Conversations with Jerry Jackson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jerry Jackson

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Growing up I was adopted, me and 2 of my older brothers. By an amazing women by the name of Eddis Jackson. She took us in. 3 snot nose kids from down north. Even though she had 2 kids of her own she loved us like we was one of her own. Ever since I could remember music as always been apart of our lives. From hearing my elders brother playing Lil John and the east side boys everyday in the basement to hearing my sister listening to Lil boosie and Webbie all the time. We grew a love for music. Eventually around middle school me and my brother by the name of Jay Maserati began to experiment in creating our own. Almost everyday after school we would go around the corner to my friend Matthew’s house and work on songs. Eventually I would pivot and and find a love for another side of music.. behind the camera, I would become the person that would make the cover art, upload songs and over time creating videos and that’s when it all came together. First starting off I would become shooting videos on my phone finding different apps to edit on and uploading them to YouTube. For years it would just be me and my brother shooting songs we made on our friends Mac computer no mic or anything just rapping into the back of the computer saving the songs, going back home and shoot a video for it just for the fun of it. One day my friend Leland text me and said he wanted to sit down and talk to me about a group he was starting and he wanted me to be a artist in it. Now of course I made song with them and everything but after a while I told him I just wanted to do videos and that shocked him because he just knew me from doing music. I never considered taking the videography serious until I seen how serious they were about they music and that’s when I sat down and made that decision.. I went home brought a camera and a laptop and Elmwood Pictures was born. I started shooting videos for my friend Leland and also still shooting for my brother. Eventually people would hit me up and ask if I can shoot there video I will never forget the first time making money from a video. I made 20 dollars. Starting off it was never about the money it was just for the love of it and to get my name out there. Eventually I got connected with a local artist by the name of Ray Muney, must have been a match made in heaven because me still new to shooting videos and this being his first music video some how it still took over the city and from that day forward. I felt like I could do no wrong I was shooting videos every other day , and it was like I was breaking out new artist to the Kansas City music scene every other week. And Elmwood Pictures grew and grew and really shaped Kansas City hip hop music scene into what it is today.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Anything easy is not worth having. It’s been far from a smooth road. My biggest struggle would have always been time management. I have always been the solo person to market, brand, acquire new talent, schedule shoots, the director, videographer, and editor. And sometimes that can get overwhelming.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What I feel sets me apart from other is work ethic. When I first started off I would have videos back sometimes the same day. If not the same week for sure. I have so many videos out that I’ve lost count of how many I’ve shot

What’s next?
Recently I took a step back to reevaluate. Not saying I’ve lost love for music videos but I think I’m at that pivoting point again where I want to try new things

Contact Info:

• Youtube: https://youtube.com/elmwoodpictures