Today we’d like to introduce you to Jovan Williams
Hi Jovan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It’s always difficult to pinpoint how I got started as a writer and filmmaker. When I look back, I can see all these seemingly small moments all throughout my young life growing up in Oakland Ca. that I consider the genesis of my love of writing and filmmaking. When I was young, one of my favorite activities was staying up late and watching 80’s/90’s action and martial arts movies with my older brother. Beverly Hills Cop, The Terminator, Bloodsport, Mortal Kombat and Bad Boys were basically the backdrops to my childhood. All the time spent watching movies with my brother stirred my imagination to constantly conjure up images of heroes and villains at war, good guys chasing bad guys through city streets, Ninjas leaping through the skyline of a cityscape, These vivid images would eventually boil over and filmmaking became a natural outlet.
But I think my most influential moment of my start came from a simple moment with my mother as a young child. In 3rd grade, I wrote a story for a class assignment about a young girl stuck in a bus station, battling ghoulish monsters as she tries to reunite with her family. I didn’t think much of the story, I just remember having a lot of fun writing it. I remember letting my mother read it. Even at that precious age I felt a range of emotions. Confidence because it was all fun and games but also vulnerable in fear she may dislike it.
I waited nervously as she read over my story. Soon she looked up at me with so much joy and elation. And with a big smile, she exclaimed, “That was so good!”. At first I was a bit shocked. I remember thinking, “Really!?”. But soon I felt a overwhelming sensation of pride and approval. At the point in my young life, I wasn’t consciously aware that writing stories was a thing that people did. And to know that my Mother enjoyed my story was illuminating. Her small gesture of affection and warmth in that moment was one of the greatest influences in leading to me become a writer and filmmaker. A simple moment of love and encouragement propelled me into the Arts. From theater, to miming, to sketch comedy to writing and filmmaking.
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 can’t say that it’s been a smooth road but it hasn’t been a particularly bumpy one either. In fact, when I first moved to LA, I got a bit overwhelmed by the sheer amount of opportunities that were presented to me. Prior to moving, I had the perception that LA was hyper-competitive, cutthroat and venomous. These things are still true. But what I didn’t know was how much selflessness, camaraderie and kindheartedness also reside here. And gratefully, I have experienced more of the latter. And I can attribute those positive qualities to the people of Los Angeles as a whole. I’ve felt a ton of solidarity and support from fellow filmmakers and artists, but I have also been met with a ton of generosity and accommodation from business owners, residents, and various organizations around LA.
One of my biggest struggles has been the everlasting brawl between my inner critic and completing work since I started in the film industry 11 years ago. I often have to remind myself to put it on silent airplane mode when I’m working on a project. It’s challenging because I believe it’s important to have a good relationship with the inner critic for quality control. But my inner critic can be stifling. What I’ve learned, painstakingly, over the years is to let go and have fun, be open, see where things go. Now, whenever I start to get stuck, whether it be writers block, a creative block, or general inactivity, I remember the wise words of the great playwright, author, and journalist James Thurber, “Don’t get it right, get it written.”
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a screenwriter, script consultant, essayist, director and film and event producer. But my love of screenwriting is deep and intense. The approach I like to take toward screenwriting is that of a craftsman. Years ago I read the book Story by Robert McKee. This book focuses on the depth and nuances of screenwriting, critically examining the elements of substance, structure, technique and character. After reading McKee’s work I realized that I had much more to learn about screenwriting than I learned in film school. So I dedicated my life to the mastery of the craft. Like many idealistic pursuits, it’s less about achievement and more about what lies in store on the way there. And the best thing I’ve found through this pursuit is myself. Screenwriting compels you to dive deep into the mind of your characters, understanding who they truly are in essence, as well as who they believe themselves to be. The same techniques I used to analyze my characters in aim of making them authentic , I would redirect to myself. This started a process of peeling back decades of layers of who I thought I was, exposing my most authentic self underneath. My truest personal philosophies, beliefs, values, worldview, and my perception of our shared human experience were all revealed, already refined and completely unadulterated. Understanding who I was at the core was the first step in rebuilding myself into who I wanted to be and not who I was told to be. I feel a great sense of gratitude toward the craft because of the tools its given me for self discovery.
When I reflect over the past 11 years, there is so much that brings me a sense of pride. But above all, a sense of community is the aspect of my journey in film that has brought me the most. It takes HELLA people to make a film. You’re often working with people you’ve never met, sometimes from all over the world. And if you’re lucky you get to witness a beautiful human experience. You know that moment when you’re in a group of new friends and suddenly feel a click—a shift, a rush of excitement, safety, and deep affinity for the new group? This kind of magic sometimes happens on a film set. At some point in the thick of it—when things aren’t going as planned, setbacks are everywhere, and everything seems to be falling apart—you look up and notice everyone adapting on the spot, rallying together, and going the extra mile not just for the sake of the project, but more importantly, for the sake of supporting one another —that’s when you get to experience a foundational aspect of what it means to be social creatures. One of my favorite examples of this was a short film I directed in New Mexico called Danielle. It was about a young man who went AWOL from the Army in search of his sister who was being trafficked. As one could imagine It was a complex production, there were shootouts, fight scenes, several locations etc. We had about 40-50 crew members that were all working incredibly hard because we had limited time in each location. I’ll admit it was ambitious but I like to shoot for the stars. Yet amidst the chaos, I remember looking over at my crew who were all just vibing, laughing, hugging, and fellowshipping. They shared inside jokes; people who were strangers at the top of the production now had special handshakes, some folks exchanged numbers and made plans for the future, this highlighted the genuine connection that had developed on set. This display of communion gave me such a profound sense of contentment. We all have an inherent need to belong and feel connected to others. And for me, being a conduit for a fundamental human need is something I take pride in.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I’m still discovering what success is to me. It’s highly subjective and often enigmatic. But so far, I’ve chosen to measure success by how content an individual is with the amount of effort they put into achieving a goal. Viewing it this way just distills it into something clear and attainable for me. It also acts as a reminder to bust my ass in everything I do.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: dr.vonwilliams.f6
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jamieraqui
