Meet Keri Jones | Creative Director / Independent Female Filmmaker

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

Hi Keri, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Initially there wasn’t per se a thought process behind starting KTake Lab Productions , but more so an experience turned passion that led me to starting KTake Lab. Being a background actor on sets like ‘Shots Fired’ starring Sanna Lathan I saw production teams turn an entire night scene into day using lights and that was the icing on the cake for me. After being on those sets I later said to myself this is magic, I love it here, why not start making them on my own, and then create a name for my production business. Hence, ‘K’ (the first letter of my nickname ‘Keri’) , ‘Take’ (as in a film take 1, 2 ,3….) , ‘Lab’ (as in a happy place where I’m creating) , and the business will always produce ‘Productions’.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My versatility and way of creatively thinking for almost any project or event sets me apart from others. The ability to take a small piece of idea and create something much bigger (at all levels of production) is my thing. I’m most proud of my three short films and the engagement generated amongst those relating to the storylines (‘Ticket to Stardom’, ‘Dear Black Girl’, & ‘Game of Decisions’). When I filmed ‘Dear Black Girl’ it wasn’t a lot of planning and quality equipment involved, just the girls and I filming in the neighbourhood/local Charlotte areas— I didn’t expect it to reach 273 thousand views. I’m learning and growing from each film to the next. I’m currently excited about my upcoming short film titled “Pressure” starring Peggy Logan and a great amount of talented individuals. I can’t express enough how proud and thankful I am for these talented actors. This is my first cinema quality film and trust me it wasn’t easy. I had to overcome a lot of setbacks , learn a lot on the go about transitioning from Dslr 1080P to Cine/4K to SD cards to CFast cards, and more while balancing life & teaching my super cool sports media club students back at my high school alma mater Bethune-Bowman High School. From Atlanta to South Carolina I’ve been busy. I want the world to know I work hard day in and night out, if I have it I deserved it. I may have been outnumbered, out of resources, and generally out of a lot , but never outworked.

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.
The funny thing is when I moved to Atlanta right after college I really thought I would have experienced more and more of Hot Lanta. Turns out no matter where I am in the world I’m a just a workaholic, but all my close friends know that if they come into town we’re going to my favorite all in one spot UBar (Camp Creek). The sweet spicy honey wings are by far my favorite on the menu, followed by the shrimp and grits. At one particular point I noticed how UBar was getting a great portion of my funds, nonetheless the establishment offers good vibes, great food, and less traffic compared to downtown. Another area would probably be Little Five Points followed by Walters Soul Food Cafe on Sunday for sure for sure.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
If I were to give a shoutout it would hands down be my mother Penelope Jones. She has put in the most time genuinely supporting and encouraging me at whatever I put my mind to. I remember during the start of my film journey I didn’t have an editing computer, so I was using a public computer to edit people’s content. Believe it or not my mom would sit there with me either before or after we went to work or school, and even during the holiday hours sometimes. No matter the situation or circumstance at hand we always had a system and made due. She’s done a lot behind the scenes but I’ll save that for my biopic in the future. I’m going to give everyone deserving their credit but , I always tell people my mother is literally my biggest cheerleader / hype woman. If I don’t get one like, share, or comment on my content I just know I’m going to find her there, and that’s always so funny yet cool to me…….she’s literally the same way with my friends and those who I carry near & dear to my heart. Shoutout too ‘Penny J’ for not only giving birth to ‘Keri J’, but for the countless sacrifice and constant support of my dreams from day one.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ktake_labproductions/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theKeriJ

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keri.jones.1297

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFGwSAIy5yJKkiX3bW95F6w

Other: https://www.instagram.com/thekerij/