Meet Kendell

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kendell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kendell, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

My resilience comes from faith and from watching people like my mother move through life with strength, grace, and consistency. Seeing her show up no matter what taught me that perseverance isn’t loud, it’s daily. I pull from family, from history, and from knowing that quitting was never presented as an option.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m a man of many talents and labels, but at my core I’m a storyteller and curator from Cleveland, Ohio, and the founder of VIXIV, a film and media company. My professional work began in high school where I was active in theater as a playwright and actor, and I later focused on film and cinema as I pursue creating some of the most compelling stories told. Through VIXIV, I develop original works and collaborations that challenge traditional approaches to film and media while honoring the cultures embedded in our stories as thoughtful, intellectual beings. I produce, write, direct, and act, and VIXIV will continue expanding into other artistic mediums that allow me to freely express my creativity as a curator, with cinema at its core.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Faith, discernment, and patience have been the most impactful qualities in my journey. My biggest advice for those early in their path is to pray and keep God at the center of your life. Understand that not every decision, person, or situation is black and white, and trust yourself to make the best choice while also being patient. Trust that lasting achievements take time.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

A big challenge right now is the shift in how we make and consume film and media. There’s a lot of opinions and predictions about what comes next, but I’m focused on leading this new era of creatives. I want to create work that defines the moment rather than just follows trends, making what we do now feel like a prophecy for the future.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Instagram: @drouncut @_.rayn.e

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