Today we’d like to introduce you to Thomas Kellogg.
Thomas, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
For as long as I can remember I have always loved movies and have been incredibly intrigued by the people who make them. When I was young I worked for my dad as a mechanic and with every paycheck I got, I immediately went to Target and bought the DVD to a movie I already watched so I could listen to the Director’s commentary. This really was my first film school until I got to OCC. I took all the drama classes and all the film classes at OCC which at the time I felt like I was the only one doing it. I had a tremendous advantage because I had access to all the actors and writers from drama and all the equipment and technical knowhow from the film department. The culmination of this merger was the short film “Such Is Life” which I directed by but was written by drama student Sean Gray and shot by film student Nick Medrud. It played at the Newport Beach Film Festival and won me best director at the OCC Film Festival.
From there I continued to shoot but I did mostly funny videos for a small start-up website called Youtube. Between that and Stand Up which was a wild and actually pretty violent ride (I got a chair smashed in my face while on stage) I made some noise and Adam Devine (who I worked with at OCC) wrote me into his show “Adam Devine’s House Party”. That role led to the role of TK the dunking birthday genie on “Workaholics” which then led to my own pilot presentation with “Adult Swim” called “Rage & Beauty”. That pilot wasn’t picked up but Kyle Newacheck (who I created it with) and I did not want to stop the creative train we had going so we started to make a Mocumentary about what we were going through. It had a Curb Your Enthusiasm type vibe to it where we would just enhance things we were already feeling. Ryan O’Melia who I met at OCC came on as director and our journey took us all the way to New York where I dunked a basketball for a fan. This movie won me best actor at the “Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival”.
After that movie, Kyle, Ryan and I loved working with each other so much we developed a web series called Studio City Kings. This time I was back in the director’s chair and boy was it fun. The show is a crime thriller and I got to shoot all the Scorcese, Coppola and Bigelow things I grew up watching commentaries on. We did two seasons and it was produced by Wonk Studios which I then became VP of Development for. During my time at Wonk, we created many short-form series and are still working with top talent in Hollywood. My favorite thing we do at Wonk is live streaming, we have a great relationship with Black Magic who is on the front line of live stream technology and equipment. Our 2 live stream shows that I love the most are “FADE TV” & “Celebrity Ping Pong” of which we have stars like Machine Gun Kelly, Steve-O, Blake Anderson and Lexy Panterra all appear on.
I’ve also directed and shot a bunch of music videos for a band called “Dumb Bitches With Internet” which has allowed my creativity to flourish. I have fallen in love with composition and lighting and unlike what I do with live -streaming, Photography allows me to strive for perfection and take my time with each shot. I recently fixed up an old canon ql17 and love the time it takes to set up a shot and the time it takes to develop, it’s like Christmas morning waiting for your images. the film camera brought me back to shooting digital photography as well, and I take the principles I developed and put into every shot. I love the simplicity of storytelling photography allows.
Has it been a smooth road?
Not at all, I am a father of two, which is why I still live in Orange County. As I said before I got a chair bashed into my face while doing comedy. My pilot that I poured my soul into didn’t get picked up. There has been a lot of no on my road but I know I got the chops so I keep rolling. I can legit say that every failure has led to something way sweeter.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I shoot video and photography. I love helping brands and people get their stories and product out to consumers in the most epic, fun and clear way. I’m proud of my ability to pick up on and illuminate a person’s vibe. When I’m working with you we are on an adventure together and we find dope stuff along the way, I love coming up with a game-plan but going with the flow on the day of a shoot.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I like that it’s not as crazy down here in OC. You can really get to know and take your time with clients. It’s also not as trendy so we are able to do what’s best for the product and message and actually have fun doing it. I don’t like the unwillingness of people not willing to come down here to shoot, it always if you’re doing something creative with someone from LA you gotta roll to them.
Pricing:
- Portrait Photography Session (includes 5 edited photos) – 350$
- Live Event Photography (Includes 10 edited photos) – 350$
Contact Info:
- Website: ThomasKellogg.com
- Phone: 9492309390
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @ThomasKellogg
Image Credit:
Photo of Thomas: Greg Inskeep
All other photos shot by Thomas Kellogg
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