jacob chandler
Writer
Jacob Chandler is a writer for Allusion Magazine. He was born in Hawaii and moved between there and California until his family settled in Fullerton, California. He was given a disposable camera for a birthday, and his passion for storytelling and filmmaking was born. He then went to Troy High School under the Troy Tech Magnet Program, where he studied media and produced short films and news broadcasts. He followed his passion at the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC), where he completed his Bachelor's in Film and Digital Media. There, he found his calling and honed his skills in screenwriting and film production. Jacob graduated in 3 years and immediately entered the film industry, assisting Hollywood Executives with creative development, script coverage, and working on live movie sets. With these experiences under his belt, Jacob felt ready to take his storytelling skills to the next level. He is now completing his first year of graduate studies at the prestigious Loyola Marymount University MFA Writing for the Screen Program, and he couldn't be happier. Jacob hopes to one day tell the world his stories as a writer/director.
Jacob has an expansive and varied background that is rooted in storytelling and elevating community. He has done volunteer work locally and internationally, producing promotional videos for school programs around Orange County (California), as well as for a homeless shelter in Spain. Jacob served on the founding team as the technical and assistant technical director for his high school's daily news livestream "OMNIA." During his undergraduate studies, he was an assistant shooter for a premium wedding videography company and completed a research internship on the portrayal of mental health in horror films. Jacob also served as an administrative analyst for the LA County Board of Supervisors, where he provided administrative support to organizations like the LA County Commission for Women. Currently, he serves as the Content Development Assistant for Green LMU, Loyola Marymount University's sustainability initiative towards a zero-emission campus. He also is an avid swimmer and water polo player, and has spent many summers teaching and lifeguard youth swim and water polo camps.
Professionally, Jacob has worked on a number of film projects, of which can be found on his website and resume. Some notable projects include assisting on set for Unstuffed: A Build-A-Bear Story (Taylor Morden) and Glisten and the Merry Mission (Cory Morrison). Jacob also served as an Office/Creative Development Assistant, supporting the team at Foundation Media Partners with their slate and internal development. There, he designed promotional graphic materials, covered scripts, maintained office coordination, and participated in creative development for slated projects. He also co-founded Action Creative Network, an emerging social network for uprising storytellers and creators to connect and strengthen their careers.
Jacob has had a knack for creative and business writing since he was young, and a profound love for horror and comedy. A middle school essay won him an award for "Best Writing," but he definitely found his strength in writing when he had two short comedy sketches published in the UCSC 2022 Comedy Show Bible. He also wrote multiple research papers on horror and comedy films, and how they showcase the funny yet scary truths of humanity. Jacob grew up watching movies and television, and wants to provide that same sense of belonging, immersion, and emotion he felt with his own stories. Some of his favorite films and directors that helped him find his passion include: Get Out (Jordan Peele), Everything Everywhere All At Once (Daniel Scheinert, Daniel Kwan), Whiplash (Damien Chazelle), Do the Right Thing (Spike Lee), the Star Wars Saga, and the Harry Potter Saga. His favorite television series include: Friends, Breaking Bad, Stranger Things (The Duffer Brothers), The Office, The Twilight Zone, and Community (Anthony Russo, Joe Russo).
Jacob wants to send love and thanks to his mom, dad, his brother Michael, and his grandmother Ida. Their unwavering love and support is invaluable, and Jacob wouldn't be who he is today without them. He also wants to give a special thanks to his middle and high school teachers Mrs. Nichole Mahar and Mrs. Hope Molina-Porter for giving him the foundation he needed to succeed. Furthermore, Jacob would also like to give a tremendous thanks to Professor Shelley Stamp at UCSC for helping him find his passion and for her amazing mentorship. Jacob is also incredibly thankful to the team at Foundation Media Partners, especially Mr. Patrick Hughes, for giving him incredible opportunities that pushed him forward. Last but not least, Jacob's best friends: Daniel Chu, Bradley Fitzpatrick, Gary Simkins, Robert Franco, Gavin Faridi, Mei Kavanagh, and Max Callahan for letting him rant to them all these years. While Jacob is unable to thank all of the incredible people who have helped his journey, he is forever thankful for their invaluable support.