Javan J. Cornelius shares his building of Shoeshine Media
Sometimes following your dreams isn’t a straight path. However, if you stay on course and are willing to take chances you will end up right where you need to be. Javan Cornelius, 37, is staying on course to become a filmmaker and has already won 2 grant awards and worked with Sundance directors.
Since 2007, he’s has been rigorously following his dream. The film industry bug bit Javan in high school when he made a video about substance abuse. Since that day he’s put all his energy, effort, and time into making films and despite the ups and downs, Javan has pushed through. In 2012 he took a big leap and started his own video production company Shoeshine Media.
Read more about Javan Cornelius in Episode 5 of People You Should Know.
1. What is it like telling a story through a lens?
It’s the greatest opportunity and responsibility. People are paying you money to do what you love, and when you do it great, they give you another shot to do it even better!
2. How did you first get into video production?
I first got introduced into video production in high school. I was given the task to make a video on substance abuse. After making the video, I made a decision in 1999 to travel the long road to becoming a filmmaker.
3. Tell me about the two grants you received from PBS.
Receiving grants from PBS launched my career, I was denied the first one and I felt they made a mistake. I called back and they said they never got my application. A few days later they called back and said I won a huge grant to produce a film. After that film, Award winning Director Stanley Nelson got word that I was a reliable filmmaker. I was always called by Sundance directors to film stuff in the south from that one grant. Of course I won another right after with the WGBH in Boston and felt like I couldn’t be stopped, but it was just the beginning.
4. How did you make the transition (mentally and financially) from working for a company to starting Shoeshine Media?
I was fortunate. I was working food service during the day and making videos at night for various companies, I didn’t get the job at NBA TV in 2014 after working seven years in food service after college. One of my video clients decided to start a motivational speaking tour. I was offered a contract to travel the country and document him and other speakers, which led to traveling the world in 2015 and 2016; the rest is history. I never went back to the food service job again. I had did everything I knew I could at that job, I knew it was time to leave because I just wanted more in life!
5. What type of services does Shoeshine Media offer and how many projects do you shoot a year?
We shoot about 30 to 36 projects a year. I’m a Content Creator these days, which is a new way of saying I’m a filmmaker, so that means if somebody wants a web show, music video, documentary, commercial or even a podcast, they have come to a specialist who knows how to make it custom fit to their brand.
6. Who are your mentors in the film industry and why?
I have virtual mentors and mentors in person. God is number one, you have to know your purpose or you’ll be doing stupid stuff, like trying to do five ideas all in the same year! Praying and have a strong spiritual connection has helped me make wise decisions. My Virtual Mentor is Reglin Hudlin – Producer on Black Panther, I message him time to time and ask for script tips. As far a staying a float in the industry, I follow people who are better than me and watch, listen and learn.
I also listen to motivational speakers like Jeremy Anderson, Gary Vee, TD Jakes, Mark Batterson, Dr Eric Thomas and more! My favorite Virtual mentor is Spike Lee, I have been reading his books for seventeen years, there is so much you can learn from the past.
Lastly, I have local mentors who I volunteer with when I can, a lot of my camera knowledge came from people who were working in the industry, Cinematographers like Bill Schweirt, Billy Mitchell, Keith Matthews and Director – Professor T.N. Mohan, all professionals who are over 20 years in the game.
7. What’s a favorite project that you’ve done thus far in your career?
My favorite project would have to be filming the “Grace Tour” over 10 countries and 30 major U.S. cities. Watching people wanting to change their lives after real motivational speaking took place was cool, especially in India.
8. Concerning strictly video production and not the storyline or acting, what is the best well shot, currently running TV show and why?
Game of Thrones! I just love how they built up the characters and were unapologetic while killing off your favorite characters, that’s how life is. Nothing is promised in life, or in Game of Thrones, your favorite people died in Season 1, and now here we are stuck waiting another year for the final season. GOT storytelling is brilliant and the fact that their making it without big name actors from when it first started let’s you know, story and craft will always rule!
9. You’ve worked as a camera operator, writer, producer, director, and editor. What’s your favorite and why?
I like directing. It’s not physical, it’s mental. It can be physical, but if you plan well and manage well, you could be something great!
10. What advice would you give to a high school student that wants to skip film school and start making movies full-time after graduation?
I would say you need to talk to a kid who worked for me from 8th grade to 12th grade. His name is Philip Hall. He just finished up working on Avengers 3 and 4. He skipped film school, but he took a trade program for 6 months at the Georgia Film Academy and volunteered with me all throughout high school. He’s happy and is a Props Assistant and became a Union Film worker in Atlanta. It’s very possible to get in this industry without school, but you want to take time and learn somewhere, if you want to learn on your own that’s fine, but you can learn and grow much faster by volunteering with a local production company. You’re making it hard on yourself by not allowing yourself time to learn from others.
