We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jonathon Davis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jonathon below.
Jonathon, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?
I am still in the process of figuring out what kind of legacy I want to leave behind in this world. One thing that I would like people to know about me is that I did not follow the conventional path in life. As a kid growing up in Detroit, no one wanted to be a writer or work in the film/TV industry unless it had to do with sports. Although I consider myself to be at the beginning of my filmmaking career, I aspire to use my platform to help other black storytellers bring their unique stories to life. Above all, I hope to be remembered as a good person. The film industry is notorious for changing people for the worse, but I believe that everyone in this business can thrive without hurting others or bringing out the worst in them.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Jonathon Davis, and I am the founder, writer, director, and producer of Jonathon Davis Film Productions LLC. Our company specializes in creating unique and creative stories with African American lead characters through film, video, and digital media. We began in 2019 with short films, starting with the horror short “Paralysis.” With a bunch of short films under our belt, we moved on to feature films. Our first feature film, “Stoned,” is now streaming on Amazon Prime and Tubi.
Currently, we are in the pre-production phase of our next feature film, “The Audition.” This satirical dark comedy-thriller revolves around the challenges faced by black women trying to build a career in the film industry. The story follows ten struggling actresses as they audition for the lead role in a film directed by a new, critically acclaimed director. During the audition, the director replaces the prop knife with a real one, and only one actress can leave with the lead role and her life.
We are actively seeking additional funding and producers to make this project the best it can be.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
As a filmmaker and artist, I find screenwriting to be one of the most rewarding aspects of my craft. Overcoming writer’s block and finally finishing a scene that I’ve been stuck on for a long time can feel like an endless wait. However, once I am able to write it, going back to read the scene and realizing that all the effort was worth it is incredibly satisfying.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
I would say that two books that have helped me change the way I think about life and philosophy are Atomic Habits by James Clear and 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene.
Atomic Habits is an easy-to-read book that provides great tips on how to break any habit, no matter how small or big it is. It also shows you ways to make healthier and more logical routines.
If you want to change your mindset and improve your ability to deal with people and yourself, 48 Laws of Power is an absolute must-read!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathond_3/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathon-davis-964740189/
- Twitter: https://x.com/jonathon_d3?t=DRdyL8NCuDQRJq09aQZTqg&s=09
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jonathondavisfilmproductio4962
- Other: Stoned Tubi Link: https://tubitv.com/movies/681498/stoned Stoned Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Stoned-Duwan-Anderson/dp/B0B2JRJ152/ref=sr_1_14?crid=2BI3WFI3FF3VF&keywords=stoned&qid=1707525762&s=instant-video&sprefix=stone%2Cinstant-video%2C625&sr=1-14