about me

I’m John Cobb — a filmmaker, video producer, cinematographer, editor, and recent MFA graduate from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.

I grew up in Arkansas and started making videos when I was nine years old, posting videos with my friends on YouTube before I had any real idea what filmmaking was. Over time, my interests expanded from childhood skits into documentary, digital media, branded content, podcasts, narrative film, and unscripted television.

For the past several years, my work has focused on nonfiction storytelling — finding real people, real moments, and real conflicts, then shaping them into something cinematic, entertaining, and emotionally honest. I’m especially interested in the space where traditional filmmaking meets the creator economy: where documentary, YouTube, social media, branded content, and entertainment all start to overlap.

My experience spans work for companies and clients including Netflix, L’Oréal, independent production companies, and small businesses. I’ve directed and edited documentary projects, served as Director of Photography for the feature film Anything for Something, produced branded and internal corporate media, worked in the camera department for Season 3 of the Netflix/BBC survival competition series, Outlast, and developed original creator-driven projects like The Dumbest Person on Campus — a long-form video podcast built around asking smart people dumb questions.

At the center of my work is a simple belief: story still matters.

I’m drawn to stories about people taking the step — especially when that step is uncomfortable, uncertain, or a little embarrassing. A lot of my work circles around the same theme: overcoming fear, particularly the fear of looking stupid. I think there’s something deeply human, inspiring, and often very funny, about watching people push through that fear in pursuit of something meaningful.

That’s also how I try to approach my own creative life.

I currently live in Los Angeles with my wife, Rachael, and two cats, Mango and Meeko. If you’re interesting in collaborating, drop me a line and let’s create something great.