Meet Terrence Jones | Writer/Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Terrence Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Terrence, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Looking back, I think that I was always going to end up in a creative career one way or another. Even as a kid, I frequently found myself doing film related things. When I was around eight, I wrote a short script starring Ernie from Sesame Street along with some of my other stuffed animals in a courtroom drama. Years later, when I was in high school, my English teacher assigned the class an open-ended project. Most people chose to do an oral presentation or create a poster. I decided to go a different route and instead chose to create a black and white “Twilight Zone” style video presentation, complete with me acting as the Rod Serling-style host.

I really don’t know exactly what it is, but something about watching visuals on a screen has always resonated with me. I love being immersed in a new story and seeing where it takes me. I truly think that film is one of the best ways to connect with people. Film has the unique ability to introduce people to new ideas and concepts that they otherwise might not have even been aware of. My goal as a filmmaker is to get people to feel the same excitement that I feel whenever I watch something amazing on screen.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a big fan of horror films, action films, and thrillers. The stories I create usually fall into one of those genres. That being said, I always try to always incorporate a personal element into my work regardless of the genre. I feel like personal stories in films resonate with me the most. Whether it’s a mundane story about a couple breaking up or something as wild as an alien invasion, I always want the characters and their relationships with one another to be at the forefront.

Over the years, I’ve learned that one of the most important things you can do for yourself is to stay focused on your own goals. It sounds simple but after having done a lot of videography work over the years, I’ve found that it’s very easy to get caught up doing projects for other people. There have been times where I’ve taken on multiple jobs and overbooked myself, only to look up weeks later and realize that I had completely neglected to do anything for myself over that time. That’s probably been my biggest challenge since moving to Los Angeles. Now I always make sure to set aside time each week to do things that will help me get closer to my goal of directing feature films.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m actually probably one of the worst people to answer this question. I’m one of those weird people that actually likes Los Angeles’s urban sprawl. Yeah I know it causes all of the horrible traffic, but I think that it also creates some really cool and unique neighborhoods.

It would be difficult, if not impossible, for me to put together a short list of places to visit. For instance, the vibe on Hollywood Blvd. is completely different from anything you’ll find in Echo Park. And both of those places are completely different from Venice, which itself is also different from South LA. My suggestion would be to pick a handful of areas that sound like they may be interesting and then just go out and explore them. I really love all of the hidden spots and artwork that you’ll find throughout Los Angeles just by exploring it. Admittedly, I absolutely hate being stuck in traffic and having to weave around different streets to avoid it. But the tradeoff is that sometimes I find myself stumbling upon hidden gems along the way.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I don’t think I’d be here right now if it weren’t for a couple of my teachers from high school. Up until midway through my senior year of high school, I had every intention of pursuing something business related in college. It wasn’t until I took a cinema class with Mrs. Wandro that my career path completely changed. One of the films she had us analyze in class was ”Psycho” and it completely blew my mind. Previously, I’d just viewed movies as being mindless entertainment. I was amazed that a film could have so much artistry and subtext using things like framing, blocking, and editing.

I also have to give a shoutout to my track coach Mr. Jones. Those 6am practice sessions before school taught me how to work hard and stay consistent. Additionally, it taught me how to work with a team. There was also something special about seeing all of my hard work pay off in the form of tangible things like trophies and medals. Even to this day, I still have that same mentality of working hard, valuing collaboration, and also paying close attention to the little details in order to achieve my goal.

And last but not least, I have to mention my mom. She’s supported me from the start and helped me make my big move from Chicago to LA. I definitely wouldn’t be here without her. Hi Mom!

Website: fifteen80.com

Instagram: instagram.com/TerrenceAJones

Twitter: twitter.com/TerrenceAJones

Facebook: facebook.com/Fifteen80

Youtube: youtube.com/TerrenceAJones