about jmvf
The Jon Mackey Video Factory is all about empowering people to bring their ideas to life on their own.
I currently offer TWO COURSES (online only)—
FILMMAKING FOR EVERYONE (Online) - an introduction to the very basics of filmmaking. You’ll learn the basics of camera, lenses, lighting, shot composition, and an introduction to video editing. This class is for people with no previous video experience. All you need is a camera (can be your phone!) and access to a decent computer and editing software (you can subscribe to Adobe Premiere for one month HERE!)! You’ll leave this class with a basic understanding of how to shoot and edit on modern video workflows.
DIY FILMMAKING FOR FILMMAKERS (Online) - this class is perfect for multi-hyphenate filmmakers who are looking to make their own stuff or expand their skill set beyond where they are most comfortable. The class will guide you through the process of producing a piece from idea to export. Leaning heavily on Jon’s specific approach to DIY filmmaking. You will bring an idea in on day one, and leave the class 100% prepped and ready to roll camera. (This class includes an four week production block where you can independently produce your shoot with weekly office hours where you can check in with Jon about your progress, get feedback, and support.)
Find out more and enroll HERE!
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JMVF is also a great opportunity to build community with like-minded creative people who are all excited to make stuff. By ENROLLING in any level of my class, you get access to a private Discord server with past, present, and future JMVFers. This Discord will be a great place to ask questions, chat about your ideas, get feedback on your scripts and rough cuts, and connect with creative people.
WHY SHOULD You LISTEN TO ME?!
In 2008, I moved to Los Angeles with about $800 in the bank, no job, no car, and the promise that I could sleep on my aunt’s couch for a few weeks while I figured it out– For two years I bounced between industry jobs, first at a DVD quality control company where I made sure DVD menus were programed properly, then as an AV guy for Mosaic (A comedy management company), and finally as the manager of post production at Overture Films all while making countless video projects of my own on the side (some of which I will share with you in this class!). I eventually quit my job to pursue filmmaking full time after getting in with a producer at Funny or Die who promised me lots of freelance opportunities (and made good on that promise!).
My initial start came in the form of editing a comedy reality show for Funny or Die called “Boy Search”, a riff on Making the Band where the judges were three 14 year old girls along with 30-something comedian Armen Weitzman. After spending a couple years editing for Funny or Die and continuing to make stuff of my own, I started directing editorial videos for Funny or Die, where I worked with tons of cool celebs (Kristen Stewart, Jesse Eisenberg, Lil Jon, Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Tracy Morgan, Rob Riggle, Sterling K Brown, Lance Reddick, Mac Miller, Rick Ross, to name a few). This quickly turned into writing, directing, and editing branded content for brands like Sprint, Coke, Netflix, J.Crew, and lots more which ultimately got me repped by Commercial Production company Alpen Pictures.
After just under a decade of working for Funny or Die I was hired as the segment director at Lights Out With David Spade, a late night comedy variety show, and then came back on a slightly tweaked version of the show for Netflix called The Netflix Afterparty. The one thing all these jobs had in common was MINISCULE budgets.
I’ve made a career out of spinning top tier, high production value content out of pennies and a dream, and my goal with this class is to share with you a few of the tools, philosophies, and tricks that helped me do it, as well as give you a base-level understanding of the principles at play with all types of filmmaking.