We recently connected with Jaran Huggins and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jaran, thanks for joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
A lot of things within the creative space require time and experience for growth. My story is no different. You get better by actually doing the thing you want to do in the industry. I feel like you come out to LA and you’re always looking up, always focused on what’s next, and so on. Everyone falls into this trap, including myself. By doing so, you actually find that you miss out on much of what makes our business so special: the community around you. Right now, I’m trying to appreciate every waking moment so that I have no regrets tomorrow. You’ll actually find that you progress a whole lot faster towards your future if you just slow down and admire the present.
Jaran, 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?
My name is Jaran Huggins, I’m a screenwriter, director, and producer from Nashville, TN. I received my BFA from Temple University ‘22 and currently live in Los Angeles, CA. Since graduating from college, I have had the tremendous opportunity to work on projects across the industry spectrum; most notably, FX’s critically acclaimed Tupac docu-series, “Dear Mama”. I’m currently working on my post-collegiate directorial debut short film, “Waking”. A story that provides an original commentary on life by shedding value on what it means to find light in dark spaces. I take this whole film thing one step, one day, and one story at a time. We as artists grow through experiences, which in turn, allows me to savor every opportunity I get.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My mission in this industry is simple, leave it better than I found it. I always tell folks that I aim to tell stories that challenge perspectives and shape perceptions; however, I’m beginning to realize this is just the first step. The root of my creative existence has always been inspired by those around me. I want to be a spark in this industry for new stories and new storytellers. I believe the most valuable superpower we have is our voice and art has an uncanny ability to not just entertain, but to educate. With that, I want to continue to promote an era of artistic inclusivity. I will continue to let my voice write my story for me. This is my driving force as a filmmaker: while I build inclusive worlds through storytelling, I also hope to help build a world equally reflective on the outside.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Interpretation. I resonate with art that makes me think, art that challenges my own perspective. I think in many ways, art is introspective because whatever our takeaway is usually says more about ourselves than the work itself. Isn’t that the coolest thing? It’s always rewarding when you see your work having an impact on people; however, for me, it’s what that impact represents. It’s growth, it’s broader acceptance, it’s perhaps a little more empathy, and maybe just maybe that’s enough to plant a seed in the mind of someone who will go on to better the world in their own way one day.
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Image Credits
Cover photo: Phil Silverberg