Meet Nathan Mowery of Kind Punk in Smyrna

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathan Mowery.

Nathan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up in the mountains of Tennesee and would film stunts, skits, and pranks out in the woods all the time with my brothers and friends. Jumping off barns, billboards, setting each other in fire and recreating pro wrestling matches. I just had a real passion for cameras and creating fun with them.

As I got older, the videos grew longer and more complex. By the time I was 19 I had a million different factory jobs, I would start and quit. I just hated them. Around that time I found Isaac Deitz’s Facebook page. He was a filmmaker that worked with bands I loved. He was super friendly and approachable. I would get his feedback for every video I made. We ended up becoming great friends. He then eventually started a house in Atlanta called “The Thunderdome” where he would teach younger guys the art of filmmaking and how to turn it into a career. I moved down in 2011. That house was basically my college experience.

While living there, one of the other members of the house started working for pro wrestling legend Diamond Dallas Page and his company DDP Yoga. They needed an editor. This was the only job where my obsessive wrestling fandom came in handy.

Since I’ve started working for DDP, I’ve gotten to live out my dreams and work with a ton of huge names in the world of pro wrestling. Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Iron Sheik, RVD, Mick Foley, Scott Hall, Jake The Snake, etc.

I couldn’t be happier. However there was one other dream I wanted to accomplish, and that was to direct music videos. I had started doing a few here and there. It was a slow build. However that all changed the day another pro wrestling legend walked into the DDP Yoga studio. Chris Jericho. Jericho is in a rock band called Fozzy. He saw the space and said, “This would be a great spot to shoot a music video”. Then my boss told him that I directed music videos. A month later I ended up directing their music video for their song “Judas”. Judas ended up being a huge hit. The video got millions and millions of views and made people take what I do seriously. After that music video, I started my own company called Kind Punk.

Has it been a smooth road?
It was hard to transition from the relaxed mountains of Tennessee (where my parents to this day don’t have the internet) to the fast-paced art scene in Atlanta. People told me I was a fool for trying to make a living making art. That opposition made everything I accomplish that much sweeter. I also had a disease that left me paralyzed for a few months back in 2013. That sickness really inspired me to live life as fully as I can. I think everything that tries to hurt you can be turned into something that helps you.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
My company is heavily influenced by the punk rock scene I grew up loving. Punk always appealed to me because it didn’t have to be super pretty and polished. Sometimes raw and messy art is better. I also find that in today’s world everybody is so cynical and cruel. We forget to be a kid and to just go have fun. I want to revolt against this unkind world by being positive and loving to everybody I encounter while still keeping that spirit of rock n roll. Get dirt under your fingernails, play with fire, love your neighbor and get rowdy.

Our tagline is “messy rock n roll filmmaking wrapped in southern hospitality. Be kind. Be punk.”

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I think Atlanta is one of the best places in America to pursue the arts. There are so many opportunities here. The people I have met have helped me a ton and in return, I would love to help anybody I can. So if you’re reading this and need any advice don’t hesitate to hit me up! The scene here is super strong. You keep your head up, put the work in and just meet a few people doing what you do and you’ll be just fine.

Contact Info:

• Website: kindpunk.com
• Email: nathanielmowery@gmail.com
• Instagram: @nathanmowery @kindpunkfilm
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kindpunkfilm/
• Twitter: @nathanmowery

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