photos by: Kenneth Grzymala
Name: Kellen Dengler
Hometown: Fort Collins, CO
Current City: Brooklyn, NY
College (if applicable): Arizona State University
Current Employer/ Recent Clients: Nike, Pepsi, Levi’s, Converse, Complex, Dime Magazine, Jonathan Mannion Photography
What’s your favorite project you worked on and why? The project I definitely enjoyed myself the most on was last summer for Levi’s. It was the 2009 NBA Draft Diary of Jonny Flynn. I followed him for about a month prior to the draft while trying out for different teams and going through the ups and downs of preparing for the draft. Jonny is truly a great person and really let us into his life while he was going through all of that. It was really cool to see him make it to the NBA.
What are you doing when you’re not working? Not working? HA! I wish…. When I have free time I love going out to eat. My favorite thing by far about NYC is the food. I also love riding my bike, snowboarding and live music.
What keeps you motivated on a daily basis? I think living in NYC has really kept my motivation at an all time high. It’s probably the best thing that has ever happened to me. There are so many really creative people here that you sort of absorb it just walking around. There is really nowhere else where such a vast creative collective exists.
What do you think is a main factor that got you where you are today? I’ve always been pretty ambitious and independent, but I also have always hated having nothing to do. I think that combination of traits sort of gave me the drive that I currently have.
What do you have coming up for the future? I’m leaving for Belfast Ireland to shoot a campaign for Bushmill’s Whiskey. It should be a really incredible project. I’ve never been to Europe so i’m really stoked to be over there. After that I am jumping right back in the mix with Nike and Complex for the rest of the summer and am setting something up with Red Bull as well.
What would you tell a friend visiting your city for the first time? Go do as much as you can. NYC has way too much going on to sit around and do nothing.
Any words of wisdom? “We don’t make movies to make money. We make money to make more movies.” – Walt Disney
twitter: kdengs
email: kellen@kellendengler.com
Work:
Cinematography Reel
Kellen Dengler 2011 Cinematography Reel from Kellen Dengler on Vimeo.
The Madbury Club
The Madbury Club! from The Madbury Club on Vimeo.
Bushmills “Since Way Back”
“Since Way Back” by Jonathan Mannion from Bushmills USA on Vimeo.