Rising Stars: Meet Cameron Logan Cox

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?
For me, it’s all about the story – so I’m just going to tell you a story.

Everything starts when you’re a kid, right? We were all kids once; dreaming. I was that kid, glued to the screen watching anything that I found awesome. Larger than life, thrilling and emotional adventures that just always seemed to culminate in some kind of catharsis. Yelling, screaming, slamming, shattering noises and dysfunction permeated that kid’s reality and so he resolved to muffle the noise by turning the television up – louder and louder and louder. Those stories drowned out those realities. The heroes he watched became his idols. Their stories of triumph, his dreams.

That kid had a thought, in the back of his mind all those years ago watching these stories being told– ‘Can I do that?’

Fast forward a bit – life gets upended for that kid when he was just becoming a young adolescent. Forced from the uncomfortable ‘paradise’ in small-town Missouri to the west side of Chicago. Here is where that kid lost himself in new vices – powders and liquids. Ultimately he left home at fifteen to escape the familial friction and fell even deeper into those vices. That kid became an addict and the streets of Chicago became his home for the summer until a friend’s family took the kid into their home, ultimately landing him in Kansas City.

At 18 he would meet a girl. He would tell her we love her on this first night and has done so every night since. She would have our son eleven months later. That kid moved fast, but it saved our life. The moment that kid looked at our son, I entered the world. No longer that kid, but dad. The dreams that kids had – they had to become reality. No other option.

“Can I do that?’

I proceeded to do so as best I could while learning how to be a father along the way, and it’s all I’ve done since.

For now, I am directing & producing music video content while raising my son, Phoenix Ramone with the girl that kid fell in love with years ago, Chelsey. I am currently writing what I hope to be my feature-length debut and seeking representation as a director. That is my story, and for me – it is all about the story.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I mean, most paths are rife with obstacles, but the majority of people in this world have to deal with the same. Poverty, homelessness, and addiction come to mind; but I’m lucky to have overcome them and am even more fortunate to have a very rock-solid support system these days. There are a great number of people in this world who deal with much harsher challenges that aren’t extended the same privileges as I; so it is important to me to recognize and acknowledge that fact.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
They can see my work at cameronlogancox.com – I specialize in filmmaking from a directorial standpoint. I very much enjoy seeing a project from it’s developmental stages all the way through post-production. I like to have my hands in the details and ensure the execution is at the highest level attainable.

I think what sets me apart from other directors is my unique life experiences and general perspective on life itself. I also consume and watch more serialized storytelling than literally anyone I know; almost in the way that scientists conduct research. That helps me to draw inspiration not only from what I’ve watched but what those who made what sets the bar were inspired from.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Chelsey & Phoenix – My family. They are who I can come back to every night after a long day’s work and no matter how good or bad the day was, it’s always easy and relaxing coming home to them.

Mom, Caleb & Cailyn – My extended family without whom I wouldn’t be able to manage the precarious balancing act that is life.

Dillon, Angie Moon (R.I.P.) & Steven Moon – The family that took me in from the streets of Chicago & landed me in Kansas City. I can never repay what they did for me.

Sam & Deb Williamson – Friends, mentors, confidants. They are really great friends & we made a short film together called ‘Burying Mitchell’ that is available online here: https://youtu.be/7-ORvMte9ns They set an example for and lift up others around them.