production company specializing in cinematography and writing.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
NO, definitely not a smooth ride, but there’s always been a synchronization of skillsets for me that I’ve always utilized ever since I was a kid that has always helped me navigate murky scenarios. Things always seem to operate in a cyclical fashion for me so I find myself picking up things that I thought I put down years ago, using my knowledge to push creative boundaries. This can be frustrating at times because it feels like if I were focused on it a little harder or stuck with it, maybe things would be different, like public notoriety or monetary gain, but that’s also part of the journey and I feel like it’s already happened, I just haven’t been there in time to realize it.

Also, I just love to learn about stuff, so to harken back to cyclicality, I think there’s something I can always use in life or for story ideas at this point – nothing gets trashed, it just gets put into a folder in my mind. The hardest part for me has probably been packaging/branding myself for others to find or relate to and finding/measuring real success because art school doesn’t teach you everything.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m not sure what I‘m known for quite yet but know Captain Chaney and The Brainiaxx, and Artlanta are making moves – right now, my biggest projects and priorities are my thesis film titled “PLACEBO”, any and all content produced for Artlanta and CHACE and being a great husband and father.

I’ve been in some art shows featuring different styles and mediums, been featured in Cam Kirk’s Marketplace, and I’ve had work featured on VH1 before so its nice to have some validation in that aspect and know that people might see it and might actually fuck with my vision but I don’t feel I’m even close to that right now. I have been exploring tufting and rug making so that’s been refreshing and fun to learn and create something random in the studio.

I think what sets me apart from others is my vision and my ultimate goals. I’ve been investing in myself and my company way before I got my LLC, and I’m always looking for ways to grow my business, better myself and those around me.

What I’m most proud of is probably my network of friends that I’ve had the pleasure of working and building with over the years – people like Racardo Davis, Tyree Smith, Nic Badila, Jose Ibarra. I’m cerebral in my processes and I’ve never been a big talker so I think having people around you that understand your vision & can articulate on your behalf when you’re not in the room speaks volumes to what others predetermine before you interact with them. The people that I trust, I know only have my best intentions in mind and vice versa – we all want to see and help each other win and we’re consistently name dropping on behalf of the team.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?Advice:

Don’t think you know everything, challenge yourself to grow and learn everyday.

Read.

Help others up and serve – you can learn a lot and probably more helping others achieve their own goals and aspirations. This is how you build your team.

Don’t be a dickhead – do what you say you’re going to do and stick to your word. If you can’t, communicate!

If there’s something, you want to accomplish don’t let anything deter you, a little bit of effort a day goes a long way, tell your friends and have the audacity to do it.

Starting out, I wish I knew how much progress one email could bring me.

Contact Info:

• Email: thebrainiaxx@gmail.com
• Website: https://thebrainiaxx.com
• Instagram: @thecaptainchaney
• Twitter: @TheBrainiaxx

Image Credits
Erica Carrillo Ricky Jordan II Melina Velleman