John M Jacobson

From cinematic storytelling to cutting-edge AI visuals, I specialize in crafting compelling narratives that fuse traditional filmmaking, advertising, and immersive technology. With roots in global cinema and a deep expertise in VFX, AR, and GenAI tools, my work consistently bridges creativity and innovation to engage audiences worldwide.

Early Years
My journey began in the mid-1990s on the set of Flame in Zimbabwe, a groundbreaking film about female freedom fighters. In the years that followed, while working within journalism, I wrote, directed, and produced several documentaries including God’s Gift, War and Children of War, and others, exploring themes of conflict, culture, and the human experience. My work developing special footage for feature films like Syriana and War, Inc., along with early collaborations with Anthony Bourdain during his first television ventures, helped me refine a cinematic approach grounded in authenticity and emotional impact.

During the formative years of my career, in the early 2000s while in advertising, I served as a Film/Video Editor while also frequently taking on the roles of Graphic Designer and Art Director at various renowned ad agencies. This pivotal period allowed me to immerse myself in diverse projects and cultivate my skills in both visual design and video editing within prestigious global agency settings. I’ve had the honor of crafting compelling narratives and bringing ideas to life. From dynamic commercials to immersive documentaries, each project showcases my dedication to quality, innovation, and impactful storytelling.

Later, I dove into action sports, producing high-energy video content for brands like Red Bull, capturing the edge of performance and pushing creative limits. That hands-on production experience translated naturally into branded content and marketing for tech companies, where I began exploring new creative technologies.

After years in action sports media, I transitioned into the tech world through Mapbox, where I served as the company’s sole video producer. There, I worked across every corner of the business—from marketing and product to engineering—translating complex technologies into clear, compelling visual stories. That experience laid the groundwork for my move to Google, where I continued to merge creativity with innovation at scale.

As AI began to evolve, I leaned in early—experimenting, learning, and adapting. Over time, I became deeply involved in the development and application of GenAI tools for visual storytelling. Today, I lead projects at the intersection of cinema, advertising, and generative design, specializing in prompt engineering and synthetic content development.

My background in traditional filmmaking, combined with my passion for new technology, allows me to bridge the old and the new—to build immersive, brand-aligned narratives powered by innovation.

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