Meet Jeremy Cournyea | Creative Director & Cinematographer

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

Hi Jeremy, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I think this used to be very difficult for me. I used to be working nonstop to the point it was over consuming my life. Part of that was probably the need to pay rent and bills at the time, but another part of it was growing my company. I knew i had to work on it even after my day job working as a cook. However now that things are more established both with my career and my finances, I have found that slowing down to enjoy life outside of work is just as rewarding. When considering balance, I try not to get overhyped when good things happen to me in my life. That way when problems or negative actions occur, I wont be as “low” in terms of mental state, and thus can often better deal with my problems. I’ve been actively practicing this for years and it has really helped me find a personal balance.

What should our readers know about your business?
I own and operate a small media production company called Foot Trail Films. What sets us apart from the many video production companies in Atlanta is that we focus on the environmental, sustainable product, and wildlife conservation market. I always enjoyed spending time in the outdoors and around animals and with all the issues and threats our natural world faces, it only seemed like a win win to pivot into a specialty market within video. I started with a series of small videos produced for Atlanta Trails highlighting the Georgia Parks. From there I began seeking out potential customers across the southeast who needed branding material, I think after sending 300+ cold emails I got a response from Alternative Energy Southeast which lead to us making our first commercial. Since then we have worked with nonprofits, advocates, education centers and have produced two award winning short documentaries.

I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned is to learn from failures. To me, I think it’s very important to look for solutions over placing blame, and then reanalyzing what went wrong when there is time to do so. That is, in a way, where I think we are as individuals in regards to the environment too. Realizing we have made mistakes during our progress and considering ways to prevent those mistakes in the future progresses.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Many of my long time friends live out of state so I am no stranger to playing travel guide. Without taking our current state of pandemic into account, I’m a big fan of The Georgia Aquarium, Sweetwater Creek, Cycling on the Beltline, and Concerts at Tabernacle or Iris. I would also highly encourage a trip to our local breweries Orpheus and Monday Night, as well as the exceedingly excellent ASW Distillery. Lastly, as a new resident of East Point, i’ve really been digging the bar Chairs and the little strip it rests on.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Although Atlanta is full of talent, over the last few years Joey Johnson, Antonio Garcia,, Nija Walker and Christopher Manza are all creative professionals who have been willing to join in on my short films. Each one has a skill set different from the other that makes them a valuable asset to the team. On top of that, these guys have also become some great friends of mine over the years.

Website: www.foottrailfilms.com

Instagram: foot_trail_films

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foottrailfilms/

Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/jcournyea

Image Credits
Jake Scott Hodes