Today we’d like to introduce you to Jalene Mack.
Hi Jalene, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I got started on the path of arts and entertainment as a kid due to the exposure to the arts. I saw The Jackson 5s in concert when I was 5 years old. I was about 7 years old when my mom took me to a community play in the 1970s called Faces. I thought it was so amazing to see people perform live on a stage in front of live audiences. But when I saw Kim Fields on A Different World, I knew acting on TV was for me. She attended a private school, wore a uniform, was near my age, and black like me. That WAS me! She made me laugh and learn through life lessons. Since that young age, I was always involved in the arts. I attended dancing school, sang in the choir, participated in speech contests, active in the drama club, marched as a majorette in Mardi Gras parades, and was in every school play and talent show. I knew I wanted to be an actress; I wanted to be a performer. But like most American kids were told, “education is important.” So off to college, I went.
Xavier University of NOLA did not have a theater department, but in 1988, it was no surprise that I would sign up for Xavier’s talent show. Reesa, Tammy, and one of my best friends to this day, Leiza, all I met at X.U., performed a well-choreographed dance routine to the Oaktown’s 3-5-7 hit song “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah”. We looked like a real Hip Hop Group. We killed it, only to be knocked out of first place by a group of random guys who had no dance routine or costumes, but they knew all the words to NWA’s “Gangsta, Gangsta.” So did the audience. Folks went crazy. I guess they deserved the win just for getting the place so hyped. I had done a number of other things over the years in the arts, but moments like that kept the fire burning.
Some other campus activities at X.U. centered around Homecoming, Friday Beer Blasts, and Fall and Spring Festivals. I believe in 1988 or ’89, Paul Mooney performed comedy on campus at our Spring Fest. I was on the entertainment committee and was designated his student guide. We stayed in touch over the years. He would be one of many comedians, entertainers, and industry game changers I would meet and work with or for over years to come. That experience at Xavier set the trajectory of my professional career with entertainers. I later had a chance to see him again over the years, but in 2019, I believe I saw him at a comedy club here in Houston. He was selling his books and meeting folks. Although it was reported that he was in stages of Dementia maybe at the time, he seemed to remember me. When I mentioned who I was, he smiled and made reference to an encounter he and I had with Lily Tomlin in LA. He introduced me to her. Only he could know that. It just made me smile.
Well, as my Xavier graduation approached, I knew I had to make a decision at the fork in the road: Move to LA and pursue acting or further my education to make myself more marketable in the workforce because “education is important”. I decided to go to law school. I figured go to law school and learn about contracts so that WHEN not IF I pursued an acting career, at least I would not get taken advantage of like many entertainers because I would understand contracts which they teach the first year. I figured if I failed law school, I can then continue with my acting career but be better prepared for show business, having at least one year of law school education. But I performed well in law school, completing all three years and passing the bar the first time. I was a licensed attorney. But I still wanted to be an actress with strong interest in the entertainment industry in general. So, I decided I could not be a struggling actress. I decided while pursuing acting, practicing law would be my “waitressing job.” Marrying the two careers, I went on to have a very successful law career, ultimately as an entertainment lawyer with nearly 30 years’ experience and tons of film, TV, stage, commercials as an actor, producer, writer, and philanthropist to match!
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?
Most people did not realize I was an actress before I was an attorney. So now and then I would get “you’re a lawyer trying to act”. But for me, I was an actress trying to practice law. Being a lawyer was my waitressing job. One person told me some years ago that I was wasting my parents’ money on my law degree acting. I took a risk on pursuing a career as a creative (actress, writer, producer) parallel to my law career. It was a risk because although I was an actress and writer before I was an attorney, there are certain public well-rooted expectations that come with being a licensed attorney. You are expected to be a professional counselor, advocate, advisor, and fiduciary to your client and only practice law. So, a traditional lawyer portrayal is expected in every since of the profession. I am cut from a different cloth. I’m not that. I’m me in every since of being who I am. Think Tracee Ellis Ross in the TV series “Girlfriends” as “Joan Clayton” and Erika Alexander in “Living Single” as “Maxine Shaw.” The two characters intersect at style and power, a womanly force to be reckoned with. That’s me! So of course, there were the naysayers early on that thought I was wasting my law degree doing acting gigs. I learned that people will put you in a box and determine what they are comfortable with for you. What your limitations should be? What you are restricted to doing. I am not to be held back or held down. I am a hybrid. I wear many hats in the arts and entertainment industry because I have many talents. I am a lawyer, an actress, an author, a playwright, a producer, a screenwriter, a philanthropist. I am successful with all of my talents because they are commercially marketable, have added value, and they have established me in the industry as an expert.