We were lucky to catch up with Naomi Kenyon recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Naomi, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
All of my projects having something meaningful behind it, but I think my newest project “BIRDCAGE WALK” will be my most meaningful yet. It follows these two characters meeting each other. One is super optimistic and the other is the complete opposite. It is very heavily concentrated on the environment around these characters and what these characters wear. It is about how happy people can be sad too, and how suicide is effected by the people you would least expect. I like to focus on heavy subjects that need to be talked about more. Especially around suicide, having struggled with that in my past and also with people around me.
Naomi, 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 am Naomi Kenyon (Paul) and I started filming at the age of 10. They started as short, funny pieces when I was younger, the cast consistent of only my siblings. But as I grew up, they started having themes and meaning behind them. I started getting serious about film in 2022 when I posted my first ever casting call, and was surprised by the outcome and interest in it. I met so many amazing people from that one project, so I continued, only growing more love for the craft and the storytelling aspect.
We do anything from personal videos to music videos to creative pieces.
We try very hard to make short, but meaningful projects. I am looking into starting to make features though in the future!
As of now, it is all self funded/pay what you can. I am hoping to build up our Clouds On Air Studios name though, and potentially get it to distribution level of content.
I work on my films on the side right now, as I am a supervisor at my current, bill paying job.
I have my heart set on doing what I love for a living eventually, so I am always doing something to invest in it—little by little.
The name Clouds On Air Studios originated from 14-year-old Naomi when she thought she wanted to pursue singing. That was my “band” name. But I liked it so about 7 years later I decided to start my studio under that name!
Our main goal is to create projects that make people feel emotions that in other words are hard to express verbally.
I am only looking to progress and better this art!
Any advice for managing a team?
You are a team. Always make sure everyone is on the same page. Have a group chat or speak together as a group in person. Making sure that issues are resolved immediately! Or avoiding talking about politics or religion on set. It’s very helpful to keep it professional. It doesn’t mean you can’t have fun (because I always like it when people are having fun) but if something separates the team make sure to avoid that kind of stuff. Because at the end of the day, they are the ones that have your back.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
PUT. YOUR. SELF. OUT. THERE.
Don’t be afraid to take the leap. Take initiative. Be driven. You own your life. You have say. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there! Make friends at film fests and on sets. The best thing to be is relevant. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to get your name out there!
I was always super introverted growing up when I was a teens. I was self conscious and scared of talking the chance and being rejected. But I wish I had done it sooner! Rejection isn’t a bad thing. Always be open to learning new things. Be a sponge. More knowledge equals more power to you.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naomi.kenyon.paul?igsh=MTJiMzFzMmJ0MDhlNQ==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AMi17APAJ/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@naomikenyon02?feature=shared
