Today we’d like to introduce you to Devon Gulati and Jack Heyden.
Devon and Jack, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was a 10-year-old boy, searching for ways to express my creativity when I stumbled upon filmmaking. I started filming friends of mine, which grew into projects, that later evolved into documentaries and short films. Through my progression, I’m continuously inspired by the power of filmmaking and editing. I grew up in two starkly different places: the northwest suburbs of Chicago, and Bentonville, Arkansas. At Bentonville high, I had the privilege of utilizing professional equipment provided by my high school, which was funded by Walmart. The accessibility to high-end gear, combined with a great teacher, Mr. Fusselman, was a student filmmaker’s dream laboratory. During this time, I had the opportunity to create and extensively improve my craft. -Devon
It was really my interest in screenwriting that drew me into videography. I spent a lot of time in college writing my own screenplays and interning at production companies, where covering scripts was the majority of my job. I never really had formal film training but was lucky enough to direct a short film I wrote after graduation with Devon and some very talented Chicago filmmakers. Because of how enjoyable I found the production, it seemed like a win-win to leave my desk job and pursue videography full time. -Jack
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The journey is very rewarding. The hardest part of the freelance business is the ebb and flow. One month the calendar can be flooded with clients, while the following month is scarce. An unforeseen bump in the road occurred when thousands of dollars in equipment was stolen from my work studio. This put a halt to my productions, but luckily, through family support, and a GoFundMe page started by a family friend, I was able to replenish my equipment. -Devon
My parents have been incredibly supportive of me since I decided to pursue a career in filmmaking. Convincing them that writing stories in my dorm room would ultimately be more beneficial than pursuing a business degree was somewhat of a challenge, but after passing that first hurdle they propped me up as long as I remained driven and passionate. -Jack
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Abrupt Arts – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Abrupt Arts specializes in telling people’s stories. Our production company has a unique background in documentary, which allows us to tap into the identities of different companies. Each company has a background and a story. If they are willing to share it, it is our job to come in and tell it right. For example, Heray Spice is a company I’m proud to be affiliated with. The backstory behind the CEO, my friend, Mohammad Salahy, is a testament to hard work and dedication to the vision. A start-up saffron company focused on rebuilding schools for children in Afghanistan. In addition, I’m very proud to have led the production of a Drinking and Driving PSA titled, “Consequences”, that made an impact on limiting driving under the influence. -Devon
At the end of the day, we are passionate about filmmaking and want every video to convey the unique vision of our client while serving as a sample of innovative videography. You could look at it like a school project: we don’t just want to deliver a product that adequately gets a point across, we want the teacher to show this to their class in 5 years when they’re providing samples of excellence. -Jack
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
This year we are hoping to support more non-profits and to work with genuine organizations who aspire to make a difference. As the business expands, I’m determined to solely direct my focus to my passion projects. In the upcoming future, I hope to teach others the tricks and skills I’ve harnessed over the years through tutorials and hands-on workshops. -Devon
Like Devon said, it would be ideal to see growth in the size of Abrupt Arts, giving us enough time to pursue more creative projects. I still continue to work on my writing and directing, and our short film, Brush, will be submitted to film festivals throughout this coming year. We hope that the film provides us an avenue to a bigger project, or perhaps similar short-form projects that we can work on in the near future. – Jack
Contact Info:
- Website: abruptarts.com
- Phone: 2245451391
- Email: devon@abruptarts.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/abrupt_arts
- Facebook: facebook.com/abruptarts
Image Credit:
Rebecca Johnson, Russell Thomas
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