Presenting the kick ass class of Young Guns 22
It’s a kick-ass class. Young Guns 22 is topping the charts in creativity. But are you even surprised? Of course, not. If you’re new here, let me catch you up. Young Guns is a community of incredibly talented individuals – think amazing cinematographers, animators, illustrators, photographers, designers, and directors – and a new class of winners is chosen by an expert jury every year. This year we have 33 winners and among them, we have some very new, very exciting titles to unveil – an Architectural Designer, Composer, Stage & Show Designer, and Colorist.
We interviewed the winners so we could share their prowess with you. And if you’re a NYC local you can snag a ticket to the official YG22 Party at Sony Hall on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, where you will have the chance to meet and greet them.
Young Guns continue to dominate the creative industry, so we’re happily presenting you with the kick-ass class of Young Guns 22.
Brandon Kapelow
Director & Photographer, Voyager
Based:
Los Angeles, CA
Hometown:
Wilson, Wyoming
What were your original impressions of the Young Guns competition, award, and community?
It’s been a while and I’m sure it came from many different sources, but my first exposure probably came through my close friend Spencer Creigh who was a finalist in the YG19 showcase. Since then I’ve become aware of the numerous ways The One Club is supporting artists through ADC and The One Show, which I greatly admire because it’s damn hard to make it in this field! You can feel like you’re toiling away in obscurity for years without much to show for it, so having opportunities to share your work along the way makes the journey feel easier.
How did you end up in the creative field anyways?
I was lucky to have caught the bug early thanks to an influential teacher I had in middle school. I happened to take a video class around the time my father passed away, and looking back I assume there was something about the escapist nature of lens-based creativity that must have appealed to me on a deep level. I’m very fortunate my mom was able to recognize and willing to support that budding passion in me (thanks mom!), and that she had the means to help me seek out opportunities in creative fields like summer programs and internships. I was also lucky to grow up in a region where there was an abundance of natural beauty that attracted high-level nature and wildlife photographers (and not much else to do as a young person), so I had access to a lot of impactful mentorship opportunities from an early age.
Congrats on the YG win! Why did you decide to enter this year?
Now or never sums it up pretty well. Seeking recognition has never come easily for me, but I’m grateful my EP Andrew Hutcheson has believed in me for a while and encouraged me to submit an application, while providing lots of support throughout the process. We had discussed the possibility of applying for YG21, but I wanted to wait as I had another year of eligibility and had some work on the horizon I’d been developing for a long time with The New York Times and NPR stories that I was eager to include.
You only get to submit six projects that embody you and your talent. So, how did you decide which pieces were good enough to make the cut?
I really admire Young Guns’ emphasis on multidisciplinary artists, so I wanted to showcase a selection of work across all the different mediums I’m currently working in - direction, photography, and journalism (and radio, apparently). I also felt it was important to demonstrate a through-line highlighting the themes of mental and physical health that I’m trying to explore in all my work, regardless of discipline. There are all kinds of reasons we feel we lose a sense of ownership of a project throughout its lifespan, but I’m lucky I was able to compile a portfolio of work I’m really proud of, that I feel reflects the original intentions of each respective story. And while there are plenty of projects I enjoyed that didn’t make the cut, ultimately I wanted to put forward a body of work that reflects the direction I want my career to continue building upon moving forward.
“I also felt it was important to demonstrate a through-line highlighting the themes of mental and physical health that I’m trying to explore in all my work, regardless of discipline.”
What was your reaction when you discovered that you won?
It’s deeply embarrassing but I was actually in the gym working with a physical therapist when I got the text from my EP. Needless to say, the extra adrenaline was pretty helpful for the remainder of the session.
How does your current home inspire your creativity as an artist?
I like the framing of this question, and since I live in two places I’ll give two answers. Los Angeles is a city I feel drawn to more out of necessity than any particular affinity for the place itself, but I’ve found a creative community of friends here who inspire me deeply on a daily basis. I once caught myself saying I’d live on a desert island if I was surrounded by the right people, and in a strange way that somewhat describes my life in LA. Vancouver, on the other hand, is the gateway to a landscape I find deeply moving. Given my upbringing, I feel most at home in the mountains, and the passing of seasons is something I find important both personally and creatively. I moved to Vancouver just after COVID (my partner is Canadian), and I’m really grateful to have those elements back in my life again. And don’t get me wrong - there are some amazing people in Vancouver too!
Now that you’re a part of the Young Guns community, are there any past winners you look up to and admire?
Spencer Creigh - YG17 Finalist - Spencer is like a brother to me. We’ve been close for over a decade and he’s supported me and my creative development in countless ways. The subtlety and economy of his work is a constant source of inspiration. I’ve borrowed many of my best directing tricks from Spencer, including how important it is to use music early in the process of developing a film.
Jordan Findlay - YG21 Finalist - Jordan and I have become good friends over the past few years since I joined the vibrant creative community in Vancouver, and he’s been key for me in unlocking what that city has to offer. I share Jordan’s passion for the outdoors and I love the way he integrates that aspect of himself into his work.
Andrew Litten - YG21 Finalist - Andrew is someone whose work I’ve admired for a very long time, and more recently we’ve become friends as we’ve wound up on some of the same rosters. I love the lyricism in Andrew’s work, and it reminds me to come back towards the poetry of filmmaking when my nonfiction instincts draw me too much towards prose.
If you could create a new Young Guns tradition, what would you want it to be and why?
While I’m sure there is much more about the traditions of Young Guns I have yet to discover, it would be lovely if there was an opportunity to interface directly with past winners to learn more about how this experience shaped their thinking about their work and career. I’d certainly welcome the chance to pay it forward if I could!
Name a dream project that you have yet to fulfill — maybe Young Guns will propel you in that direction!
I have both the blessing and curse of a long wishlist. I’ll give you an abbreviated version. I’m in the midst of finishing a feature doc right now (based on The New York Times Op-Doc that was one of my six entries), which has been a longstanding ambition of mine. I’ve also been developing a PSA campaign with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, who I’ve been volunteering for since I was in high school. I’d love to finally write the script for a narrative feature I’ve been kicking around for a few years (cliché as it is) exploring some true events that took place in my peer group when I was a teenager. And I’d love to finally shoot a short that I wrote with a dear friend over the pandemic - the images are constantly present in my mind, but it’s a period piece and somewhat complex to produce! Lastly, I’d love to finish a photo project I’ve been shooting for the last three years (based on the stories in TIME and NPR), which I’m hoping will culminate in an exhibition and book publication.
Will we see you at the YG22 party in NYC in November?
Hell yeah!
Come party with us and celebrate the class of Young Guns 22 on Wednesday, November 13, 6:30 PM, at Sony Hall in NYC!
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