Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Diane Strand. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Diane thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Leaving my successful career in the Entertainment Industry to become an entrepreneur in 2003, was a leap – but I knew I was packing my own parachute, so I had faith because I was betting on myself and my partner for life and now business, my husband Scott Strand. I came home from working in reality television, missing dinner, bath time and putting my 2.5-year-old to bed, again. My husband who was a working actor who went back to school to finish his BA degree in Film and TV was about to graduate from CSUN said to me what if…. What if we sold the house, you quit your 6-figure job and we start our own production company. I turned and looked at him and said YES! The next day I handed in my notice, we sold our house in LA and within a month moved to North County San Diego and started our Production Company. Today we run an award-winning production company, an Actors Studio that has launched over 100 acting careers, and a million dollar nonprofit creative academy. I am a serial entrepreneur, a speaker, a bestselling author and a nonprofit founder. Our production Company is a multi-award winning company.

In my Entrepreneurial career I have done this leap several times. I see what I want it to look like at the end, and I start taking the next step that’s in front of me, sometimes making my mess my message, but the HOW reveals itself along the way.  For me the keys to being successful is showing up, saying yes, creating the momentum, and enjoying the ride. The magic happens when you step outside your comfort zone.

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 am a multi award winning Executive Producer at JDS Studios and the TV show Spirit of Innovation, the first Riverside County local news and information program. I’m the majority owner of JDS Video & Media Productions, Inc / JDS Actors Studio and the founder of nonprofit JDS Creative Academy. I’m a bestselling author on entrepreneurship and Breaking into the Industry as an Actor. I provide pathways and career opportunities in the visual, performing and digital arts. My passion for Workforce Development in the arts, led me to write two approved curriculums for video production. One is a Title 17 program designed for adults with developmental disabilities. The other is a California State approved apprenticeship program for college graduates. These programs provide Hands-On training along with paid supported internship opportunities, designed to break down barriers to gainful employment in video production, post production and acting. Diane also created the programs that teach K-12 students the value of the arts and creativity, these Calif approved curriculums to meet the VAPA requirement in the public school system. Diane’s prior career life holds credits from A-List shows like; General Hospital, Friends, Veronica’s Closet and building the high-def control room at Staples Center, for the last 17 years Diane has been a successful entrepreneur of her own, a multi-award-winning production company, working with clients like Abbott Vascular, City of Temecula, Cal State San Marcos and United Healthcare Services to name a few. Diane has launched over 100 video and acting careers into the mainstream entertainment and video production industry. She sets out to provide H.O.P.E. which Diane defines as, Helping One Person Everyday!

Is there a mission driving your creative journey?

I am on a mission to spread arts across America for all. I believe the arts level the playing field for all. Everyone should have an opportunity to work a career of passion. Mainstream through special needs. I am looking to bring our approved curriculums to school districts and other organizations that want to have their own creative academy; a Video production day program designed for adults with developmental disabilities approved for Title 17, An approved California Apprenticeship program, K-12 VAPA Classes in musical Theater, Acting, Scriptwriting, Fashion and Back Stage production and extra-curricular visual performing and digital classes.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being creative in your experience?

The most rewarding thing for me is being able to give back and help others live and work their creative passions. I have launched over 100 actors into the mainstream entertainment industry, I have paved the pathway for other production companies to form and create award winning stories, I have helped adults with developmental disabilities live their dream and get paid for it. I bring collective creatives together to learn, grow, gain self-confidence, learn leadership skills and reach for their dreams. I do this by providing HOPE and I define this as Helping One Person EveryDay.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jdsactorsstudio.com; https://www.jds-productions.com, https://www.jdscreativeacademy.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dianestrand/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DianeStrand.JDS/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianestrand/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/JDSProductions
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Jds-productions & https://www.youtube.com/c/SpiritofInnovationNews

Image Credits
#JDSFamily for Photos