I've had a camera glued to my hands for over half my life. Not literally, but, I could have fooled most people. It's been my tool for telling compelling stories ever since I was 12 years old. Before that, I would run around pretending to be a Jedi, an astronaut, or some other fantastical character – all because of the stories I'd been exposed to. I believed then, and still believe now there is something incredible about stories; they can move someone to take action, shift their perspective, and think things they've never thought before – and, that's why I'm in the business of storytelling.
So, fast-forwarding from 12-year-old-Joey – I entered a plethora of 36-hour films festivals between the ages of 12 and 18. Eventually, the stories I was creating ended up winning the competitions. Mustache-shaving cowboys and magic toasters were apparently a real hit with an audience. In that time, I began working at Port City Community Church producing videos for use during the Sunday service. As the church grew, so did my ability and confidence in telling stories. I thank God for the opportunity to work there as that's where I had the opportunity to grow into the filmmaker I am today – Not everyone will trust a 16 year old with a huge camera, and an absolutely-absurd idea, but the church did. For that, I'm grateful.
Awhile into my tenure at Port City Church, I graduated from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, with a Bachelor's Degree in Creative Writing, you know, because I love stories. It was during my time there when I reached a halt in my progress – I stopped and thought, “Why am doing this?” It was then I developed a mission for myself, both in my work and my life. My mission is to inspire others and give them something positive they didn't have before. That is the template I apply to every story I tell, and every interaction I have. It seems, for me, that video work is the perfect way to fulfill this mission.
After all that, I took a leap and immersed myself in the world of full-time freelance videography. I'm now able to use my abilities in directing, editing, writing, and shooting to help tell stories for all types of people around the world. My ultimate goal is to produce feature films, and at the moment, I'm growing in my craft by helping others tell their story. And as of September 2015, I have a beautiful Wife, Gia, encouraging me daily in my quest to impact people through stories.
If you're interested in working with me and crafting a story with purpose, send me a message on the Contact page.