We recently connected with Deborah Jane Burke and have shared our conversation below.
Deborah Jane , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
As a creative, it is very important to be supported by the people close to you. And for me, my parents were that support system. As a child, I knew I wanted to act and perform. I spent many days putting on plays in my living room for my parents . My siblings were my cast and crew and I’d make my parents “buy” tickets to attend my shows. They encouraged my self-expression and always told me to follow my dream and the path God had laid our for me. In addition to my own productions, I performed in church musicals. My father introduced my siblings and me to musicals when we were very young. Every Friday we had family video night. We watched musicals like Annie and Jesus Christ Superstar. My favorite musical to this day is Les Misérables. My father used to play the entire audiobook of Les Misérables by Victor Hugo on long car trips and it had the most profound impact on me.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a filmmaker, writer, hip-hop recording artist, and producer. I am the founder of House of Deborah Jane Studios based in Burbank, CA. As the daughter of Guyanese immigrants who grew up as one of the only Black families in a predominantly white Orange County suburb, I found refuge in writing and hip-hop, igniting my passion for social justice and storytelling through music. My journey led me to Stanford University, where I wrote an award-winning hip-hop musical called Strange Fruit: The Hip-hopera. It is inspired by a recurring childhood nightmare I had of being trapped in slavery. My team and I later developed the stage play into a short film that is now making the rounds on the festival circuit. Most recently, it was awarded the “Best Story” Laurel at the Experimental Music and Dance Film Festival. I am now in the process of rallying support to make Strange Fruit: The Hip-hopera into a feature-length film about racial reconciliation.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My mission at House of Deborah Jane Studios extends beyond entertainment. I have a goal to unite diverse voices and foster healing through bold cinematic storytelling. This drives my creative journey and my passion for my projects whether they are stage productions, TV shows, or films. In fact, my current film in the making, Strange Fruit: The Hip-hopera exemplifies this mission in a number of ways. It’s a groundbreaking blend of music and storytelling through the revolutionary medium of hip-hop. It’s a story that calls for racial reconciliation through the narrative which follows a modern, professional Black woman’s journey traveling back in time. On her journey, she must confront her past, ultimately shaping the future and saving both her enslaved ancestor and her family today. So, with all of my work, I aim to make a profound and lasting impact on the industry and society at large.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Resilience is a cornerstone of longevity in the creative industry. I’ve got plenty of stories, but one really stands out. I had a table read for an early draft of *Strange Fruit: The Hip-Hopera* with a Hollywood producer who was just starting to make waves. I spent seven months prepping and was sure it would be a hit, convinced the producer would champion it within her network. My family and friends were all there, ready to celebrate. But instead, the producer ripped my script apart in front of everyone. I had to keep a poker face, but inside, I was shattered. After two decades of writing and two degrees in the field, it was the first time I truly questioned if I was any good.
When I got home, I wanted to throw my computer out the window and give up on *Strange Fruit*. But then my pastor called and said, “Deborah, you’re at a crossroads. You can either believe what the producer said about you or what God said about you.” I chose to believe in God’s vision and started to climb out of that pit. I revised the script and eventually got it in front of the SVP of production at 20th Century Fox. Not only did he read it, but he also gave me a glowing review and advice on how to turn the short film into the full-length feature I’ve always envisioned.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.strangefruithiphopera.com/home
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strangefruit_hiphopera/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strangefruithiphopera
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/StrangeFruitHipHop
