Today we’d like to introduce you to Blake Vincent Kueny.
Blake Vincent, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I grew up in Vista, California playing baseball and surfing. I always loved technology and cameras. My first project was in 2005 at age 12, and I documented my friends who went to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. I went to every game, and at the end of the season I made a documentary and sold it back to the parents. I enjoyed the process and made a fortune to a kid at twelve. So, I continued on making videos about my friends, and my passion for surfing grew. In high school, I interned for Steve Boysen Surfboards, Surf Ride Board Shop, & Transworld SURF. I continued my position at Transworld SURF after high school. Shortly after high school, I began traveling with surfers documenting waves and adventures. I continued my path in surfing and linked up with Jordy Smith. I then packed my bags and went to South Africa to capture his home. As I continued working with Jordy, I developed a relationship with Red Bull and began working with them which lead me to work on a documentary on Carissa Moore’s first world title.
As the other projects winded down, I found a friendship in John Florence a surfer from Hawaii. We had a ton of common interests in Photography, Skateboarding, and Snowboarding. We were both in Mammoth California snowboarding, and there was a massive swell heading to Hawaii, and he asked if I would come and work for him and document the swell. We had a great time and hit it off. We continued working together for a handful a year. I traveled the world with him chasing waves and contests on the World Surf League. Going to places like Hawaii, Australia, France, Portugal, South Africa, Tahiti, Bali, Brazil, and the Maldives. We created seven short films and two feature films. Our most well-known project is “View From A Blue Moon” a 60-minute film that documents John Florence in the best waves in the world. John C. Reilly was our narrator, and GQ called it “possibly the most exquisite surf movie ever made.”
After I made the film, my title as Director was firmly established, and I founded the Durango Effect with longtime friend and advertising veteran Joseph Dugan & the esteemed creative director Craig Stecyk III. Our goal was to create a place for me to take the next step outside of surfing and create commercials for large companies and work with some of the top agencies in the country. We’ve made some great commercials for brands like Valero, Harley Davidson, GoPro, Nike, and New Belgium Brewing. We’ve worked with a number of agencies on these projects. Campbell Ewald, Bouchez Page, Chiat Day, R/GA, and Weiden Kennedy.
My name is Blake Vincent Kueny I’m 26 years old; I’m a film director. I live in Oceanside, California and love to golf, surf, snowboard, and tell stories. I’ve traveled the world and still can’t find a better place than San Diego. I feel like I’ve accomplished a ton in my life, but my career is only just beginning.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I’m a documentary filmmaker and commercial director. I’ve always enjoyed taking the authentic moments around me and curating them in a way that that feels hyper-real. I’ve utilized a way of communication through music choice and feel that shares a message that isn’t explicit but rather implicit. Emotional storytelling. In short, I like to hang out with people who do amazing things and capture them with a camera. I’ve enjoyed where my trade has taken me and respect the stories I get to tell. I’ve learned so much by doing and avoided academics. Making films in the modern era is completely democratic, and it’s been a joy to see my niche become something that people enjoy. It’s a way that I can take everything I love in the world and compile it to tell a story.
What responsibility, if any, do you think artists have to use their art to help alleviate problems faced by others? Has your art been affected by issues you’ve concerned about?
Artists play a massive role in the world because we are putting a pretty little bow on communication. Though not all art is political, it encourages people to communicate about something that is in front of them. The world is about communication for better or worse.
I believe that world conversation plays a massive part in my work. I make a point to be in tune with the world conversation and trends. It may not directly influence my work, but I feel that it’s important for decision-making purposes. I don’t feel that my work would be as impactful if I were to work in a secluded monastery. I like to make decisions in my work that play in the world’s conversation.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My work is available on iTunes & Vimeo. You can search for “View From A Blue Moon” & “Done” on iTunes, and you can find all my short films on Vimeo if you search for John John Florence.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.blakevincentkueny.com
- Email: blakekueny@gmail.com
- Instagram: @blakevincentkueny
- Other: www.durangoeffect.com
Image Credit:
John Florence, Craig Kolesky, Damea Dorsey, John Florence, Chris Gurney, Joseph Dugan, Timo Järvinen, Gabe L’Heureux
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