Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Ashby.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Aaron. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve always wanted to tell stories. When I was little, I wrote tons of poems, short stories, and comic books. Eventually, I got obsessed with movies. My family and I would get together every Friday night to watch a movie from Blockbuster. Saturday morning, I would watch it again. The obsession started with martial arts films from Hong Kong and China, then sci-fi and fantasy. I wanted to be those people in those stories, and I wanted to create those kinds of stories for myself. There weren’t too many filmmaking opportunities in Greensboro, NC at the time so I started by getting involved in community theater. Eventually, the folks running the community theater started making films as well, and I dived in as quickly as I could. They made all of the DVD special features I watched about films and TV shows real and present. They gave me access to technology and experience that is typically reserved for wealthy people in large metropolitan cities—that’s not how I grew up. For that, I am extremely grateful. I was so blessed to be connected to their passion and be under their mentorship.
After a few years of theater acting and filmmaking in the community and at my high school, I got a full ride to USC film school. I was so scared to leave my family and go to what felt like a different country where I didn’t know anyone. At the same time, I realized how privileged I was to have the opportunity to get a university education, to have parents who were supportive of my creative ambitions, to study art in the first place. I took it as a sign from God that it was His desire to accelerate my destiny, taking me to California long before I thought possible. While I was at USC, I was again blessed with so many mentors and friends who taught me everything I wanted to know and also didn’t know to ask. I met most of the people who I trust and collaborate with today. Together, we immersed ourselves in the city of Los Angeles, falling in love with its disparate array of neighborhoods and peoples. We became leaders in our respective and shared campus communities. We pushed things. We pushed ourselves.
When I graduated from USC, I worked for Sony in an experimental virtual reality lab, then landed my dream job – interning for JJ Abrams at Bad Robot Productions. After that, I worked at a VR company called Strivr as an Associate Producer while writing, directing, and producing short-form projects of my own. Now, I spend my time writing, experimenting with all sorts of coffees and teas, making beats, and trying to serve my community where I can.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has most definitely not been a smooth road. I’ve had so many identity crises. I remember working on a project – an art show – with some good friends of mine during school. I put so much pressure on myself to make it very grand and impressive. I crashed into a deep depression that lasted for months – it wouldn’t be the last one. I’ve struggled to unlearn a lot of internalized racism and classism. My parents raised me to be proud of my heritage, and when I moved out on my own I thought I had come to fully embrace my Black, Asian, Southern, Christian, poor, and middle-class identities. I was wrong. I definitely struggled to dismantle the idea that I was in competition with my peers in school. As long as I held the belief that I was competing against them (rather than running with them) I was so demoralized by the stark contrast in resources and connections between me and my peers. Creating anything is hard by itself, and finding a way to have others experience one’s creation is just as difficult. Most of my struggles were related to finding the resources and collaborators I needed to fulfill my visions, but more than that my struggle has been the mental battle for my self-esteem. I fought – and still fight – tooth and nail for a healthy image of myself as an artist, an entrepreneur, and a child of God.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I write and direct films and immersive experiences. Specifically, I write feature films and design narrative virtual reality experiences and installations. The project I’m most proud of is a virtual reality film/installation called “blacclites.” Not only am I proud of how the film turned out, but I’m equally (if not more) proud of and grateful for the experience of making it. While making that project, we created a beautiful and refreshing community of loving, wildly imaginative artists. I can’t thank them enough for that experience.
I think my experience as a producer sets me apart from writers and directors/creative directors who don’t understand (or don’t want to understand) the logistics or the business side of things as much. More importantly, what makes me different from others is that I’m always straddling different communities. Sometimes these communities clash, sometimes they align and support each other. Regardless, I’ve made it my mission to be a translator – to seek to understand before seeking to be understood, and help people understand each other.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Los Angeles is the perfect place for writers, filmmakers, creatives of any sort, and anyone who’s interested in discovering creative ways to use technology. I was scared to come here straight away, but I would say to anyone who’s on the fence – COME. LA has its issues and challenges sure – but don’t believe the hype about LA being “fake” or the “city of broken dreams.” There are fake people and broken dreams everywhere in every city. What’s important is to find the people who will support you no matter what, mentors who can teach and encourage you. In terms of achieving the American dream–the entertainer’s dream—I haven’t “made it” yet, but I’ve made it this far, and I’m proud to call this city home.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.epiphanypictures.co/
- Phone: 336-908-8488
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @casperrrrr_____
Image Credit:
Claire Kay, Aaron Ashby
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
