Meet Doulos Kun | A Creative and Storyteller Who Puts Kindness First

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

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I didn’t realize it until a friend pointed it out but I love stories about friendship and human connection. I think that’s the core of who we are as people, to love and be loved whether it’s familial or romantic. So that’s naturally where my stories and themes gravitate towards. The first piece I directed out of college isn’t necessarily my best but it’s the one I’m most proud of because I was able to have my grandmother appear in it. It’s her first and only acting credit and she performed wonderfully. My roommate and I shot the entire piece on our own and we achieved way more than I could have imagined. It affirmed that I can find my way in this industry. I still struggle with self-doubt on a consistent basis and I’m not where I want to be at in terms of my career but I know that my resiliency and discipline will inevitably pay off. Pay your dues, be respectful, put in the work, keep your eyes on the prize, and just move one step forward at a time.

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 love this prompt. I pride myself on being the best host. I’m always trying to convince more friends to move to Los Angeles so showing them a good time in my city is imperative. Can I just show you my Google Maps? I create food maps everywhere I go so my map is literally covered in dots. It’s both impressive and weird. The last time three friends visited for six days, the person who gained “the least weight” gained 9 pounds and the person who gained the most gained 14 pounds… Does that convey my hosting ability well enough? Absolute favorite beach in LA is El Matador State Beach up in Malibu though. My first birthday in LA after moving here, I had a shoot on the beach at sunrise. It was surreal and is my marker as the beginning of my journey.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Man so many people. Guess this can be an early draft for my future Oscar speech. First gotta thank my parents. For laying the groundwork by immigrating to the States and despite being immigrants, they never forced the traditional or stereotypical pursuits on me. Don’t get me wrong, I excelled in school regardless. But they allowed and encouraged me to pursue my passions which is telling stories. My wife who challenges me and keeps me humble. All the directors and DPs who have shaped my approach to telling stories. Spencer Sun. And last but not least, Pierce Simpson is my brother for life.

Website: douloskun.com

Instagram: @douloskun