We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jozanne Marie a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Jozanne thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?
As a woman of color and an artist, so many times I have been called in for characters that have no depth. Roles that are crafted with every stereotype possible for a black girl. At some point I had to say no to it. I believe as an artist I have a responsibility on what stories I want to tell about Black women. Black Caribbean women, specifically. We need to take the time to see what Black women are we depicting in our scripts. And in an era where the conversation is about diversity and inclusivity, it is important that we just not throw a person of color in a film and call it diversity. Diversity is intentional, it begs for curiosity. It is being observant of culture and not just a passerby of it. I look forward to playing complex stories that not only entertain but make this Hollywood canvas a beautiful place of color, real people and interesting stories that allow every viewer to truly feel included and dignified .
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I’ve always wanted to be an actress. Arts and entertainment moved me internally from the small room I lived back in Jamaica. Although I desired pursuing acting as a child, it was not nurtured culturally as a career option. It wasn’t until College, an adjunct professor who was also a Off- Broadway director saw my talent at an audition and told me acting was the path I should follow. He later hired me in his theater company, Family Life Theater where we toured throughout NYC performing for different schools and organizations.
Soon after, I decided to hone my skills by attending the Acting Studio Conservatory under the teaching of the phenomenal James Price. Since then I have been performing in commercials, film and theatre projects. But as I grew and developed my skills, the more my voice became clear and the more I wanted to express the stories embedded in my soul.
That ultimately led me to write my solo play, Beautiful where I played 16 characters. This story is about a girl, an island and a secret. My personal secret that I held onto my entire life until after college. My intention was to inspire, encourage and make a small difference in the world. I didn’t want to wait any longer for anyone to choose me in order to make a difference. Art is powerful and it should not be restrained. After performing my solo play on a five week run, I didn’t know it would travel around the world for five years. Not only didI share my secret but hundreds of men and women had the permission to share theirs as well.
It’s a testament to believing in yourself, and believing in your brand. So often we wait for permission and acceptance as an artist and we end stifling our artistic expression. If I had to say what my brand is, it’s telling authentic stories that entertain, provoke thought and shift culture. I tell those stories through my work as an actor, writer and also a producer.
In 2020 I launched my production, Double 8 Entertainment where our main mission is to connect the world through entertainment. Currently, we are producing Beautiful into a feature film with an ongoing campaign to inspire people to be #unashamedandunafraid. We have several projects on our slate that we can’t wait to share with the world.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Yes, as a Co- CEO of Double 8 Entertainment, a very diverse production company, we look forward to producing content that will be inclusive, one that connects, creates and innovates across cultural lines. The world is changing and as creators we need to be forward moving in the next era. Having a creative growth mindset in the story-telling and casting of our projects is definitely driving our creative journey.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
It’s so wonderful to see the results of your true artistic self and how it impacts others. Sometimes, way beyond what you expect. I love seeing people finding their own artistic voice by anything I create. In addition, being an artist forces me to discover the world in different ways that inspires growth and adventure.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jozannemarie.com
- Instagram: @jozannemarie
- Other: www.double8entertainment.com
Image Credits
Nogen Beck