Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Arroyo.
Jason, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I grew up in Alhambra, California and was always a huge film buff. After high school, I kind of lacked direction and didn’t quite take my studies as seriously as I should have. That all changed one night, when I went out with some friends and I was blindsided and assaulted by a group of gangsters. I don’t really remember a whole lot. I suffered a pretty significant head injury and spent a week in bed.
After I recovered, I decided I wanted to study film and pursue a career in entertainment. I attended Pasadena City College, then transferred to CSUN where I majored in Cinema, Television and Radio, with an emphasis in Screenwriting. I worked at a few studios after college and gained a lot of experience on the business side of entertainment. But, I really wasn’t happy with the direction I was headed. I knew I wanted to create content so, I began working from home.
I began writing coverage for a few production houses and independent producers while I learned photography. I fell in love with the art form and, eventually, I decided to become a professional photographer. Today, I also work as a freelance videographer and editor, create corporate videos for websites and social media, and also do some screenwriting.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I am a photographer and filmmaker. I try to create visually appealing and entertaining content. A lot of my best work happens when I’m trying to experiment or work on new techniques. Sometimes, I get an idea and kind of challenge myself to see if I can create what I have in mind. I try not to take myself too seriously and just do the best that I can. Most of the time, my execution is flawed and I come up short. I try not to look at these missteps as failures, but rather, as lessons in which to learn from. It can be very frustrating. But, I use that frustration as motivation to try and get it right. Even if that means trying over and over again. Like many artists / creators, I spend a majority of my time isolated and working hard at my craft. My hope is that all of that hard work and effort shows through.
Do current events, local or global, affect your work and what you are focused on?
I don’t think the role of artists has changed. I think technology has evolved allowing artists to express themselves in more ways than ever. I try to keep up with current events but I don’t always make a conscious effort to express my views through my art. Sometimes I will, but not always.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
People can see my work on my website (www.jasondarroyo.com) and my Instagram account (@jasondarroyo). If anyone is interested in any of my photos I make my own prints. I try to use the money I make from selling prints to fund a documentary I’m currently working on.
Contact Info:
- Website: jasondarroyo.com
- Phone: 323-920-9529
- Email: jasondarroyo@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasondarroyo/
Image Credit:
Matthew Polizzi
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