Check Out AJ Austin’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to AJ Austin.

Hi AJ, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today. 
I’m a 26-year-old Filmmaker & DJ from Los Angeles CA. I got started in the Media & Film industry at a very young age, working for different High-Profile clients with my father, shooting commercials and other branded content. As I grew and found my own way navigating through this industry, I started gravitating to a more creative approach of storytelling. In that, I learned about the place that the Art Department has on film shoots. I have always been fascinated in creating things myself, so I took a deeper dive into fine art and fabrication to seed what would be my future. After high school, I instantly started jumping on to various low-budget shoots as an Art Assistant and started my quest to gain as much on-set Art Department knowledge as I could. I was hooked. 

School after that became pretty difficult due to me only caring about making films and being on set. After a few years of working lower positions, I started working my way up and started applying for gigs as a Props Master or Props Fabricator. It wasn’t until working with a close director friend of mine, Greg Foltynowicz, on some short films of his that I got to start doing Set Dressing. After that, I then realized my potential to actually lead Art Department myself as a whole. I started marketing myself as a full-fledged Production Designer and started joining in on bigger productions. At first, I definitely -thought- that I was biting off more than I could chew with this new endeavor, but with enough pep from my friends and family, I was determined to start working on just about any project. 

Now in today’s times, I work as a PD/ Art Director with full confidence that i can tackle any project regardless of budget. I’m eager, if not Hungry to create. I take great pride in working closely with Directors to bring their creative visions to life. I genuinely enjoy when I’m approached with a concept for a set that seems almost impossible to execute with a lower budget, and I find a way to get it done with cash to spare. I find myself to be extremely resourceful and can always look for ways to work within a shoot’s Art Dept. allotment. 

As of now, I’m enjoying working on crazy looking Music Videos as PD with my Best Friend & Roommate Dylan Mcgale, who is a true visionary when it comes to Directing, and my younger sister Jazzmin Oddie, who is hands down one of the most versatile and talented Makeup artists I’ve seen in a long time. Together we create true magic and have a blast doing it. We’ve even gone as far as to start our own entertainment group called “Full Balcony,” where we bring together people we’ve met on and off productions to get together for an amazing night of fun. Because of that group, I’ve taken up DJing and very quickly found myself deeply embedded in that community. I have helped put together countless unforgettable LA nightlife events, with more coming on the horizon. Dylan & Jazz are extremely important to me, and a big part of my success is due to them constantly pushing me to do better. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am currently. 

Full Balcony is a way to bring people together. People you wouldn’t think would ever interact without someone to “bridge the gap” we’ve quickly became that said bridge. While we got our start hosting events at local bars in our area, such as Melody Lounge, Thai Angel, and Bar Franca, our Inception came from us hosting a party in our small apartment that got slightly out of hand. It was there that our house got so packed that half of the guests in attendance had to chill outside on the Balcony, which made it difficult for our neighbors to get in or out of their homes. We recently came together to brainstorm how we could elevate our group and reach a wider audience and decided to take to the internet and start recording/ uploading the events we’ve done and using our film production skills to shoot interesting ways to market our parties. Now, we have plans of a very big event coming up later this year to commemorate our Anniversary as a team. We have a lot in store for this year, and we’re super excited to share it with the masses. We want to get more people out of their comfort zones and release those deep embedded inhibitions. There’s room for everyone on our Balcony! 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being an artist in Los Angeles is NOT for the weak. It’s always going to be hard. You can be the most creative or most talented individual ever, and you’ll get overlooked by someone with a larger social media platform. Stuff like that used to weigh heavily on me, but now I’m better at shaking it off now. I feel that everyone has their time, and if someone else is being chosen for cool Music Videos or whatnot, then it’s not exactly my time yet. I stay grounded and divert my attention to other creative projects. 

In the Dj world, getting booked is always a struggle. It’s hard to get recognition, especially if you don’t already have a huge platform or are close with people who do. It all comes down to marketing. I feel that if you really wanna make it, you have to pump out mixes, interact with other artists in your skill bracket, and try to put together small-scale events with your friends at bars you frequent. As you establish yourself better, then people will be willing to work with you. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in finding ways to make any project I join that much more creative. I feel that with the speed at which we produce and consume media, it’s easy to cut corners when it comes to Art, but I feel (and I’m not speaking for that sake of my career haha) that it’s NEEDED. There’s always room for making productings look even just a tiny bit flashier. The world has become so bleak, and I aspire to fill it back up with color. 

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
LA has always been known to be a “melting pot” of sorts, but I personally feel that it’s much more than that. This city inspires change, it fuels passion, and there are a lot of people out there that could use a place like this. I’ve come across many individuals who dream of branching out of their status quo and taking up a passion for something more creative. Any time I meet people like that, I try my best to sway them into at least giving it a shot, and Los Angeles is a place where something of that nature is nurtured and welcomed with open arms. You can really change your life out here simply with a leap of faith. 

I don’t like gentrification. lol 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Arigato.AJ https://www.instagram.com/arigato.aj/ Fullbalcony_ https://www.instagram.com/fullbalcony_/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arigato-aj/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FullBalcony
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/arigato_aj

Image Credits
@byjosco