Today we’d like to introduce you to Devin McKay
Hi Devin, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It might sound cliché, but like many other creatives, I started by just experimenting and making things. I dabbled in all different sorts of mediums: drawing, painting, music, acting. One or two stuck with me, while the rest faded away. As a kid, I would film fun little stories with my toys using my Lego Steven Spielberg webcam. By high school, I had graduated to shooting more intricate projects with my friends around the neighborhood. In college, I started offering photo and video services around the city. I would shoot for local businesses, community theaters, and take portraits of artists in Baltimore. Fast forward 10 years, and I’m still telling stories—only now, it’s with professional actors and better equipment. It’s honestly been a natural progression, evolving from those early experiments to where I am today.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like anything worth fighting for, the journey hasn’t been without its struggles—and honestly, there’s still a long way to go. One of my biggest challenges was finding my confidence, learning to stand tall and say, “This is me.” Growing up, I also struggled to find my voice. I was influenced by so many different sources, and at one point, I started questioning whether my ideas were truly my own or just a rehash of things I’d seen before.
It took time to strike that balance—allowing myself to be inspired by the world around me while also grounding my work in my own experiences and personal history. I didn’t really find that balance until I moved away from home. That distance gave me the space I needed to explore who I was and what I wanted to say.
Now, I’m building from that new space, which I’m sure will come with its own bundle of new challenges.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Val + Vic Productions?
My production company, Val and Vic Productions, is named in honor of my late aunt and uncle, who both inspired my creative journey in profound ways. My aunt was a true artist at heart—she dabbled in photography, painting, and even fashion design. I’ll never forget the day I got my first “real” camera, a Canon T3—not the fancy T3i, just the OG T3. I was so excited, I went straight to her house to show it off. When I got there, she immediately grabbed her own camera—this really expensive Nikon—and took me out to the backyard to practice. We spent the afternoon taking pictures of everything. Having someone there to be gentle with my creativity and allowing me to explore really meant the world to me.
My uncle, on the other hand, was a video producer. He converted his entire basement into his production studio. It was incredible—he had this massive editing console that we would call “the mothership.” I’d sneak downstairs sometimes just to watch him work, twisting knobs and pressing all these fancy buttons that I didn’t understand at the time. Now, funny enough, I probably know exactly what all those buttons do.
Being exposed to their art at such a young age, I was like a sponge, soaking it all in. They truly laid the foundation for the work I’m doing today. Naming my production company after them felt like the perfect way to honor their legacy.
At Val and Vic Productions, we specialize in sharing stories from unique perspectives—stories that challenge traditional norms while captivating audiences with compelling narratives. Our first short, Don’t Cry for Me, out the gate was a big success. I was really proud of the reception we got at festivals, and more importantly, how audience members shared their own experiences after watching it. That really signaled to me that I was on the right track, that I was doing what I was meant to do.
Right now, we’re a small team, but my vision is for the company is to grow into a collective of storytellers. Whether it’s a narrative film, a documentary, or something entirely unconventional, I want to be just as much of a resource to my community as my aunt and uncle were to me and help people bring other creatives visions to life.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
In general, people tend to see me as quiet and unassuming, which is both kind of funny and, at times, a bit of a curse. When I do open up—whether it’s sharing my history, my personality, or even my traumas—it tends to catch people off guard. It’s like, “Wow, I only know Devin as the guy I see here and there; I had no idea he had all these opinions, or feelings, or that he loves belting out musical theater songs!” Which, by the way, I absolutely do—and will happily do at any given moment. It’s my own fault, sometimes when learning about people I get so invested, I get stuck in listening mode, and completely forget to turn on speaking mode and share my own experiences. Much like everything else in my life, I’m working on it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vimeo.com/deeandjello
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/deeandjello/
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/devindmckay
- Twitter: https://x.com/deeandjello
- Other: https://instagram.com/valnvicproductions/
Image Credits
“Jahia” – Photographed by Devin McKay
