Jonathan Warren

The Phocus Media team members won the Best of Paducah award at last summer’s 48 Hour Film Project for their film, Day to Die. Can they do it again this year? Leader Jonathan Warren plans to step up the game!

Jonathan Warren, you are cute, cute, cute, no doubt about it! Here we go:

1. I grew up in Panama City, Fla. — the spring break capital of the world. It’s a great place to visit; a different place to live. During the spring and summer months you find yourself dodging spring breakers and tourists. During the winter months you dodge snowbirds.
   
   
2. I do miss the beach and my mom and three sisters. Most of the rest of my family members — my dad, stepmom and grandparents — live here in Western Kentucky.
   
   
3. When I lived in Panama I’d go to the beach a few times a year. Now that I’m away, I wish I’d gone more. The lake isn’t the same as the Gulf of Mexico. Although if the oil spill isn’t taken care of, it will change that.
   
   
4. I work at WPSD-TV as a photojournalist (cameraperson). Before I came here in July 2007, I worked at WJHG-TV in Panama City. 
   
   
5. I go out with the reporters/anchors you see on TV and shoot and edit the stories. 
   
   
6. Every reporter knows to treat their photog right or they’ll end up looking terrible…. Just kidding. 
   
   
7. I love my job. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else, although I’d like to eventually get more into films.
   
   
8. I come in every day not knowing what I’ll be doing, and by the end of the day I have a finished product. I start all over the next day. 
   
   
   Photo by Drew Swim
   
   
9. Breaking news is what I live for! Jumping into a situation and learning about new things firsthand — I love it! I’ve worked in TV since August 2004.
   
   
10. Most people think I’m much older than I am. When I reveal my age, most mouths drop. I’m 22. I’ll be 23 August 26.
    
    
11. I enjoy anything that is entertaining. I’m easy to please. 
    
    
12. I love films — watching and making them. 
    
    
13. Shooting still photography is something I’m starting to get into. I’ve been shooting video forever. Stills are a completely different animal. 
    
    
14. I also like to cook anything and everything.
    
    
15. I’m always willing to try almost everything once. You can usually find me with people I work with hanging around Paducah somewhere.
    
    

16. Watch Phocus Media’s Day to Die, winner of the 2009 Best of Paducah award!

    Last August my buddy and I entered our side company, Phocus Media, into the 48 Hour Film Project. It was a crazy ride that I plan on doing again this August. Our team ended up winning the Best of Paducah award for our film, Day to Die. 
    
    
17. The weekend of the event was an experience, from writing, shooting and editing to the drama that happened during the 48 hours. And when I say drama I mean on and off the screen. It was one of the most stressful experiences I’ve ever had. I turned it in at the very last second.
    
    
18. Our film then went on to Filmapalooza in Las Vegas. A few team members made the trip together. It was a blast, but we learned that we have to step up our game this year to even think about competing against the other filmmakers.
    
    
19. The quote I live by is by CS Lewis: “Reason is the natural order of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning.”
    
    
20. I feel most comfortable behind the lens of a camera.
    
    
21. Working for the news, I’ve met a wide variety of people. From presidential candidates, governors, politicians on all levels, actresses and actors, drug addicts, a man on death row and tons of “interesting characters,” to put it nicely. 
    
    
22. I have a ton of stories I could tell about things I’ve done and people I’ve met for my job. I may write a book one day. 
    
    

---

| More