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I know I am unique, especially as an industry hybrid. With 30 years of expertise in the entertainment business, I remain passionate about using my legal and business skills to support artists and further their Arts business. From my base in Houston, I have expanded my reach into the film centers of Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, Austin, New Orleans, and other cities. My legal skills in Entertainment include a wide range of matters regarding Film & Television (scripted and unscripted), from development through distribution, Theater, Music, Books, Performing Artists, Contracts, Film Finance, Distribution, Federal Trademark & Copyright Registration, and more. In addition to compiling a long list of acting credits in over 40 productions, including The Burial, Better Call Saul & Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and winning a Hollywood & Africa Prestigious Award (HAPA) for Best Supporting Actor for the independent film Christmas Belles, I was also either a Producer or Production Attorney on another three dozen or more films and TV series. A few recent films she produced/executive produced include Senior Moments, The Pillow Case, Staycation, One Crazy Christmas, The Great Divide, and My B.F.F., to name a few. I recently served as production attorney to MTV’s A Hip Hop Christmas, A Hip Hop Christmas Wedding, Lifetime’s Safe Space, and Red Guerrilla Entertainment’s North of the 10, which shot in Chicago, L.A., and the UAE. A few clients, former or present, include Steve Harvey, Rushion McDonald, Tommy Davidson, Kim Burrell, AJ Johnson, Kiana Dancie, LeToya Luckett, Nephew Tommy, Kenny Smith, Carl Payne, Greg Carter, Datari Turner, Rhyan LaMarr to name a few. As the Founder, Executive Director/Artistic Director Aside from all of her accomplishments, one of my proudest creations is Mack Performing Arts Collective, Inc. (MPAC), a 501 (C) 3 non-profit corporation founded by her January 24, 2011. Realizing I had invaluable knowledge as a businesswoman, entertainment lawyer, playwright, producer, and actress, having a circle of high-profile clients, industry colleagues, and contacts ranging from all facets of performing arts and having resources most often times out of reach of others were right at my fingertips, this was the opportunity to give back to her community, expand the growth of the performing arts industry, and make dreams come true. MPAC prides itself on procuring Hollywood celebrities to give back by teaching free to low-cost education workshops to children and young artists in the areas of acting, film & video production, stand-up comedy, and playwriting. Joey Wells, Carl Payne, Kim Fields, Faizon Love, Ella Joyce, Rushion McDonald, Roland Martin, Kym Whitley, Sherri Shepherd, Matthew Knowles, Golden Brooks, Malik Yoba, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Kiana Dancie are a few celebrity guest speakers.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I love comedy. It is my favorite overall entertainment. I have many comedian friends. I represent many comedians as their attorney. I have written and produced a couple of comedic plays and starred in many comedic roles in film. I have a few comedic scripts I have written as well. But many people don’t know that I tried standup comedy years ago. It was one of the many pursuits I had early in my career after watching and being inspired by many shows and talent like Kim Fields on “Facts of Life” as a kid, which inspired me to act, but also watching female comics like AJ Sanders as a road comic and Carol Burnette in sketch comedies. My friends think I am funny. I know I am too. I think I got that from my mom. My mom is a tad bit of Madea, Benita Butrell, and your favorite church elder meets Caroly Devine, LOL. I know her sense of humor rubbed off on me. Many, many years ago, I finally decided to try standup. I had a friend named Delayne Miller who was at the time a comic in LA. This was before emailing was a thing. I wrote a bunch of jokes centered around my life as a lawyer. I mailed them to him. He redlined them with hand-written notes and strikes to punch them up better and narrowed them down to which ones I should try. He mailed his notes back with a Book called The Comedy Bible by Judy Carter. I read most of that book, especially the portion that dealt with standup. Armed with a pep talk from Delayne, his notes and my newfound knowledge from Judy, I was armed and ready to give stand-up a try, so I signed up for open mic at the Laugh Stop in River Oaks located in Houston, it was a lottery pick. Show up, sign up. So, I did. It was a Monday night I believe and most of the audience was just other comics working out their material. I was a little anxious, but I was ready. I was hoping to see a few comics go up before me so I could have some idea of what to expect. I told myself don’t be nervous and don’t forget your jokes. I even wrote down a few buzzwords in my hand to peek at just in case I forgot my material. Well, what do you know? I was called up first! Surprisingly, I had no jitters, so I walked up and took the mic like a pro. I had about a 3-minute set. I did not get big laughs, but I did get some giggles. The host at the time, comedian John Wessling, told me I did a pretty good job for my first time. I was most proud of myself for not forgetting my material, so I never looked at the inside of my hand. I realized that I do love comedy, but my family life was not designed for me to be on the road. I also learned that I enjoy comedic writing, acting, and I could mix in my stand-up dreams when I host and emcee events. Hats off to all the comedians out there!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jalenemack.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jalenemack
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jalenemmack
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jalenemackhou/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaleneMack
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jalenemack#p/u
- Other: Nonprofit site: www.mpac-arts.org IMDB Filmography: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1217160/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_0_nm_8_q_jalenemack Linktree: linktr.ee/jalenemack
Image Credits
Grady Carter
Touche
