Interview
Jonny Zeller
Champagne & Gyoza, United States
Jonny Zeller combines his natural ability to bring crazy ideas to life and his extensive experience in spearheading projects for the world’s largest brands to produce mind-boggling content for the amusement and enjoyment of many.
1 Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your creative background.
A lot of people can come up with great ideas. I can do that with the best of them but I also have the resources to actually bring just about any crazy idea to life. Toss in my curated network of best-in-class actors/musicians/influencers, and it
2 What made you become/why did you choose to become a creative?
I don
3 Tell us more about your business/company, job profile, and what you do.
As a Director, I get to tell stories of all shapes and sizes. Lately, I got to the conclusion that there must be a better term for what I actually do. I
4 What does “creativity” mean to you?
Anyone who has worked in the creative field knows that you can
5 To you, what makes a “creative” idea and/or design?
The bar for
6 Tell us about your creative and/or design process.
Creativity can strike at any moment, so I consciously try to keep my mind open for inspiration. Sometimes it can be a person I see in the street or even an ad on a billboard. If my headspace is open and has a particular project (or multiple) running through it, the chances of finding inspiration are much higher. I complement this with much research for the specific project I
7 What's your favorite part of the creative process and why?
Usually, my favorite part of the creative process is at the beginning, when I
8 Describe your creative style and its main characteristics.
I aim to create stories that resonate with the audience using visceral visuals, complex emotional portrayals, articulate VFX, or all of the above. These are usually applied with a sense of scale. I love taking an otherwise ordinary world and twisting it to create a subtle surrealist-like aesthetic. Likewise, discussing social commentary within my narrative is always a driving force behind my style.
9 Do you think your country and its cultural heritage has an impact on your creativity process?
A person
10 Congratulations! As the winner of the 2022 MUSE Creative Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?
We
11 Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2022 MUSE Creative Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
"Experience Life On Cloud Nine" is one of the first live-action NFT teaser films ever produced. This narrative follows the journey of the 2nd Cousin of the inventor of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto, as he invites unsuspecting participants to join his world through a series of riddles. It was crucial for us to think three steps ahead while creating the storyline. Everything that was put into the film potentially would have positive or negative repercussions on the story down the line. Much like building a TV series, the scope of the ongoing narrative is ever-evolving, and the entirety of the Cloud Niners Cinematic Universe hasn
12 What was the biggest challenge with this project?
Most producers will tell you that to make life easier,
13 How has winning an Award developed your practice/career?
There
14 What are your top three (3) favorite things about our industry?
1.) Many of the people I
15 What makes your country specifically, unique in the creative industry?
I moved from the Midwest to LA to live in the Entertainment Industry's epicenter. There is an undeniable energy in LA that has helped propel me further than I ever could have gone if I had stayed in my hometown. So much happens here, and we
16 Where do you see the evolution of creative industry going over the next 5-10 years?
I
17 If you were a student entering this industry or an aspiring MUSE Creative Awards submitter, what advice would you give them?
1.) Work after you get home from work. Some of your most significant career progress happen outside of regular working hours. If you have a day job, get used to spending your off-time networking, writing, creating, and collaborating. There
18 What resources would you recommend to someone who wants to improve their skills in the creative industry?
Take every online business training course you can. You have to learn how to be your own brand. SCORE.org
19 Tell us something you have never told anyone else.
I may have to come back to this question after a few cocktails and am more open to sharing.
20 Who has inspired you in your life and why?
Many people have inspired me, whether for their public achievements or even how they talk to their subordinates. From the man who transported us across Laos during a TV series production to the women tirelessly working to build a school while we filmed in Zambia, there is a lot we can learn from others. We need to let our egos move out of the way and realize that most people we meet have some brilliance in them.
21 What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
Building a team of smarter people around you and utilizing the
22 Do you have anything else you would like to add to the interview?
I would love to share the bigger picture behind our NFT Collection Cloud Niners. There
