Conversations with Chanice Ball

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chanice Ball.

Chanice, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Okay, picture this: you’ve packed up your life in Boston, moved across the country to chase your acting dreams, started booking, finally feel like it’s all happening… and three months later the entire world shuts down.

That was me in 2020. I’d been doing commercial work since I was 12, and moving to LA was supposed to be the next big chapter. Then COVID hit, the world shut down, and I had a choice: leave and go back home or stay and figure something else out.

So, taught myself how to video edit, mostly out of necessity, and that turned into my first business. While I was editing for other people, I was also building my own social content and growing my presence online. Then people started asking me to help with their socials as well. Before I knew it, my video editing grew into social media management, then strategy, then brand partnerships, and that became Choose Joy Entertainment.

If I had to sum up my career in one word, it would be pivot. Every chapter has been about taking a chance on myself before anyone else did.

Today I’m a bit of a creative hub. If you’re a commercial actor, I can help with how to get started, putting together your resume, selecting your headshots, and positioning yourself for success in the industry. If you’re a content creator, I can help you build your media kit, grow your following, strategize content that you should make, handle brand outreach and help you land sponsors. If you’re a brand or business, my company can run your social presence from strategy to final edit. I’m still in front of the camera, but I’ve also built the machine behind it.

That’s what I’m proudest of. I didn’t have to choose between being the talent and being the business, so I became both.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Honestly? Yes and no.

On one hand, I’ve been incredibly blessed. God has protected me every step of the way and put the right people in my path, and not just in a career sense. When you move somewhere completely new, you need community. I’ve found real friends here, people I can call to grab dinner, be a girl with, and do regular life things with, because it’s not always about work. I’ve also been connected with great brands and great people who have helped me stay afloat and keep building.

On the other hand, it hasn’t been easy. The biggest struggle has been financial. When you’re completely on your own, there’s always that question in the back of your mind: How am I paying rent this month? How am I covering this, and that? Being self-employed in a creative industry means the income isn’t always consistent, and you learn to be resourceful very fast.

The other challenge has been navigating people. Not everyone moves with the same heart as you do. When you lead with genuineness, you sometimes attract people who want to attach themselves to what you’ve built rather than support it. Learning to protect my energy and discern who belongs in my circle has been a lesson in itself.

But what road is actually smooth? Everyone’s journey has its bumps, twists, and turns. I like to think of it this way: I drive on cruise control. I don’t take shortcuts, and I’m not afraid of bad weather. I’ll drive right through the storm, because I trust myself and I know that what’s waiting on the other side is good.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a creative through and through: commercial actress, model, and content creator, and the founder of Choose Joy Entertainment, a digital creative agency.

On the talent side, I’ve been in front of the camera since I was 11, working in commercials and in my 20’s, I started to build an online presence on IG, TikTok, Youtube, and Snapchat. My content focus is lifestyle, where I share my thoughts and insights on working in the industry,

On the business side, CJE started as a company of one: just me, a laptop, and a lot of late nights. Today we’re a team of two (shoutout to my Executive Assistant, Kelsey!), with three core clients we work with consistently and a rotation of project-based clients throughout the year. Growing from doing everything myself to having real support behind me has been one of the biggest milestones of my career.

One partnership I’m especially proud of is our work with Nebbi, a mental wellness app. CJE manages their marketing and oversees their social media, and this year alone we’ve been part of more than 10 events across LA. It’s meaningful work because it lines up with what I care about most: using creativity and community to help people feel better.

What I’m most proud of overall is that I built all of this myself, but not with the intent to keep it for myself. I taught myself to edit so that I could teach others how to as well. I had no clue that this one skill turned into a company. I am proud that I didn’t let the industry open back up in the way that I wanted it to. I created my own lane within it.

What sets me apart is that I’ve lived almost every side of this industry. I know what it’s like to be the talent, the editor, the strategist, the business owner, the bookkeeper, etc., so I understand what my clients need because I’ve needed it too. Wearing all those hats has also put me in a lot of different rooms, and I’ve built a pretty big network along the way to be able to connect people. If I know someone who needs a director and I know a great director, I’m making that introduction. I love bringing people together and helping them get to their next place.

That’s really the heart of how I move. I’m not an influencer, I’m a good influence. Everything I create and every connection I make comes from a genuine place, and I think people can feel that.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I know people say you should mix in fiction to break up all the self-help and personal development reading, but honestly, that’s my genre. I’ll admit I haven’t been the most consistent reader this year, but two books I keep coming back to are The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron and The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra. Both remind me that creativity and purpose start from within. I hope to finish them both before this year wraps up.

When it comes to apps, Nebbi is a big one for me, and not just because I work with them. Before the work comes the self. I try my best to check in with myself and nurture my mind first, because I can’t pour into my clients, my content, or my community from an empty cup.

And I’m a YouTube and TikTok girl through and through. I learn so much from those platforms, whether it’s a new editing technique, a business tip, or just someone sharing their story in a way that inspires me. Some of the best lessons I’ve gotten came from a random video at the right moment.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.choosejoyent.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaniceball
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaniceball

Image Credits
Snapchat (@snapchat)
Charlotte (@lotteimages)
B&H Creators (@bhcreators)
Alina (@capturesby.alina)’
Thrive Causemetics (@thrivecausemetics)
Kelsee Taylor (@kelsee_taylaaahhh)
Aleah Clark (@byaleahclark)
Maya Joan (@iam.mayajoan)