Will Jones
Photo courtesy of Kyra Badger
A warehouse, minimal lighting, and unconventional props helped the filmmaker tell a story about identity and creative independence.
On a $2,000 budget, filmmaker and cinematographer Daphne “Aris” Liang faced a major challenge. Successful influencer Jaden Hossler, professionally known as jxdn, was taking his music in a new direction, moving away from the style that had made him famous. Rather than stick with what he knew would resonate with his audience, he wanted to embrace a new aesthetic. With 3 million followers across Instagram and YouTube, jxdn wanted Aris to capture this new side of himself and his music in the video.
Despite the limited budget, Aris relied on her artistic vision and problem-solving skills to create a gritty, visually compelling video that would reflect jxdn’s evolving artistic identity.
The Story Behind the Video
The video’s central theme was jxdn’s desire to explore a new artistic direction beyond the pop-punk sound that defined his early music career. Aris wanted not just to film a musical performance, but also to capture the tension between his established image and his evolving musical identity. The video’s direction reflects this struggle, using themes of frustration and confinement that culminate in a final transformation.
As both director and cinematographer, Aris had greater control over the video’s look. Her resourcefulness helped her adapt on the spot and solve problems hands-on. Through careful planning, she used her experience behind the camera to execute her artistic vision and oversee the technical execution.
Making the Most of $2,000
With such a limited budget, Aris relied on her skills as a cinematographer to bring her unflinching, raw vision to life. The budget limitations didn’t curb her creative approach; they enhanced it. A warehouse set the stage for a visual story of escape, with concrete bags and electrical cables serving as makeshift workout equipment that jxdn could interact with. Using the industrial setting and objects as visual elements reinforced the gritty atmosphere Aris aimed for.
Aris also opted for minimalist lighting and relied on cinematography techniques. She used shadows cast by just one or two lights to create a high-contrast look. Through her deliberate use of light and shadow and her understanding of how to manipulate her camera’s sensor capabilities, she created a visual style that reinforced the emotional intensity of jxdn’s performance.
Los Angeles and the Changing Entertainment Industry
Los Angeles is a major entertainment hub that draws digital creators, musicians, filmmakers, and other creatives. jxdn has been at the center of the entertainment industry’s increasingly overlapping worlds of social media, music, and filmmaking. Early in his rise to fame, jxdn joined an LA content house, helping him grow his visibility and establish himself in the entertainment industry.
Social media personalities often expand their presence, pursuing other endeavors such as acting, music, modeling, fashion design, and more. Like other filmmakers, Aris works with these artists to help them build their brand and step into their new incarnation through visual storytelling.
Aris’s work on the jxdn music video shows how she can combine creative vision with technical skill, even on a limited $2,000 budget. Her deliberate choices about lighting and location helped create a visual story that reflected jxdn’s personal journey.
Rather than attempting to transform the setting with limited resources, Aris found ways to work with the existing environment and use it to her creative advantage. Her approach illustrates how artistic vision, resourcefulness, and technical skill can shape compelling filmmaking, even on a limited budget.