Check Out Jack Kidd’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jack Kidd.

Hi Jack, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Well, I’m an Indiana born, Georgia raised boy who has always loved the more creative side of the world. When I was little, I remember my dad recording me on his VHS camera and being obsessed with watching those home videos on TV. I received my first disposable film camera at four years old, and being able to capture life through my own lens at such a young age truly set me up for my passions later in life. Growing up and being able to experience Georgia’s Film Industry first hand, I’ve been incredibly grateful to work on some of my dream productions like The Walking Dead, Stranger Things, Insatiable and The Conjuring, to name a few.

I took a pause within the film industry after the pandemic and writer’s strike to focus on different paths within my life, and ultimately found myself at the beginning of a new venture, writing. Now, I’ve obviously been writing and forming sentences since I can remember but the art of actually writing my own stories, creating my own worlds and being able to put my thoughts so clearly on paper, became another art form for me to express myself in that I never knew I needed in my life. While I never imagined I’d call myself a “writer”, all of that changed when I became a published author and released a book of poetry titled Seasons in 2023. I delved deep into the heartstrings of my life, primarily discussing my relationship with someone over the course of my early twenties. Each chapter (or season) in the book went through a period where I was feeling those emotions. From seasons of love, loss, frustration, rage, healing and nostalgia. Seasons was the key back into unlocking my creative spark. I might’ve lost who I thought was the love of my life, but that heartbreak and pain brought me back to my creative roots.

Flash forward to the present day, I’m currently back in the film world, but more comfortably on the indie side this time as I’m directing my debut horror short film, Scratch, that I wrote back in college in 2019. It is a project I have dreamt of bringing to life and after having a blast writing & releasing Seasons, I was ready to step back into what I love most, which is visual storytelling.

Scratch is a movie with a lot of easter eggs and homages pointing back to my life, things I love, and the movies and shows I have always admired. The story is set in 1998, the year I was born, and takes place during the summer in Greenfield, Indiana, a small Midwestern town where I spent many of my childhood summers growing up. Being back on a film set and working with a phenomenal cast and crew has been a joy beyond my wildest dreams. Especially sharing this story with Reed Donnelly, Max Anderson and David Hudler, who have made my love for this project grow tremendously. I feel like the door is only just beginning to open and the possibilities at my fingertips feel endless.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It is never a smooth road, but your obstacles should be the motivating factor that keep you going. There is something so rewarding to get to the end of a project and say to yourself, “I did that.” For me, that is always the reward. To know that at the end of the day you put your heart, soul, and mental brain power into creating something that is yours to relish in is such a burst of serotonin. I view all of my projects as my “children” and with having children there will always be hiccups and bumps in the road but how you maneuver around those obstacles is what gets you to cross the finish line. Always keep going.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
There are a lot of titles I currently possess, but at my core, I’m a creative who loves bringing stories to life through design, collaboration, and emotion. Storytelling has always been at the heart of everything I do, and photography, filmmaking, and writing have given me the opportunity to express that in meaningful ways. While I’m proud of all the work I’ve put out into the world, my visual storytelling is what brings me the greatest creative fulfillment, especially my current project, Scratch, which has challenged and inspired me in so more ways than one.

What sets me apart is my ability to approach every project with empathy and curiosity. I care deeply about the people behind the stories, and I strive to create work that not only looks beautiful but also feels honest, and emotionally resonant.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Always follow your gut. Starting out can be intimidating, but dedicating yourself to something that genuinely excites and inspires you is worth the journey. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that people matter most. Everyone has a unique story, perspective, and something valuable to contribute. Building relationships, networking, communicating openly, and embracing collaboration are some of the most important keys to success in this industry. Surround yourself with like-minded yet open-minded people who challenge and support you, and don’t be afraid to take chances. With the right mindset and the right people around you, the sky is the limit.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jackkiddsworld.com
• Instagram: @jackkidd_

Image Credits
Julia Harris