Former Intern Wins Best Documentary in Bucks Fever Filmfest
"Barre None"
We are proud to announce that our former intern, Maria Cantu, won Best College Documentary along with Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction in the 2018 Bucks Fever Filmfest for her documentary “Barre None” created under the JTWO [INC]ubator Project.
In this documentary, Maria tells the captivating and beautiful story of a young ballerina who is able to push through the harsh realities and overbearing pressures of the dancing world, with her unconditional love for the art.
JTWO Welcomes Intern Robin Chakrabarti
by Robin Chakrabarti
Ever since I was young I loved to tell stories and create characters. As a kid I would stand in front of my bathroom mirror, talking in different voices and accents for hours on end, bringing life to characters in my head. I’m sure I had my parents worried.
Thankfully I was able to funnel my comfort in being myself to become a vessel for expression as I got older. I fell in love with acting and the thrill of captivating an audience, and went on to play eccentric characters in school plays (including the parrot from Aladdin and even writing and performing a play impersonating my real life middle school athletics coach). I was named after the Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore, and discovered a love of writing that evolved from poetry to songwriting, and even wedding officiation speeches (I’m a recently ordained minister, so let me know if you need help getting married).
In middle and high school, when the hormones were raging and issues seemed blown out of proportion, I discovered music as a way to give meaning and begin to reclaim a life that felt out of my control. During my college years, my creative interests converged on film, when I started making music videos for my own songs. The feeling of seeing a project through from inception to unveiling makes every moment of risk and doubt more than worth it. However despite my ambition and hard work, for years I was confined by my own limiting beliefs that making art could never be a real career and could transcend just being a hobby. I spent years making music and film in my free time after coming home from classes or jobs I knew were not moving me toward my dreams.
I have hungered for an artistic community where I can share my talents and learn from others and I am deeply grateful that JTwo has come into my life now. I can’t wait to take advantage of the opportunities I have been given. Using my skills in sound design, video editing, and production, I am ready to leave my mark!
When I’m not making films, you can find me cooking up dance music, looking for sizzling vegan eats, sending ankles to the doctor in 2K, or getting fired up by life coaches on YouTube.
JTWO Produces New Addition to Janssen Storyteller Series
Following the launch of the Janssen Immunology story, Janssen challenged us to create a way to continue the next chapter by creating a series of videos highlighting the hardworking scientists dedicated to innovation for people living with and susceptible to immune diseases for the Janssen Global channel. With every project comes a new and unique story of vulnerability and strength that ultimately brings us closer to the inspiring journeys of their people.
In this year’s Storyteller Series video, you meet Shawn and Marisa, two different people with two different stories who are united in their mission to transform the lives of people living with Lupus, together.
JTWO Teams up with Visit Bucks County
This Fall our team is partnering with Visit Bucks County to bring their new Youtube series “Check In” to life. In these short videos we will take you behind the scenes of some of the most charming and coziest bed & breakfasts atop sprawling farms, off country roads, and in small-town settings of Bucks County, PA!
JTWO Welcomes Intern Elle Chernaskey
I have always been a vessel of energy ready to expend it in any possible way. For as long as I can remember, I was go, go, go, in all facets of my being. Physically, I would happily exhaust myself. Running laps around the house, challenging boys in basketball, and riding my bike until sun-down forced me to return home. Socially, I wanted to interact with everyone. I would practically trip over my feet running down my windy stairs to pick up the phone JUST for a few seconds of dialogue (no one was ever calling for me lol). Mentally, I pushed myself to my limits. In college, I often said yes to one too many commitments and found myself rushing from club meeting to a nanny job to an internship to the climbing wall. Whenever I felt my energy fading, I thought back to myself at age five.
Although five is young, I was determined, didn’t give a crap what anyone thought, and loved a challenge. Like any five year old, I took in the world around me with attentiveness and curiosity. Every new moment was different and exciting. At this age I vehemently believed with every blink, a photograph was logged in my “picture book,” that would be compiled after a lifetime of blinking. In my highschool years, I would try to channel this perspective, hoping to see the world with similarly fresh eyes.
In college I upgraded my DSLR and vowed to travel as much as possible. I wanted to answer to my creative urges which was definitely not going to happen in my backyard. I spent hours researching ways to travel on a budget. I think my face still infiltrates the financial aid dude’s nightmares. But my perseverance to see the world worked. I was lucky enough to study in Costa Rica and Italy. I moved to Alaska for a summer. I climbed pyramids in Mexico. Saw the juxtaposition of cleanliness crossing the border from the U.S. to Canada. I backpacked Europe a few times solo and then once with friends. I owe this ambition and zest for new adventure to my five year-old self. That is who reminded me to be free-spirited, to not be afraid, and just go for it.
During my times of travel I found digital photography incredibly rewarding. Not only was I able to see beautiful places, I could also capture exactly what I wanted to remember and cherish. This excitement led me to photographing solo backpacking trips to glaciers, cloud rainforests with eclectic species, and my friends drinking too much wine at biodynamic farms. Super sick experiences that I’m so grateful for. After graduating college a few months ago, I knew my traveling would come to a hiatus. I had some big decisions to make like where to work and where to live and nothing was really happening. A few months of crippling anxiety ensued and I was scared I’d end up climbing the corporate ladder. Five year old Elle would have none of that.
Through a painstaking job search and very stressful summer, I finally decided to apply to some creative internships. I felt really nervous about applying and knew I would be up against incredibly talented film students with much more talent and knowledge. But the mindset of Elle at five surfaced and I had to tell myself to not doubt so much and apply. A few days later I heard back from Jelani and was so stoked. After researching JTwo’s incredible work, I was surprised and excited to be considered and eventually get the position. Although I have the typical week-one nerves, I feel so lucky to be in this seat and I cannot wait to learn from this dynamic staff. Thus far I have felt extremely welcomed. I am ready to bust my ass and do everything I can to contribute and collaborate. Although I know I’m never getting my picture book, I hope to look back at times like these and smile.
This project was created as part of the JTWO [INC]ubator Project. A semester long internship program built from the ground up to give young filmmakers, content creators, and all around hungry for a challenge individuals a place to stretch their creative minds while preparing them for the road ahead.