Check Out Jackson Gray’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackson Gray.

Hi Jackson, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m a 26 year old Aspiring Filmmaker, Portrait Photographer, and Music Artist. I’m from Panthersville, Georgia, and I grew up Stone Mountain. I have a passion to bring people together and create. When it comes to Photography, i’ve been taking pictures since I was in high school, it really happened naturally. However, my first love was music. Music was the first thing i’ve ever genuinely gravitated to. I remember listening to music with a pair of Skullcandy earbuds for the first time, and not to be dramatic but, it changed my life. I started songwriting not long after that. As far as Filmmaking goes, I originally wanted to be an Actor, but as I got older, I fell in love with the broader process of bringing a film together, rather than just the acting. Being a renowned Filmmaker is really my goal.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Honestly, I could sit here and say that some obstacles I face are premeditated limitations, or a crippling economy where i’m working for bills instead of working for dreams, but I gotta say, the biggest obstacle I can face sometimes is me. I am my own challenge. I hate knowing exactly what I need to do, and I still don’t do it. I give myself grace but I also recognize that my work ethic could be better.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work consists of mainly Portrait Photography. I won’t lie, when I started doing photography professionally, I had no idea what direction I wanted to take. I really homed in on Portrait Photography because it was my favorite way of capturing people. With photography, i’ve lately been in a space where I want to intern/ shadow under other talented photographers in my city. I would like to improve my style, and there’s nothing wrong with recognizing that there’s room for improvement.

I would very much like to release my first film before I turn 30. I want it to be independent, but I don’t want it to be a short film. I want my first film to be an hour and 30 minutes, and that’s not including credits. It’s not the end result i’m chasing, it’s the process, it’s the journey, and I can’t wait to start.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
So I think I was actually around 15 when this happened, but I remember riding around town with my mom and passing by a billboard. On the billboard was the Late Rapper Trouble, in black and white with the words “Trouble, recording artist, Cam Kirk Studios”. I remember searching up Cam Kirk on instagram and finding a video of Trouble standing in front of his billboard super freaking happy. That billboard inspired me as both as a Photographer and a Rapper. I manifest to take pictures of people, and those pictures would be used for Billboards, Magazines, and Murals. I also manifest to promote my music artistry on that big of a grand scale.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacksongrayfilms/