Jon Kinyon is an American filmmaker, film editor, stop motion animator, music producer, songwriter, parodist/satirist, webcomic creator/writer, and entrepreneur.
The Jimi Homeless Experience
Stop motion animation and webcomic
On March 6, 2008 he became the first "featured animator" on MyToons,a YouTube-styled website specifically geared for 2-D and 3-D animation, with a stop motion animation parody of Jimi Hendrix' key performance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. The animated piece features a fictional character named Jimi Homeless who first appeared in a series of webcomics published as The Jimi Homeless Experience (webcomic). The webcomics are written by Jon Kinyon and drawn by an underground cartoonist known as Big Tasty. The stop motion animation was a collaboration with Josh Curtis, one of the former singers for the related band project, who molded the clay version of Jimi Homeless.
Parody album & live stage show
On August 23, 2007 he released a full length CD of parody songs he had written and produced, all inspired by the aforementioned comic. The first CD by The Jimi Homeless Experience was released on the exact day of the 40th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix' first album release Are You Experienced, his Are You Homeless? features "Weird Al" Yankovic-styled parodies of some of Hendrix' biggest hits. In 2009 a follow-up EP was released featuring a parody of the Hendrix hit "Red House" and a heavy blues/rock cover of the classic blues song "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl". Various lineups of the band have been playing live at venues all over Southern CA. since 2007. The latest incarnation has Jon Kinyon himself taking the main spotlight as vocalist.
God Squad!
In 2002 he wrote, produced and directed God Squad!, a comedy film which parodied Christian Films and 1970s Buddy Cop Films. It featured cult film actress and former Penthouse Pet of the Year (1993) Julie Strain as well as actor Al Israel who is famous for his roles in Scarface, Carlito's Way and Body Double. Composer Bob Crail is credited with writing the film's musical score. After its premiere at the Academy Award accredited Los Angeles International Short Film Festival the film went on to screen at Tromadance 2003, the Backseat Film Festival and several other U.S. film festivals. This film is included in the European version of "The Best of Tromadance" DVD.
Hot Rod Condoms
Jon Kinyon is the founder and president of Hot Rod Condoms®, a U.S. condom brand which he launched in 1994 and has since distributed to all corners of the globe. In October 2002, Hot Rod Condoms® introduced its Speedstrip Applicator™ condom, the first condom with a built-in applicator to be marketed worldwide. The patented applicator facilitates putting a condom on quickly and easily. It was one of the first "novelty" condoms to meet U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards for disease prevention and contraception.
