Gregg Jaden
Gregg Jaden is an adventure travel photographer, filmmaker, storyteller, and explorer. Gregg's ability to capitalize on unforeseen opportunities has helped him work with some of the most prestigious Fortune 500 brands. Through social media channels, his team has been able to share with millions of people to demonstrate unique perspectives of timeless visuals for clients.
Jaden has a strong passion for storytelling, directing, and cinematography. After persevering with 2 NDEs (near-death experiences) in 2009 and again in 2015, he continues to test the boundaries of his creative process by incorporating deeper meaning and spiritual elements into his work. He works closely with organizations to protect wildlife, conserve our oceans, and coach people in spiritual transformation. A combination of outdoor adventure, travel, and people, Jaden is known for world travel storytelling, motivational talks, and epic landscapes. He invests his time in personal projects, collaborations with other photographers, and exploratory ways to utilize visual elements to help our planet. His work has been featured in various magazines and online publications. He is always up for a travel adventure and usually explores some of the most exciting places to create timeless visuals. Jaden has been involved in numerous charities, such as @LonelyWhale Tony Robbins Foundation, and volunteer clean-up crews after natural disasters.
Jaden is an official Sony Alpha, Sandisk Professional, HOYA, and Lowepro Ambassador.
Could you briefly describe your project for our audience?
In simple terms, it's a battle against good and evil. Seeing how evil can use unseen forces to hurt others. And also seeing how different cultures deal with conflicts spiritually.
Jaden has a strong passion for storytelling, directing, and cinematography. After persevering with 2 NDEs (near-death experiences) in 2009 and again in 2015, he continues to test the boundaries of his creative process by incorporating deeper meaning and spiritual elements into his work. He works closely with organizations to protect wildlife, conserve our oceans, and coach people in spiritual transformation. A combination of outdoor adventure, travel, and people, Jaden is known for world travel storytelling, motivational talks, and epic landscapes. He invests his time in personal projects, collaborations with other photographers, and exploratory ways to utilize visual elements to help our planet. His work has been featured in various magazines and online publications. He is always up for a travel adventure and usually explores some of the most exciting places to create timeless visuals. Jaden has been involved in numerous charities, such as @LonelyWhale Tony Robbins Foundation, and volunteer clean-up crews after natural disasters.
Jaden is an official Sony Alpha, Sandisk Professional, HOYA, and Lowepro Ambassador.
Could you briefly describe your project for our audience?
In simple terms, it's a battle against good and evil. Seeing how evil can use unseen forces to hurt others. And also seeing how different cultures deal with conflicts spiritually.
What were your main aspirations or goals when creating this project?
As a travel adventure filmmaker, I kept hearing stories about voodoo and curses throughout my travels to southern Asia. Once I met a real case (Keanu) with medical records to show, I knew I had a good story. It was important to tell the story for Western audiences. Open them up to unknown worlds that exist.
Share some memorable moments from the shooting process or any pleasant surprises.
One of the most memorable moments was realizing how fortunate we are in Western society to have amenities. Filming this at the tribes' land, they don't have anything unless they make it themselves by hand. There's no plumbing, no air-conditioning, no furniture, just mats made out of wood from the jungle. A pleasant surprise was getting to know the tribe through two translators, somehow being trusted enough to film sacred things and earn their trust. It was special as they took us in as one of them. As a foreign outsider, they have their laws and territory, so there's nothing to protect me. And if I accidentally offend them without knowing, who knows what kind of happened? Remember, this is a tribe famous for beheading their enemies.
Who is the primary target audience for your film, and what do you hope they will take away from it?
This is a good question. We didn't have a target other than the Western world. I kept it as general but accurate as possible. So Western audiences could easily pick up and follow along, and if they had never heard about voodoo magic or curses, they could learn about a different world. The nice thing about this film is that even if you've never heard about voodoo or understood it, it will open your eyes and leave you wondering.
What makes your project an appealing choice for potential distributors?
The uniqueness of the topic. I feel this topic is unique, and just the fact that it was so difficult to get the tribe to agree for us to film their rituals because it's so personal and sacred to the tribe. The topic can speak to various audiences, even if they don't understand it. How we lead audiences through what happened makes it appealing, like they were there with us.
How would you define your unique filmmaking style, and what distinct qualities characterize your film?
My style is cinematic storytelling, but I keep things as real as possible. And I wanted to get to the raw truth, especially in a documentary. I like action and visuals over too much talking. I like to tell the story using these visuals to summarize character, emotion, pain, suffering, relationships, resolution, and character arc. I like using mystery and tension whenever possible. I try to find as many twists and turns as possible, and I love catching my audience off guard. I never want my work to be predictable.
What inspired you to pursue a career in filmmaking?
It's one of the best creative outlets I can use. I can't draw, paint, or even sculpt anything, but when it comes to photography and filmmaking, I can tell stories visually and create my art form. Filmmaking, especially, can open up audiences to the unknown, change how people perceive things, introduce audiences to new stories, tell stories using powerful, meaningful visuals, and leave an impression in people's lives.
Do you have a filmmaker or source of inspiration who has influenced your work?
There are so many incredible directors. My sources of inspiration at the top of the list are Spielberg, Kubrick, Fincher, Zemekis, Hitchcock, Tarantino, Frank Darabont, and James Cameron. All of these directors have one thing in common. They can keep the audience's attention at all times and tell stories cinematically while leaving a lasting impression in people's lives.
Share a couple of your favorite films and what resonates with you about them.
Psycho, The Shining, Catch Me If You Can, Full Metal Jacket, Seven, Back To The Future, What Lies Beneath, Reservoir Dogs, Zodiac, Pulp Fiction, Shawshank Redemption, Terminator 1 & 2.
Where do you typically find inspiration for your film projects?
The uniqueness of the projects. Telling stories no one else has told will resonate with large audiences and age ranges. Being able to tell the story visually is sometimes hard to put into words.
LEARN MORE AT:
https://thecurseeffect.com/
https://www.greggjaden.com/