We had the good fortune of connecting with Jayden O’Neal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jayden, what are you inspired by?
Honestly, I am inspired by art. I look at art for inspiration, for the beautiful image on a canvas, and its backstory. I often reflect on why it was created and what it represents. There’s a beauty in the story of how art comes to be. When I look at art I see all of the emotion and history that it encompasses and that serves as my biggest inspiration for telling stories and pursuing a career as a filmmaker.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The biggest thing that sets me apart from others is that I’m not scared to try new things. I always try to push the envelope when I approach any new project with my team [FreeRealm]. One of my biggest accomplishments thus far is getting to work on an upcoming horror feature film in Atlanta as well as start developing my first web series. I feel that I have gotten to where I’m at through dedication to my craft and networking with other creatives. An important lesson I’ve learned working in the film industry is to never take anything personal. One thing I want the world to take away from my story is that no matter how big an obstacle is you can use it as a stepping stool to reach your next goal.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take them to Downtown Los Angeles. I would stop by Chinatown to shop and check out all the sneaker shops nearby, collect souvenirs, and explore the city.

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?
I want to shout out my parents for always believing in me and encouraging me to keep going and reach all of the goals I have set for myself. I want to also shout out my sister and best friend, Kaylyn for always being there for me no matter what.

Lastly, I want to shout out my production company, FreeRealm Entertainment! I am blessed to be able to work with a talented group of people who all share the same passion as I do. We started with a camera and a dream and have since evolved without comprising our goal of telling unique stories through film.

Website: https://www.jaydenoneal.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaydenmoneal/?hl=en

Other: Check out my team FreeRealm Entertainment on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/freerealment

Image Credits
Nathan San Filippo, Shuntaro Yamasaki, and Felisha Carrasco.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.