Get to Know Our Co-Creative Directors
After recently being appointed Co-Creative Directors at Blue Chalk Media, Jesse Crowell and Kenzie Bruce sat down with us to discuss their career beginnings, the projects they hold dear, and the things that motivate them.
Tell us about your background and experience. What inspired you to pursue a career in production?
Jesse: I grew up recording and editing lots of home videos with my little brother and cousins, so there was an early spark and curiosity with filmmaking. I initially wanted to be a writer but drifted into photojournalism in college and discovered multimedia storytelling along the way. A professor named Torsten Kjellstrand and a series of classes he taught at the University of Oregon really showed me this path and inspired me to pursue it.
Kenzie: I had a roundabout path to production. I’ve always been interested in anything “creative” and was lucky enough to attend a high school that had multiple photography classes and was immediately hooked. From there, I decided to apply the camera skills I had in college by studying photojournalism at the University of Missouri, and that’s where I started learning about the ethics of journalism, storytelling, and video. I discovered I was most drawn to mission-driven work and actually worked in nonprofits and newspapers before joining the team at Blue Chalk.
What is a Blue Chalk project you’ve worked on that you’re particularly proud of? What made it stand out?
Jesse: “We Break Cycles” for Open School. Open School is an untraditional education program in Portland that Blue Chalk has worked with since 2016. Their ongoing work, the subject of this particular video, and the team I collaborated with (Producer Whitney Bradshaw and Director of Photography Jason Greene) all mean a lot to me, and this project holds a special place in my heart because of that.
Kenzie: “Back To You” with The Foundry at Meredith stands out. My colleagues Mariko Fujinaka, Conner Lee, Miró Merrill, and I made five short videos that aim to heighten awareness about asthma and demonstrate that the condition can be successfully controlled with medical treatment, including one with actor Tony Hale. The films were made during the height of the pandemic, so we changed our creative approach from documentary style to a collage-like animation…it was creative problem solving and I think the stories were told even better this way.
Another project I’m particularly proud of is still in the works, but it’s a documentary about a group of formerly incarcerated firefighters. The main characters we’ve been working with are some of the most inspirational people I’ve ever met.
What do you see as the biggest challenges in the production industry and what are you most excited for?
Jesse: I think it can be hard to cut through the noise with the volume of things being made all the time. But there are so many compelling opportunities for immersive, creative filmmaking with subjects and stories I admire and that will always energize me to keep making things.
Kenzie: Something I’m excited about in the documentary space is protagonists or characters in the pieces being more involved and having more agency in the process. I think that’s becoming more and more common, and I’m excited for what that looks like and for what other levels of creativity that could unlock.
Where or what do you draw creative inspiration from? Who/what are the films, directors, or creative projects that you admire?
Jesse: I love reading non-fiction with original, unique storytelling and fiction with lyrical, poetic language — those are both a big source of inspiration for me. I also try to take in short films, editorial brand work, and documentaries from filmmakers I revere as often as I can. Emily Maye, Britton Caillouette, and Kim Gehrig are some of my favorites.
Kenzie: Oh man, all around! I am constantly inspired by others’ creativity, including all my colleagues at Blue Chalk. I draw inspiration from moments in film, performance art, books…anything from Lady Gaga’s iconic but overshadowed 2009 VMA performance to the spoken word poem “Shake the Dust” by Anis Mojgani has the power to give me goosebumps. I’m passionate about documentaries, and a few recent ones that come to mind as particularly inspiring are King Coal (Elaine McMillion Sheldon); Minding the Gap (Bing Liu); When Lambs Become Lions (Jon Kasbe); and Fire of Love (Sara Dosa). I also really admire all of Sindha Agha’s work.
What advice do you have for aspiring creatives looking to make their mark in the production industry?
Jesse: Make as many things as you can. Trust your taste. Be a good listener.
Kenzie: To quote Ira Glass’s “The Gap,” “Do a lot of work.” Keep making things, and try to make things that mean something to you as often as you can.
