Conversations with Jessica Boss

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Boss.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started? 
Absolutely. I think it’s helpful to share one’s journey because I believe that we connect to others more closely when we understand where they’re coming from. I grew up in a small town called Harlingen, Texas of Nigerian descent. I was incredibly shy as a kid and didn’t even speak up to let my teachers know that I couldn’t see the board because I needed glasses. This made me almost fail the second grade, which was an embarrassment to my Nigerian parents, for whom education was everything. Although I was a great athlete since third grade, my parents pretty much forced me to attend a high school that was geared for a career in the medical field. I didn’t have a choice, but I ultimately gave in and left sports behind. 

In the eleventh grade, everyone had to choose an elective, either art or theater. Since I couldn’t draw worth a lick, I figured I’d go for the latter and started working in musical theater right away, not knowing that I would fall in love with acting and be at the genesis of my purpose. I loved the theater, but I was hungry to pursue film and television because it was movies like JOHN Q and MILLION DOLLAR BABY that moved me to tears and not only gave me a greater sense of empathy but also helped me understand how one can connect to others through emotional storytelling. That’s why I act! I’m trying to help bring people closer together through meaningful narration. 

After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a film degree, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue a professional career as an actress. At the beginning, I encountered quite a few pitfalls, especially in regard to whom I could trust, who was legitimate, and how the business even worked. Initially, I fell prey to many scam artists, but luckily, I never gave them any money, mainly because I didn’t have any. But now, in retrospect, I can see how smooth and devious scammers can be, which goes hand-in-hand with what I’m aiming to unpack in my feature film, UNNAMED. There’s definitely a parallel to scam artists and traffickers because they both know how to prey on the hopes and dreams of those who are vulnerable. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I definitely wouldn’t describe my journey in the entertainment industry as a smooth road; it’s more like an unpredictable rollercoaster ride. It goes up and down, then ebbs and flows. It’s not just one aspect of the industry; it’s all of it. One of my biggest challenges at the beginning was figuring out how to even get an audition. I followed all the instructions from the pros; I got some headshots, put a resume together, gathered clips of myself, signed up for all the acting websites, and started submitting myself for auditions. Boy, I wish it were just that easy. Each part requires its own set of knowledge. For example, nobody told me anything about the complexity of getting headshots. It’s easy to get a headshot, but it’s much more of a challenge to get a WINNING headshot that will make you stand out from the overwhelming amount of submissions. When I first started, I thought it’d be enough to put on some makeup, make an appointment with a cheap photographer, and then smile or frown, depending on the role. Eeek, I shudder when I see some of my early headshots when I tried to look tough… They’re embarrassing! Now I’m aware that there’s a lot more preparation involved and that there are clear things you do and don’t do. For example, I learned that you have to bring a specific character or a specific representation of yourself to the picture. This means that you must “think” like the character in order for your thoughts to show up in your eyes and, ultimately, on your headshot. Also, if you simply choose the cheapest photographer you can find, you might be sacrificing the quality of your photos, which makes casting directors pass on your headshot in a blink. I’m not saying that you necessarily have to start with a thousand-dollar photography session, but I wouldn’t go with the cheapest either. There’s a middle ground. Always check out a photographer’s work before booking and read reviews on Yelp, not just their website. 

I acknowledge that, without the struggle, I wouldn’t be where I am today. All the struggles and all the failures taught me important lessons, such as how to cope with disappointment, how to make adjustments, and how to move forward and start winning. I used to get frustrated when I just couldn’t seem to get forward momentum, and it always seemed that everyone else had it already figured out, except me. It left me feeling as though I wasn’t good enough and that I should give up. I used to dread when someone asked me, “What have I seen you in?” That’s a very typical question that many non-creative people ask out of good intentions, but many actors hate. I used to think that people were asking me in order to judge whether or not I was worthy of calling myself an actor. Now, I’m okay with those questions because I always have something to say, and not just about what I’m booking or succeeding at, but now I take this opportunity to offer some insights to non-creatives about what it takes to work in this industry. After my answers, I often find that those well-meaning friends of mine gained a little bit more respect for what I do, and they admire my perseverance and my commitment to my craft and my purpose. 

Also, I’ve realized that the struggle is an important part of the journey. I used to roll my eyes when hearing the axiom that having a career in the entertainment industry was a marathon and not a sprint because I literally was a collegiate track sprinter, and on top of it, I’m a millennial, so I wanted everything fast. Now I truly understand and even appreciate the marathon metaphor, because if I had attained all my goals when I first moved here, it probably would have destroyed me. You have to be ready for this industry because it’s not for the faint of heart. You need to develop a thick skin, and you need to be emotionally available, which is earned by taking risks, failing, and being rejected and disappointed over and over again until you find your way. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m mainly specializing in acting, but I’ve expanded to the hats of directing and producing as a way to put a voice to our over 20 feature film screenplay properties. One of the things that sets me apart from others is my thirst and willingness to learn and add new skills to my belt. I put in the time and effort and do whatever it takes to accomplish my goals and fulfill my passions. When something sparks my interest or “speaks” to me, I just have to follow up and do it because I see it as my inspiration from God. During the pandemic, for example, I practiced singing every day until I learned how to sing properly. That, again, adds to my repertoire as an actress. Also, not too long ago, I picked up playing piano, and I gotta say, I’m not too bad at it. 

When thinking about what I’m most proud of, I would say it’s my resilience. I’ve failed again and again, and I was rejected more times than I can remember, but instead of giving up, I learned and grew from those experiences, and I kept refining my talents and myself. I was also able to sustain myself here in Los Angeles when pretty much everyone who moved out with me either left or moved on to other careers. It’s probably the wiser choice, I don’t know. I’m thankful and blessed that I’ve always found a way to pivot, make adjustments, and keep creating new projects while pursuing acting. When asked about a single project that I’m most proud of, I would definitely say making my feature film UNNAMED, because it’s my passion project, it’s my baby. It’s the film that not only marks my directorial debut, but I also wrote it, produced it, and even starred in it. 

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
It’s a challenge to predict where the industry is going because who would have thought that after 3 years of the pandemic, we’d have a double strike with WGA and SAG-AFTRA for the greater part of 2023. The important things that I am taking away is that time is precious, and I have to move with the change rather than resist it. It’s caused me to pivot, which spurned a few new business ideas that I’m working on. One of them, “My Service Friend,” is already up and running. “My Service Friend” provides emotional support for people, just as an emotional support dog would. I help people who are lonely and needing companionship to do life with, whether it’s grabbing a coffee or lunch, hiking, or chaperones for teens to go to the movies, malls, concerts, and more. It’s a transformational service where I aim to cure loneliness, which has greatly increased since the pandemic. The other is a SAAS, that I’m still working out details, but it’s more related to the entertainment industry. 

Contact Info:

• Website: http://jessmika8.wix.com/jessicaboss
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/iamjessicaboss
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/ummamedthemovie
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaboss/
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/unnamedthemovie
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/iamjessicaboss
• Other: www.myservicefriend.com

Image Credits
David Muller Photography
Sam Sikes Photography
Fresh Look Photography
Katherine Kirkpatrick