Chip and Joanna Gaines are probably best known for their home designs and renovation projects, which were the premise for their hit TV show Fixer Upper. While they hung up that gig this past spring, they are still making dreams come true for people, including Hubbard High School student Zachary Jones.
In September, Jones entered Chipstarter, a video contest that encouraged people to record themselves detailing their dreams for a chance to win money from Chip and Joanna Gaines to pursue that dream. In his video submission, Jones, an amateur videographer, detailed his desire to be a travel filmmaker.
“I just turned 16, but I know what I want my future to look like -- to go to college and become a videographer. I want to capture positivity and goodness in the world. I want to create opportunities to lift others up with film,” said Jones.
Zachary’s passion for videography began when he was just 13 years old. He would take pictures and record video using his iPhone and then edit them. When he was 15, he received his first, beginner DSLR camera and his love for filmmaking deepened. His mother says most of his videos feature his friends, the people who have helped shape Zachary into the man he is today!
In his pitch to Chip and Joanna Gaines, Jones proposed meeting and learning from Peter McKinnon, his role-model in film, and developing his skills with additional camera and video equipment.
Last month, Jones and his family traveled to Waco, Texas, to attend the Silobration, where Zachary learned he was a winner. He and his father were able to meet Chip and Joanna and accept his winnings, a check for $8906.
Zachary’s video submission:
Zachary’s video of the trip: