We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Natali Jones a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Natali, thanks for joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
In 2001, I graduated from K.D. Studio Acting Conservatory in Dallas, and they taught us in front and behind camera. Focusing on acting, I realized I loved the entire process, not only as an actress, but the overall creative process of putting shots together, the look and feel, to even the business side of the legality/ logistics that are involved infront and behind camera!
After graduating, while still acting, I started helping behind the scenes more to keep learning everything I could. I started PA-ing to whatever else I could do, to learn every department. One of my philosophies with working both in front and behind camera… as an actress, knowing what all is going on around me, also makes me feel more comfortable in front of camera. Also as a Producer, knowing how each dept. works and things that are required, to names of equipment, to even the nicknames of equipment, ect, it’s just beneficial all around!
A couple years after graduating, with $500 and 1 suitcase, I moved to NYC and crashed on a friends futon (thanks again, Rachel) and did every odd job known to man, but one day I was in Times Square and they were filming the movie Enchanted and walked up to a PA and asked who their Key was and handed them a card. Fortunately, that Key was also from TX and ended up pulling me onto so many great sets I’m so thankful for! Yes, being a PA can definitely be brutal (and that’s an understatement), but not only do you learn soooo much, you also figure out what dept. you enjoy and want to move up in!
As a female, especially two decades ago, it was definitely difficult to move up as quick and/ or even get any actual work to do that wasn’t locking up a NYC street corner with angry New Yorkers or just bringing the director another diet coke. So, I definetly went out of my way to prove myself, respectively of course. I started running 1st team on a lot of sets, which is getting the actors ready and would also be an actor’s assistant. And that was a huge learning experience in itself!
Being an actress too and working with actors on every level to A, B, C, D, to Y, and Z, behind the scenes, I was always observing how most were just so humble and appreciative, then of course I have the opposite of trailor doors being slammed in my face because their toast wasn’t burnt enough, to running in the rain over and over again to find a banana that was just the perfect level of ripeness. Oh yea, I have all the stories there ha, but most importantly, I told myself no matter how successful or just at any point in life, I would never treat anyone how I had been treated or even how I observed others being treated. There’s absolutely no excuse for that. We are all still humans and you also never know who that person is going to be and you might be trying to book a role and or work for them in some way one day! I show every single PA I have how appreciative I am for them, we have all be there once!
One of the most important things I did learn as a PA, and this is fresh in my brain because it did happen again recently, but it does still apply today to any position, but also any position I’m in, I do relay to any new PA’s…. say you are given a task and you run into an issue, can’t find something, ect… do everything you can to figure it out on your own because people want you to come back with a solution, not another problem. Of course that’s not possible every single time, but you’d be able to express you tried everything to solve it, and then that’s when it is okay to let that person know, then whatever next step would be followed from there. I got yelled at for even the most ridiculous stuff like that in the beginning, then I was like… okay, I get it. So, I do try to relay that because it does help save time on set, which will always be appreciated, in any industry really.
After doing first team for a bit, I was fortunate enough to do it for a while on shows like Law and Order SVU to Pan Am, to movies like Sinister and What Happens in Vegas, but those in particular would last a few months, so it did start to take up a good chunk of time and while more than thankful for the experience, it was still taking away from acting, which is why I moved to NYC in the first place. But, I did enjoy seeing how the big sets are run, so I knew I just needed to find that balance. Of course I was bartending in between, and till 4 in the morning, but it was killing me after a while and of course was happier on set. Then luckily, I found that place that became a family and would let me take off for gigs (thank you again Brass Monkey, ha), but that was the biggest help, so yea, having like 5, to 6, to 10 roating jobs, I made it work.
I moved up to Key PA-ing, still 1st Team, then started Ad=ing on some indies around the city, while still acting, and all the other random jobs and after a decade, I got offered on major show to start AD-ing for them, but was jsut hesitant with the time commitment. I was just tired and needed a change. Moved to Austin and still acting, still AD-ing too, but on shorter running shows, then started Producing too, which both end up going hand in hand a lot, but that’s where I found another love in this industry and where know I belong behind the scenes.
5 years later, I moved back to Dallas to help take care of family, which was hard at first, but ended up being a blessing in disguise because I’ve been doing acting and both behind the scenes full time more than in any other city I lived in!
As far as speeding up the process to knowing what I know now? Yea, there’s definitely some things I’ve still had to learn the hard way, but sometimes you just can’t avoid it. And turning it into a positive, that is one of the things I love about the industry, you are always going to keep learning because every set is different, every person is different. You just keep learning and move forward!
And one thing I realized I also enjoy behind the scenes specifically is breaking down scripts and scheduling, which most people want to pull their hair out, but I actually started this service at the beginning of the year specifically for that and have already been handed multiple scripts/ projects within a couple of months! It can be at least a couple days work, so taking that off the AD or a Producer’s shoulder’s for even a single day, saves soooo much time and headache, since there’s so many other things that also need to go into prep!
While doing that, people have also needing help prepping their project all around, so that’s been a little extra that has just come with it that I enjoy, just helping them put it all together!
I am still officially solidifying the website, ect, since it’s still so new, in the mean time, I can be contacted personally for the service, and if anyone needs any help with prepping in any way in general.
