Biography

With 3 decades of industry experience, Jason Kraynek has established himself as an Award-Winning Cinematographer, Director, Camera Operator, Gaffer, and Colorist. Passionate for narrative, story-based films, stunning visual, and practical on-set effects. The presence of in-camera techniques and colorful vivid images are displayed prominently throughout his work.

As a child, Jason was always interested in performing in front of people through magic, toys, or even thrown together music theater shows for the neighborhood parents. He wanted to be a stand-up comedian at a young age, wrote various skits and drew cartoons throughout childhood.

In 1994, Jason started performing, set building, and stage managing various musical theater productions including Hello Dolly, Chicago, Crazy for you, Once upon a Mattress, Joesph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, Music Man, etc. After 3 years onstage, he moved into improv and sketch comedy. Working on actor, director, producer, writer, and editor. This featured various film projects like Any Given Sunday, All the World, and the Mongo Like Candy tv series. As well as Improv Sketch groups Beat the Dead Horse, Charming Hooligans, Caffeine Kids, Mongo Like Candy, and Suspicious Clowns.

The late 90s also provided roles as an AV foreman in various touring, event, and stage companies. Artists he worked with during that time include Green Day, Kid Rock, Linkin Park, Dashboard Confessional, Shania Twain, Hall and Oats, Hillary Duff, and Coke. In 2003, Jason drifted into the field of photography while developing a media company focusing on video and design. This provided working with clients in advertising, music, fashion, and event.

In 2011, Jason branched back into working in film as a freelancer, and creating the production company JACENKNET in 2013. Credits include hundreds of projects such as narrative films 'Heaven is Hell', 'Bunny', 'Love', 'Gancho', 'Fang', 'The Way I See It', 'Twisted Little Lies', and 'The Christmas Thief'. Music Videos for 'Allister', 'Ganser', 'the New Loud', 'Melter', and 'My Gold Mask'. And clients such as - Lifetime Network, Focus Features, Chicago Bulls, Lego, Consumer Reports, Dolby, Grammy Foundation, Universal Music, BBC, Financial Times, National Geographic, Nike, PBS, Reebok, Rolling Stone, United Airlines, Victoria's Secret, Visa, White Castle, etc. As well as countless commercials, documentary work, ad campaigns, and personal projects.

At the end of 2021, Jason joined The International Cinematographers Guild as a Camera Operator in the Local 600 where he is continuing to pursue both freelance and union opportunities as well as getting married to his longtime girlfriend, Hair/MUA artist Jessica Lynn.
- IMDb mini biography by: Jason Kraynek