Personal details
- Birth Date: 1938-05-27
- Birth Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Professions: Sound Department, Camera and Electrical Department, Director
Don Jones kicked things off in Philly, but most of his growing up went down on a tiny Pennsylvania farm—think classic small-town vibes, one rickety schoolhouse, the whole nine yards. Not exactly Hollywood, right? He went through all twelve grades crammed under one roof, probably knew every kid in town by name. Then, like a lot of guys from his generation, he wound up in the Army for a bit, and after that, for reasons only he could explain, he tried his luck as a pro boxer. No big deal, just a little time in the ring before the movie itch hit. So, off to California, chasing that old Hollywood dream. Gotta pay the rent, though, so he did whatever he could—stunt work, acting gigs, you name it. But, man, acting barely kept the lights on, especially with a family counting on him. So he pivoted—got behind the camera, started out in the sound department, then caught the bug for camera work, writing, directing, the whole shebang. Low-budget flicks were his jam—stuff like The Forest and Schoolgirls in Chains. If there was a gig, he took it. Commercials, educational films, German TV, even the Discovery Channel. Wanderlust kicked in, too, ‘cause he ended up seeing half the world while hustling for gigs. These days, he’s pretty much retired out in LA. Legacy? A handful of scrappy little movies and a novel—Alma’s Daughter. It’s got everything: ghosts, generations, teenage drama…real page-turner. Not bad for a farm kid from Pennsylvania, huh?
referencennLos Angeles, CA, USA: The city that never sleeps, and honestly, neither do most of the people chasing their dreams there. You’ve got actors hustling from audition to audition, directors yelling “Cut!” on some random street corner, and a whole lot of coffee shops packed with screenwriters who swear their script is the next big thing. It’s not all palm trees and movie stars, though – there’s traffic that’ll make you question your life choices, and rent prices that’ll make your wallet cry. But hey, there’s a weird magic in the smog and neon. The city feels like one big set – you could bump into a celebrity at the grocery store or end up as an extra in a car commercial without even trying. People come here to make it, to keep at it, and honestly, some just to survive. But the grind? It never really stops.
May 27, 1938
Konidela Ram Charan
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
87 years old