Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob R. Colon.
Hi Jacob R., can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m a creative from a town called Linden in New Jersey. I started making skits with my friends through class projects. History class, in particular, had us creating spoofs — in our case of the Karate Kid, the Wonder Years, and Miami Vice — and small contests led to my first short films. It was a clear choice then during my senior year that I wanted to go to film school. I attended Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida for 20 months, gaining a Bachelor’s Degree of Science and a like-minded creative partner in the process. With him, I developed the publishing company XYMYTH. Together we established a podcast following (Band Brawlers), rose $35,000 on kickstarter for an anthology graphic novel (FOBIA), published a slate of comic books (Harvester, Han Hanzai, GWOR, Takeshi’s Run, Coyote on Peyote, and more), published my debut novel (Manhattan 24), and my upcoming novel (releasing July 4) “Forge.” Independent of XYMYTH, I’ve worked for years to build my ‘resume’ so-to-speak, in different roles on film and TV sets (production assistant, boom operator, sound mixer, script supervisor, and more), writing a plethora of scripts for TV and film, comic books, and novels, as well as honing my skills as a filmmaker with shorts like “The Mecca Project” and “White Mirage.” Today, I create content for social platforms ranging from 3-5 posts a week on my own pages, and 3-5 on the XYMYTH socials.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been an interesting road. I wouldn’t say I’ve had it harder than most, but certainly nothing good comes without difficulty. The years I spent in the film industry certainly didn’t bear any fruit worth noting. Perhaps I’m just not great at networking. It’s difficult to rise in the ranks, difficult to get your foot in the door, difficult to work 12-16 hours + commute to and from New York City when you live in NJ + wake up and do it again for a month on end, then beg people you hardly know for a chance to do it all again. I got sick of that lifestyle. I’ve always been a writer at heart, so it was incumbent on me to double down on the passion that’ll bring me success. Though I don’t regret the exploration. Without it, I couldn’t know what I am willing or unwilling to do.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m primarily a writer of books, scripts, and comics, though I fancy myself a ‘Jake of All Trades’ if you will. This is the key aspect of my brand that sets me apart: at the risk of sounding pretentious, I’m a Master of Mediums.
I film, edit, color grade, and score all of my content and short films. I run a publishing brand, XYMYTH, with my creative partner Gan Yimke, which I, too, am the manager of the social media, the website, and finances.
I’m most proud of finally publishing my debut novel, “Manhattan 24,” which I had written over ten years ago and finally decided to revise, rewrite, and put it out to the world.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
For me, film school was where I found the best mentors and the most important ally in the creative space.
Also, visiting family members from other states (who also happen to be my age) provided the biggest new zones of connection, which is how I met so many of my peers in North Carolina.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jacobrcolon.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacobrcolon
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPZSVJeVZbYdVtwjfDS_KHQ
