Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaala Alston.
Hi Jaala, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Initially, I worked as an economic consultant in New York, and leaving that profession I felt quite low. I was rethinking everything about how I had structured my life to that point, and I realized that I had been deeply unhappy because I wasn’t pursuing anything that meant something to me personally. Art has always been a lifeline, and I felt that bravery at the time would look like committing 100% to living the life I wanted to live and not making excuses. That brought me to filmmaking. I got a digital apprenticeship that paid me to learn rudimentary skills, but it forced me to get creative again.
Then I began volunteering on other people’s productions. I wanted to learn how to be valuable to others, and I floated through a variety of positions, becoming a jack of all trades. People began requesting that I produce for them because they felt I was well suited for that, and I built a bit of a niche in that area. By no means would I say I’m solidified in my career, but I moved to LA because I was seeking a more robust creative community and wanted to learn in a new setting. It’s been an enriching time, and at this point I’ve worked on productions domestically and internationally to support other artists.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think the start of the journey was so jarring and painful that anything following that initial bursting of the bubble seemed like water off a duck’s back. I’ve seen the mountain, so I know the difference between that and a molehill.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
This is such a difficult question to answer because I feel like I’m still quite early in my tenure as an artist, but the unique perspective that I bring into most creative spaces is that I studied economics in college, so I understand how to negotiate, evaluate people’s motivations in a situation, and build logistical processes that are easy to navigate for others. I know how to integrate tools into workflows to provide the most optimal and efficient solutions.
Filmmakers are incredibly hard working people, and I feel that generally speaking you likely will find many people who are both left brain and right brain, but within my community, that’s normally my function. I help organize everything so that other people can just be artists.
It feels cliche, but nothing feels better than doing your work as an artist. I am most proud of the fact that I funded and directed two short films this year, one in LA and one in New York. That process was deeply moving for me because it was a direct reflection of hours of hard work and energy. It shifted my outlook on my work and my creative process, so I think I am a more seasoned artist and I learned from my “mistakes” though I have no regrets. I also value these experiences because I left having uplifted others as a leader in that environment and developed close friendships with a variety of people because of it.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Let me think on this, haha! I have a fourteen year age gap with one of my siblings. I share a birthday with Oprah Winfrey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jaalaalston.com
Image Credits
I am going to go try to dig up some BTS of me, I think I’m one of those directors that usually is like… there’s no need to take photos of me lol.
