As a filmmaker and photographer, Jahmel Holden utilizes his trained eye to capture the subtleties of life and tell stories with motion pictures and still images. While studying cinematography and directing at Columbia College Hollywood, Holden received the prestigious AMPAS grant from the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences, which presents the Oscar Awards. This grant provided him the opportunity to intern as a production assistant on commercials and television shows with a nationally acclaimed production company. In 2012, Holden graduated summa cum laude with a dual degree in cinema and television production.

 

Holden has produced and directed promotional content for numerous well-known artists and companies, including Quincy Jones, Jerry Seinfeld, Enrique Iglesias, Pharrell Williams, Dr. Dre, and Oprah Winfrey. He also co-produced the feature film "Cru," which made history at the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) by winning five awards, including Best Film. Holden has provided production services for major industry players such as Netflix, Amazon, Riot Games (Valorant EMEA), AMPAS (2023-24 Oscars / Nominee Luncheon / Governors Awards), and the Viacom family (Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, Comedy Central).

 

In addition to his work in the film industry, Holden has directed and produced the travel docu-series "Black Girl Khronicles," taking viewers to locations such as London, Paris, Iceland, and Morocco. He is passionate about both film production and art curation, having curated art events and created art installations.

 

Holden has traveled to Colombia to participate in community service initiatives while improving his intermediate Spanish skills. He has also worked at the Putney Pre-College Castleton University program, leading groups on the Yellowstone Photo Workshop in 2021, the photography/climate change program in Iceland in 2022, and Nat Geo Tokyo Photo in 2023. Recognized as one of Putney Student Travel’s "Outstanding Leaders," Holden continues to inspire and lead in the realms of film and art. In the summer of 2024, he expanded his teaching experience by leading a photography course for the Putney Pre-College Barcelona program, enriching the creative skills of young photographers in an international setting.

 

As a public speaker, poet, and spoken word artist, Holden invites audiences into the museum of his mind. With colorful words, he paints picturesque images of hope against the backdrop of social ills and human pain. These verbal works of art not only captivate listeners but also challenge audiences to craft their own dreams and discover new worlds. Formerly known by the stage names "True Speech" and  the J.A.Holden Experiment, Holden has shared his gifts at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, an artist exhibition in Amsterdam, and numerous conferences, colleges, and churches across the United States. He combines elements of poetry/spoken word, sound design/music, and visuals in experimental art installations (i.e., Photography/Video/Live Art).

 

As a social activist and person of faith, Holden is committed to putting words into action, standing alongside the underprivileged and oppressed. A proud native of Kansas City, Missouri, raised in a single-parent home and supported by a broad community of reliable others, Holden devotes countless hours to supporting “at-risk” youth in the urban corridors of Kansas City and Los Angeles as a mentor and volunteer with the Kaufmann Foundation, Alex Haley’s Freedom Schools, and Five Thousand Fathers.

​​​

Fun fact: At age 16, Jahmel was sent home from a summer camp for high achievers after being labeled as the “Leader of the Revolutionaries.” The struggle continues…