We recently connected with Michael Jason Allen and have shared our conversation below.

Michael Jason, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

Well, I am a self-taught musician and filmmaker by learning from the real world experience of observing others in these fields, and trial and error of my own experimentation. That is to say, I may not be the most technical in my approach, but I am effective and practical in the production of my projects. I don’t think that there is anything in particular I could have done to speed up my learning process, however, I would like to have had the exposure earlier in my life. The most valuable skills utilized in my creative works have to be work ethic and execution of a plan with a big dash of passion for it. I used to think that more formal education in these fields would have given me more know-how, but then I see plenty of formally educated artists who are confined within commercial boundaries and still do not find wide success. In essence, they lost their art to follow a templated formula and still didn’t find success with it, thus missing out on creative fulfillment in all aspects.

Michael Jason, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I started my first video production attempting to make a martial arts action film with a VHS camcorder using my friends and family as cast and crew. I started my first music production attempting to make a pop album with the influence of my favorite band Depeche Mode. Although neither were masterpieces, I learned a lot and went from there. What I did learn about myself, was that I naturally tend to outwork everyone around me. I want to keep going non-stop while all others always wanted to stop after a few hours. Nowadays, I also teach prospective independent filmmakers how to make a full length feature film with nearly nothing. Same for music production. Actually, I’m still creating presently. I am most proud of my nature to make things happen. I have (without the benefit of proper funding or backing and with minimal to no crew) directed, written, produced, and starred in 12 internationally distributed full length feature films with many award wins and nominations on the int’l film festival circuit. I have written, produced, and recorded 16 music albums with over 30 official music videos as well. This, all the while working on other artists projects simultaneously.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think that if society would start actively seeking out artists who are real and not corporate creators who follow a blueprint for financial success, they would be rewarded with great films and music. I am not speaking of this to promote my own self… at least fundamentally. I say this because some of the most talented and interesting musicians and filmmakers that I enjoy myself are not pushed to the masses by big media, so no one will ever learn of their great art.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative is the legacy. I’ve been called a narcissist for listening to my own music or watching my own films. Hollywood musicians and actors have set this strange precedent of claiming not to listen to their own music or watch their own films to portray some facade of humility in an attempt to not be perceived as narcissists. They’re not being truthful when they say those things, otherwise, they would not know what to adjust or how to deliver either. I did not spend the better part of my life creating things just so I can lock them away on a hard drive in a drawer and not share them or enjoy them myself. I don’t know about others, but the scariest thing about death for me, is being forgotten with nothing left behind. Some can call me a narcissist for this, but I don’t think there is anything wrong with not wanting to disappear like dust in the wind.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://jasonneversleeps.com
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/jasonneversleeps
• Other: http://michaeljasonallen.com

Image Credits
He Said She Said Productions