Check Out Janet Craig’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Janet Craig

Hi Janet, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have always loved story telling. I made up elaborate stories as a child and would tell them to friends and family. I always had a vivid imagination and loved to play make believe.

In my school years I enjoyed music, art and athletics and had wonderful experiences of performing as a solo artist and in community. I remember the first adrenaline rush of performing. At age 5. I had a music solo and I was terrified to go up on stage, but the minute I got up and started singing I felt free and didn’t want it to end.

My life has been richer for the experiences of performing, story telling and collaborating with other artists

Recently my focus has shifted from primarily acting and singing to writing and directing as well. I love the opportunity to collaborate with other artists and ultimately use the gift of our art form to make the world a better place.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think it is a small miracle anytime a project gets made.
One feature film I directed and co wrote took almost 10 years to get made.
We had money promised and then it got pulled at the last minute. When that movie was finally financed, Covid hit. We actually shot the film during COVID and during the shoot we were shut down a couple times because people tested positive for COVID. . We had a lead actress test positive for Covid the day before we started filming and we had to recast overnight.
So many variables come into play when making each project.
I think one of the biggest hurdles for my indie projects is having a solid distribution and marketing plan and the resources to roll out the plan.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I think to date my favorite work experience was getting to make the feature film WAKE UP

I am a foster mom and have been working alongside anti trafficking orgs as a volunteer for years and this movie brought together my desire for social justice and my creative work. I wanted to make a fictional feature film that was inspired by true stories.

I love twists and turns and surprises and wanted to give people a crime thriller that would show how lives intersect and impact each other in the terrifying world of human trafficking. We wanted a movie that would reach people who otherwise might not choose to see a movie about trafficking.

I still primarily work as an actress, but in the last 10 years I have done more writing and directing. The WAKE UP project allowed me the privilege of acting, directing, co writing and producing. Having multiple jobs gave me more exposure to all the incredibly talented cast and crew and an opportunity to be involved in post production and distribution too.

With WAKE UP we had so many mountaintop experiences. God allowed us to enjoy an incredible ride as creators including seeing a woman get rescued at one of the theatres. She came into the lobby while I happened to be there and was crying. I asked her if she was ok and she told me she and her mom were being trafficked and I within 30 minutes we were able to get a team from Forever Found to the theatre to meet her and offer her wrap around services.

I always want to be involved in creating projects that make a positive impact on people and glorify God.

We hope this film will have a global impact and help people all over the world.

Starting August 2024 WAKE UP is available on Amazon Prime.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love the beaches and hiking trails and beautiful weather of Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. I love that it is an international melting pot of people from all over the world. I love the food and entertainment opportunities and that there are so many creative people to work with.

I don’t like that there is so much suffering and evidence of brokenness and pain everywhere I turn. It seems like drug use is up and hopelessness. I think the cost of gas and living is too high and even food prices are higher than other parts of the country.

Pricing:

• Gas prices have been over $5 a gallon
• Housing is expensive compared to other parts of the country
• Filming is also expensive in LA. We don’t seem to have very good incentives

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imdb.me/janetcraig
• Instagram: @janetcraigact
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janet.craig.9216?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Other: https://watch.amazon.com/detail?gti=amzn1.dv.gti.eee6ff12-5c6b-4fa5-adf9-1fb8e184153c&territory=US&ref_=share_ios_movie&r=web