We were lucky to catch up with Joslyn Rose Lyons recently and have shared our conversation below.
Joslyn Rose, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your creative career?
One of the most important lessons I have learned as a creative is that you have to believe in yourself, and in your own vision. The more you believe, the more others can see it too. The reason this has become such an impeccable lesson on the journey is because visualizing what we want to create is always the first step, and the courage to create is the key to bringing it into light. Faith.
Joslyn Rose, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I got into the industry in the early 2000’s, I studied film in college, and worked at an Emmy Award Winning Production company on documentaries for MSNBC, Discovery Channel, and PBS. Eventually directing and producing my first documentary film on the spiritual connection in Hip Hop. I went on to direct numerous music videos and music television for BET, MTV, and on shows and films with studios including STARZ/Lionsgate, UNINTERRUPTED/Warner Bros. Pics., and SHOWTIME Sports/Paramount Plus.
I am a member of the Alliance of Women Directors, and I was named an Academy Gold Fellowship for Women Finalist, from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. I was honored that The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also asked me to be a Guest Panelist on their Academy Gold Rising Program – committed to amplifying narratives by, about and for women and underrepresented audiences.
For Grammy, Emmy and Academy Award Winning artist Common, I directed and produced a project on his Imagine Justice Organization dedicated to empowering communities and fighting injustice. My short film Looking Glass premiered at SUNDANCE London, and picked up numerous awards including Best Short at The American Film Awards, and TopShorts Best Female Director, and I won Best Director award at the 7th edition of LA Independent Women Film Awards for her short film Butterfly Boxing, starring Hill Harper and J. Alphonse Nicholson.
Additionally, I directed and produced the first music matters showcase for the Grammy’s at CAA with PJ Morton, Mali Music, and Mack Wilds. I produced the BET Awards Celebrity Basketball Game with Nick Cannon, Chris Brown, Lil Rel Howery, Angela Yee, and Jemelle Hill.
I served as a Producer on Speaking Truth to Power (Lionsgate/STARZ), which featured Barbara Lee, Ayanna Presley, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Alice Walker, Van Jones, Cory Booker, and Danny Glover, and the film won Outstanding Documentary at the 2022 NAACP Image Awards. I teamed up on the film with #TakeTheLead, STARZ’s commitment to amplifying narratives by, about and for women.
My feature-length directorial debut, STAND, is an examination of the extraordinary journey of pioneer activist and basketball prodigy Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and premiered on Showtime in 2023. The documentary features Stephen Curry, Steve Kerr, Shaquille O’Neal, Jalen Rose, Mahershala Ali, Ice Cube and more.
I am the Producer of Tale of the Tape with Malik Buie and Kim Osario, which takes an unabashed look at the role The Mixtape played during the growth of Hip Hop music from the 1970’s to now with Kendrick Lamar Wiz Khalifa, and Big Sean, DJ Clue, Kid Capri, Mobb Deep, DJ Envy, DJ Drama, J. Cole, Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean, Kendrick Lamar, slated for release in Summer 2023.
——–
Joslyn Rose is an Academy Gold Fellowship for Women Finalist, from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences/Oscars. She is a member of the Alliance of Women Directors and is she is represented by Doug Johnson, at Creative Artists Agency.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I am drawn to the light in stories, it is that light that inspires my creative spirit.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
There are many non profit organizations and also initiatives that are dedicated to supporting the arts that have helped me along the way including Sundance Collab, Starz Take the Lead, Alliance for Women Directors, Academy Gold.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://itsjoslynrose.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjoslynrose/
Image Credits
Tori James @blkgolfbabes