Meet Kensly Fresh | Smart Work Pays Off. Learn to work smarter not harder.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kensly Fresh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kensly, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
Hard work pays off. The truth is smart work pays better. It’s an unpopular opinion, but working hard doesn’t pay off enough. You have to work smart at working hard. If you find a way to work smart and work hard at working smart, then you are more likely to be successful. The most successful people learned to work smart and make good use of their time. It’s something I’m still learning as a filmmaker. Those who get further ahead in this industry aren’t always the most creative, the most talented, or the hardest workers; it’s the ones who work smart and know how to maneuver. I’ve worked with countless people who are far less talented than I am but are miles ahead of me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
For starters, I’m a filmmaker, and although I tend to wear many hats (producing, editing, and writing), I like to simplify things and consider myself a Director of Photography. I know most people want to be in charge and be a Director or Producer, but for me, behind the camera is where the magic happens. I have a passion for motion pictures and storytelling, and I’m also a techie, so I love the latest camera gadgets just as much as I love composition and lighting. I can spend a whole day playing with my camera, working on compositions, and exploring the menus. I wholeheartedly love every aspect of filmmaking, like a fat kid’s love cake, and that’s what truly sets me apart.
I’m always excited to be on set and to meet new people, and that reflects in my personality and character. You will never, and I do mean “never,” see me upset on set, no matter how chaotic things can get on a film set. It may sound silly, but that is what sets me apart. I’m happy and excited to show up to work, and because of that, I’m always going to work hard, give my best, and bring positive energy. Having a positive energy will get you far in your profession and in everyday life.
Lastly, to anyone who takes the time to read my story, I want you to know that I moved to Atlanta in October 2015 with my Girlfriend (now fiance) and our 1-year-old son in a 2011 Honda Civic that was only big enough to carry our clothes. We didn’t have any relatives, friends, or money—just the 3 of us in a 2 Bedroom bug-infested apartment we found on Craigslist. We only had enough money to cover 1 month of rent. No furniture and no mattress, so we slept on the living room floor the first few nights until roaches crawled on us. I’m not making this up; we were forced to take $70 out of that 1 month’s rent money we had saved to buy a futon at Walmart. In short, it was tough the first few years, but we decided to never look back and to see it through. So, to anyone struggling or going through it, I want you to know it’s temporary. Don’t give up on your dreams, and always know your worth even when you are at your lowest.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Admittedly, I don’t get out much. It’s ironic because while in college at Florida State University (Go Noles!) I consider myself a socialite—from throwing house parties, clubbing 3x a week, being in a dance troupe, modeling, etc. I even put on one of the biggest fashion shows in school history at Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee. Nowadays, I keep to myself and enjoy spending my weekends at home with my family. I’m not saying I’m a boring person now, not by a long shot; my interest has changed a lot. When I do have guests come over, I like to take them on a hike to Stone Mountain to see their fitness level —plus, the view up there is amazing. In addition to Stone Mountain, the next activities on my list would be Top Golf, Your 3rd Spot, and/or a visit to Ponce City Market before taking a ride on some scooter on The Belt Line. When it comes to food, my favorite brunch spot is Flavor Rich. If you never heard of it, look it up and thank me later. Toast on Lenox is pretty good as well. Outside of brunch, depending on the mood, we would check out The Vortex (the Peachtree location) for some of the best burgers in town. If we want things a little more casual, Season 52 (the Buford location) is one of my favorite spots. If my friend is in town for a special occasion or celebration, we can splurge and go to the best steak house in the city (which is also my favorite), BONES restaurant, or Marcel; you can’t go wrong with either one.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I can truly say sustaining a full-time filmmaker career for over 10 years has only been possible with my fiance´(high school sweetheart) Princesse Prince in my corner. This career path isn’t easy, but it’s been just as hard, if not twice as hard, on her emotionally and financially. For example, there’s a time when I’m away from home on set for weeks at a time, and she has to take care of our kids. When the film industry was on strike for a whole year last year, she had to carry my slack financially.
Another thing that is often overlooked as an artist/creative is that we can be very sensitive about our work, especially when we fail. Princesse had to deal with both my success and the bunt of my failure, and trust, there have been plenty of failures.
Now that I think about it, filmmaking isn’t her dream or passion, but she has supported me as if it were hers. Words can’t express what it’s like to have someone so committed and dedicated in my corner. If I were to quit, it would be a disservice to her for all the work she put into supporting me. I’m extremely grateful that God blessed me with such an incredible partner. She’s my homie, lover, and friend.
In addition to having such a devoted partner in Princesse, if this were a game of Jeopardy or who wants to be a millionaire, then my brother Lovensky is my only lifeline—he’s always been there to back me up. He’s done so much for me financially that I’m embarrassed to ask him for anything anymore. My brother has done so much for me but never asked for anything in return. When I sign my first multi-million dollar contract, the first million goes to him. My brother is there when I need a good pep talk to stay motivated, if I’m ever feeling sorry for myself, he’s going to let me know to stop complaining and get to work. Having my brother and my fiance´ in my corner is like waking up every day with my eyes close and doing a trust fall.

Website: https://kenslyfresh.com

Instagram: @kenslyfresh

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/kenslyfresh

Twitter: @kenslyfresh

Facebook: @kenslyfresh

Image Credits
Terry Wilson, All That Jazz Media, LeyLo Media