We recently connected with Shelley Jarrett and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Shelley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

In 2017 I went to see the film MUDBOUND starring Mary J Blige. She attended the Toronto International Film Festival and was nominated for a Female Supporting Role, for her amazing performance. I enjoyed the film very much, ut I was truly inspired by the work of the director Dee Rees. After a very interested talk back after the scrrrwening, she talked about how difficult it was to make the film, the struggles of financing and the early morning starts. That truly stayed in my thoughts for a long time.

I kept thinking one day I would like to do a film. I have always been a strong advocate for gender based violence. So when the #metoo went viral I knew this was my opportunity to do a documentary.

So in 2018, I produced the award-winning documentary W’at Abowt Us, eight women from diverse backgrounds told stories of all different forms of violence they had endured. We won 4 awards in different categories and multiple screenings.

My second film which was produced and directed December 2022, was just nominated for 7 awards from the International Black & Diversity Film Festival, July 2023. We won two awards one for documentary shorts Best Black Female Filmmaker Canada and best Cinematophy.

A word of encouragment, if you have a story or is passionate about a social justice issue that you want to bring awareness to, go ahead and tell that story on film.

Shelley, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I wear three hats. I am an award-winning Entrepreneur magazine Publisher and Award-winning Documentary Filmmaker

Shelley Jarrett brings a wide range of expertise to the table. With a degree in Social Work, she has worked with women and supported them in various ways over the past three decades. She also believes strongly in partnerships and collaborations, and is very supportive of developing business objectives and business skills through learning opportunities.

Shelley is the founder and Publisher of SMJ Magazine, an Image, lifestyle and business online publication, with limited printed editions. For seven years and 30 issues, she has overseen the publication of original stories on arts & entertainment, beauty & fashion, health & wellness, faith & community, as well as giving entrepreneurs a platform to tell stories about their business. Online SMJ Magazine’s App can be downloaded on Google Play Store and Apple Store.

In 2019 Shelley produced her debut film, the award-winning documentary W’AT ABOWT US. Eight women from all 5 major cultural backgrounds tell their stories of truth from #metoo and beyond, gender-based harassment and abuse in diverse locations.

Due to the pandemic, Shelley had to pivot her business, but she had to do it in two stages. In this way, she is able to adapt a traditional retail merchandise brand using an e-commerce platform.

Shelley also finds the time to work outside her primary areas of interest, realizing that this is a way to build collaborations and partnerships in the community. She is a Board Member of the prestigious Art Gallery of Mississauga and Advisory to the Board of Canadian Centre for Women’s Empowerment. Spokesperson for RPA Woman Entrepreneur Award

Shelley has won numerous awards over the past nine years including a few recent ones below.

• In 2015 one of the 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada by CIBWE
• In 2016 and 2017 nominated for a MARTY award as Publisher of SMJ Magazine
• In 2019 Women Entrepreneur Award in Celebration of Ontario “Small Business Week”
• In 2019 the Woman Achievement Award in recognition for outstanding contribution to the community re: International Women’s Day
• In 2019 the Excellence Achievement Award for film and media from Glorious Women of Wonders
• In 2020 Vigor Awards International Achievement Award
• In 2021 Awards of Recognition in Film Production Canada Vendors
• In 2021 The Jury Award for Documentaries- Canada Toronto Int’l Nollywood Film Festival

“In keeping with my goal of raising awareness and education, it is vital that we continue to push for changes to gender based violence, systemic racism and varies women’s’ issues. I feel it’s all our responsibility to continue to raise our voices and demand societal change.” Shelley Jarrett

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Multiple award- winning Entrepreneur Magazine Publisher Documentary filmmaker Women’s advocate Podcaster

What is most rewarding for me is always sharing my story regardless, to the platform I’m on. In business I can talk about my 10 year journey in publishing. Many of these soft skills are transferrable to other areas in life.

Women empowerment is my goal. I want to always encourage and support for women to use entreprenuership as an empowering tool to create financial stability for themselves and family.

I want to always encourage women to use their voices and share experiences so that others can feel strengthened.

For me always having to tell sories creatively.

We know that the arts, especially media arts like film, play a vital role in combating violence, through education and awareness. Media arts are essential to the activism work that I am involved in. Art is the core to stories that needs to be told. I believe film is the loudest megaphone. It allows the voices to rewrite the wrongs that are being done. Art moves people to action and this is where policy and systemic change can occur.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I feel it is imperative that I continue to support women financially and create more spaces, especially in marginalized and racialized communities. Continue to provide a platform and allowing them to tell their stories through film.

Why film? I believe film is visible; it’s believable, because you see the subject right in front of you. You feel the emotions. As oppose to reading about a story, you heard about. When it is told through diverse voices it is believable and it connected with community and culture.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shellandhouseoffilms.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/shelleyjarrett1
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/shelleyjarrett
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjimagecreations/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/filmsofshelland
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/shellandhouseoffilms

Image Credits
credits: Lovebeestudios