Profile
About
Chris Jones is an award-winning filmmaker from Baton Rouge, La. He is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where he completed a bachelor’s degree in Moving Image Arts with a concentration in directing. He received the University’s Charles E. Richard Scholarship for his achievements, leadership, and mastery in moving image arts. He was recognized as the 2016 Moving Image Arts Department’s Outstanding Graduate and was nominated to be the Outstanding Graduate of the College of Liberal Arts.
His directorial debut, "Pearl Motel," is a period piece set in the 1930s and 1950s. With a small budget, he was able to submerge his audience into a different time period. "Pearl Motel" earned Chris recognition as a New Orleans Film Society’s 2016 “Emerging Voice." The film later premiered at the New Orleans Film Festival the following year. Pearl Motel has had major success in the film festival circuit traveling to Atlanta, D.C., and New York City winning a number of awards including the Grand Prize Award of $1500 at the Cane River Film Festival.
More notably, Chris and his team achieved Top 5 Finalist status for the Louisiana French Culture Film Grant with his film, "Remember Freetown," where they were extended the opportunity to pitch their film to industry executives in New Orleans.
In his latest film, "The Candy Lady," Chris assumed the roles of producer and editor. The film led to a remarkable sweep at the 2023 LA Film Prize by not only securing the grand prize award of $25,000 but also earning the prestigious Founder’s Circle Award of $3,000, the Top 5 Finalist award of $1,000, and the Best Performance award. Chris is currently working on his third film, "Norma."
Chris's creative prowess extends beyond the film world, having produced nationally televised commercials, such as the ESPN-aired "Something Unexpected," which won the Silver award at the 2018 CASE District IV awards.
Chris Jones currently works as the Multimedia Specialist at LSU. He uses cinematic language to enliven and give character to the University through film. His projects aim to show the campus as an open and welcoming place that appeals to prospective and current students, their families, alumni, and others.
Chris is also a thriving stand-up comedian who has taken his comedic talents far and wide, performing on stages at churches, schools, universities, and renowned comedy clubs, leaving audiences of all ages in stitches. Notably, Chris's comedic prowess earned him a coveted spot on season 13 of "Kenan Thompson Presents," triumphing over comedians worldwide. A masterful MC, he has hosted countless events and concerts, including "An Evening with Lyfe Jennings."
Sharing the stage with comedic heavyweights such as Benji Brown, Lav Luv, Nema Williams, Mario Tory, Marcus Combs, Shaddy Feel Good, and T.K. Kirkland, Chris has proven himself as a standout performer. His comedic journey even led him to cross paths with the legendary Martin Lawrence.