Life & Work with Jarred McGriff of New Jersey

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jarred McGriff.

Hi Jarred, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Franklin, New Jersey, in a house where both sides of what I do now were already in the air. My father is a hobbyist photographer, so a camera was never a foreign object to me. My mother built a career in marketing, so I grew up around the idea that a story well told can move people to act.

I filmed my first wedding at 12. That taught me fast what it meant to be trusted with someone else’s story. In high school I worked in our video production newsroom, which showed me the pace, discipline, and teamwork real production demands. By the time I graduated high school I was already taking on freelance projects. Then I went to Full Sail University and kept building the foundation for a career in film, television, and media.

After college I took production jobs anywhere I could get them. My first TV credit came in 2014 as a production assistant, and my first on air camera-operator credit landed later that year. In 2016 I joined BET Digital as a shooter and editor, which opened the door to a long lasting career inside Paramount.

That same year, I also started building L2C Studios on nights and weekends, my own production company, because I wanted a place to develop work on my own terms alongside what I was doing at Paramount.

Over the years I moved from shooting and editing digital content to directing and leading larger productions across BET, MTV, Nickelodeon, CBS Sports, Paramount Pictures, Paramount+, and other brands. Today I’m an in-house Director and Director of Photography with Paramount’s Multi-Platform Production Group (Director, Creative Production). I lead and shoot a wide range of work, from live events and international premieres, to branded content, performances, and documentary-style pieces. I’ve directed projects tied to major franchises, shows, and cultural moments, that has been recognized by the Telly Awards, Webby Awards, and Shorty Awards.

Through L2C, I’ve produced and directed work for clients across entertainment, music, sports, lifestyle, and social impact. It let me step past just the camera and directing chair into producing, building teams, managing clients, and helping brands take a story from concept to final delivery.
I started with a camera and a willingness to figure it out. That grew into a career built on storytelling, leadership, and opening doors for other creatives who come from communities like mine.

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?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. A lot of my journey was built through trial, error, and figuring things out in real time.
One of the hardest parts early on was learning to create opportunities when there was no clear path in front of me. Coming from Franklin and trying to build a career in media, I didn’t have a big network or a playbook to follow. I had to learn how to get myself into rooms, build real relationships, and let the quality of my work speak for me.
There were also moments where I had to advocate for myself and my point of view. As a Black creative and entrepreneur, I know what representation means, and I also know the pressure that comes with being one of the few people in the room. That’s made me intentional about the work I take on, the teams I build, and the opportunities I create for others.
The goal isn’t just getting through the door. It’s keeping it open for the next person coming up behind you.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a director and producer working across commercial, short-form, and live content for brands, networks, and cultural organizations. As looked down on as the phrase is, I happily consider myself a jack of all trades, and these days I focus mostly on directing and producing.
Some of my favorite moments at Paramount include directing Paramount Pictures’ US premiere for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, directing Denzel Washington for the Gladiator II promos, and directing MTV’s live rooftop concert series. Directing Denzel meant keeping a room calm and moving while everyone else’s adrenaline was up, and getting a performance that felt effortless on camera. That’s the job in miniature.
On the L2C Studios side, I’m proudest of two projects: the late Nikki Giovanni’s last on-camera interview, produced for NewsOne, and the HBCU Virtual Homecoming we made in the middle of the pandemic in partnership with #SupportBlackColleges. Sitting across from Nikki Giovanni for what turned out to be her final interview is not something I take lightly, and getting the tone and pacing right, so it felt like a conversation and not an interrogation, is some of the most careful work I’ve done.
The skill that sets me apart most is my ability to pivot. Coming up through so many different departments gave me first-hand knowledge of what can and can’t be done on a set. From writing budgets to writing shot lists, I took the time to learn how every department plays its part in bringing a production to life. So when something changes mid-production, and it always does, I know how to adjust without losing the story, the shot, or my cool.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I think risk is a necessary part of growth, especially in creative work. One project stands out. I was filming a micro short for the Moët Film Festival, and the scene called for a subway car, a group of extras, and a full beer pong table set up in the middle of NYC’s 1 train. Our equipment supplier didn’t want to rent us the gear, and we were told that without permits a shoot like that would get shut down fast. A lot of red flags for a 23-year-old with a camera and a dream.

But something in my gut told me to push through, and against all odds we pulled off our weird little 60-second film. It went on to win runner-up in the festival and screened during Tribeca Film Festival weekend.
That taught me how I think about risk now. The point isn’t to be reckless. It’s to know the difference between a risk that’s just fear talking and one that’s worth betting on, then preparing enough that when you jump, you land.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://L2CStudios.com
• Instagram: @Jarred.McGriff
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarredm/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jarredmcgriff