So, following what I know I want and what I actually enjoy has finally led me to be able to be creative both in front and behind camera full time. Yes, I definitely have paid my dues… all the ups and downs over the two decades, that never ending struggle that we all know, but I never once questioned what I’m doing and stuck with it. And no matter what wall or any form of discouragement that arises, I’ll never stop me from doing what I love.
The harder the journey, the better the reward right?
Words still can’t express how thankful I am for the opportunies and support that I’ve received, as well as showing the same to others, no matter what industry you work in.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I know I said alot about my background and how I got into the industry in the previous question ha, but as far as for people that haven’t known much about me as far as my work, brand ect… As an actress, I have a wide variety of roles I’m drawn to that are more specifically unique and have more depth and not necessarily your “everyday girl next door”, and honestly, I’ll never play the same role twice. Even if one character might be similar to another, I’ll find a way to switch it up.
I do like to take risks with roles and dip into all genres. I have done a lot of horror/ thrillers, but also will go back and forth into drama, comedy, action, ect. I am hoping to throw even more sci fi into the mix! (wink wink)
I defintely do like to mix it up and keep it interesting! The characters I tend to play will range from a demon (The Night Hag in Dead Awake), to a psychophrenic the psychological horror (Dark Ritual), a rocker chick with dreads (Sonny Vicious), an angel (Darkest Days), to a Harly Quinn type character (Silent Night), an FBI agent (Fustercluck), to the fun/ hippie chick coming up in the horror/ comedy filming this April (Incubus: New Beginnings).
Also, throwing behind the scenes in the mix, for Incubus: New Beginnings, I’m also Production Manager, and helping as far as prep, so summing it up… my main goal is to be known as an Actress and Producer. Although I will have and do different roles and titles behind the scenes, they do all play into Producing. I am thankful how often people trust me to come in and help with their project, no matter in what way.
While acting, I’m always happy to help behind the scenes and just be a team player all around. I’m known to be super easy to work with and especially when I AD, a lot of people will just yell and make it a negative experience for everyone and that is never necessary. Yes, I can yell and be loud (people joke I don’t even need a megaphone, ha) but it’s never mean and it’s only so everyone can hear me, ha! We are lucky to do what we get to do and it should always be a positive experience!
On top of that, yes, I have started a specific service breaking down scripts and scheduling. The price varies per production, but I can also go further in helping just other areas of prep in general. There’s always people starting off in every industry and they don’t know where to even start or who to turn to for help and I’m officially offering that service out loud :)
I’m fortunate enough too, that I have been brought on a lot of projects, wether it’s the beginning, middle, or end, as more as somewhat of a “fixer.” That role can be tricky depending, but I am thankful people have trusted enough in me to bring me on to help in that way.
So, summing it up as far as my brand and for those that don’t know me yet… I’m an actress that likes the fun, ever changing, sometimes NOT so fun characters, but always willing to take risks and even get ugly, ha! Just keeping people on their toes, not knowing what to expect next…
In real life, most of the time I come off as a hippie/ rocker chick and you’ll see me in a beanie, bell bottoms, and a t-shirt the majority of the time. I will also chalenge you in music history/ knowledge any day! I’m always positive and super easy to work with on set. Not only am I willing to help in any way behind the scenes too when I’m only hired as an actress, but I can also help and save you time just breaking down your script and getting the scheduling off the ground, to prepping your film all around and helping you get it off the ground with your realistic, specific needs.
I’m so thankful to be in the industry and we all just need to keep spreading that positivity and continute to help others. There’s enough room for all of us :)
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
That there are soooo many different things you can do, it’s never ending! Finding even a small area that you love and finding a way to make more of an income from it, even if it hasn’t been done before, or even if it has, find a way to tweak it tha’s makes it unique! And the core of it is using your creativity, so you can’t get better than that!
: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
First, taking from a part of another question… What can society do to better support artists? There are obviously other states that support the arts more with tax incentives for film/TV alone and I do feel like that definitely can be supported more in Texas. We do have organizations like TXMPA and the TX an Dallas Film Commission doing what they can, but the hire ups is what we need even more support from, that could officially make that happen. Film/ TV can not only bring so much more money into the state alone, but also to tourism, smaller/ local businesses, ect. Back in the day, the arts definitely were not considered a “serious industry,” but times have changed and the numbers prove it. We had a series of pilot roll through and by the time the pilot is shot, all of the incentives are gone, and they have to go to surrounding states to finish filming the rest of the season.
Yes we still have big movies or series come through, but not nearly as much as we used to, and I really hope that does change in the near future.
So now onto the actual question, ha! My particualr goal or mission driving my journey, not only doing what I can create/ give work to others, but also to show others we can all work together and it never needs to be a competition or a negative experience. There’s enough room for all of us, so lets keep working together and building each other up! Lets not only help each other, wether it’s getting projects off the ground or getting more to Texas in general, but it’s getting more work for us all around, so let’s work together and make it not only a more positive and supportive atmosphere, but let’s also bring more work to Texas!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.NataliJones.com
- Instagram: @NataliJones
- Facebook: @NataliJones
- Linkedin: @NataliJones
- Twitter: @NataliJones
- Other: www.IMDB.me/NataliJones
Image Credits
Eryn Brooke