Meet Alyssa Jones of Prose & Pose in Central Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Jones.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Alyssa. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Eighteen-year-old Alyssa had a strong sense of purpose, and I’ve since made good on her post high school vision. In 2013, I moved to Claremont, CA with two goals in mind: 1) obtain a Bachelor’s degree and 2) launch my career in Television. After graduating from Claremont McKenna College with a degree in Media Studies, I completed the TV Development Internship at Sonar Entertainment and then went on to briefly work at Paradigm Talent Agency as an Executive Assistant to three TV Literary Agents. Now, I am building my portfolio as a model and simultaneously working as a Writer’s PA for ABC Signature Studios. That’s my abbreviated origin story.

Great, 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?
There’s a version of my origin story that consists of me leading a very successful yet highly controversial student protest, which led to me being retroactively suspended my senior year of college. I cannot forget about the part where I slept in my friends’ backhouse for several weeks and made a 5 to 6-hour-long commute from Claremont to Beverly Hills for my internship. Then, there’s the bit about me finding out about my father’s passing my very first day at Sonar. Also, don’t get me started on my “roommate from hell” tale, aka the unofficial rite of passage for most transplants. We’ll save the long version for the next interview.

In all seriousness, the obstacles I’ve faced are categorically two-fold: some are isolated events, like what I described above. Others, cyclical. The recurring obstacles I face are fear-based thinking, lack mindset and the curse of unproductivity. Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world, so I sometimes feel like I’m not doing enough. When self-doubt rears its ugly head, I allow myself to feel all of my emotions without judgment. I’ve learned that the oscillations of my emotions are a sacred language, and suppression can be shame-inducing. So, I revel. Only then am I able to return to my loving practice (which usually consists of me consoling with my sister, Ariel, and consulting the Tarot and my oracle decks).

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I identify as a multi-faceted creative, well-being advocate, budding tarot & oracle deck enthusiast to name a few monikers. Most notably, I am an aspiring TV Writer and model. The fallout of my short-lived career in student activism encouraged me to recalibrate my capacity for changemaking and social commentary via fictional writing. Thus, I primarily write dark fantasy, horror and science fiction and draw from Afro-Pessimism and Afro-Futurism. Jordan Peele changed the horror landscape with Get Out. I intend to make a contribution to the new terrain through a reimagining of African-Derived Religious Traditions (ADRs). From Tales from the Hood to Tales of the Crypt, I watched any scary movie and television show that I could get my hands on as a child, and did so unscathed. Innate interest notwithstanding, I recognized the short-sightedness of the genre as a young girl, and part of my life’s work is to problematize depictions of Black folks and our spiritual traditions in horror through informed yet engaging storytelling.

A cursory glance at American history illustrates that life for Black Americans has always been horrific in nature (i.e., chattel slavery, Jim Crow, War on Drugs, etc.). To imagine the future, I do so with regard to present conditions. Working with within an Afro-Pessimistic and Afro-Futuristic framework allows me to engage with the state of the world and exact my own sense of justice. (Enter my love of world-building.) So, it goes without saying that though I am a Writers’ PA by day, make no mistake: I am my own business. Additionally, what distinguishes me from other writers are my experiences, my ability to synthesize and analyze pop culture and most importantly, my voice. Having distinct voice is an indispensable skill for creative writing.

What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
I am proud of myself every single day – given my journey. Presently, my most significant accomplishments are the strides I’ve made toward completing my first pilot and the upcoming launch of my website, Prose & Pose. I can’t speak for all burgeoning writers, but I know some would agree that the first script seems like the most daunting milestone. However, the real work begins with the rewrite. I mulled over my series concept for a year before committing to the first draft. I am leaning into my process, again, with non-judgment. My script is a coming of age drama about a Black teen Conjurer. Of course, it mixes dark fantasy, horror and sci-fi, and it’s truly a labor of love. Even still, I’ve come a long way from an intern with a fragmented script idea to a Writers’ PA with a mission to submit next fellowship season. Wish me luck, y’all.

In addition to TV writing, I am also very proud of Prose & Pose, my portfolio site. The premise of Prose & Pose is that it’s an anecdotal lookbook. I believe that personal style is an expression of personhood, our internal selves and the renditions we show to other people. In true Gemini Rising fashion, Prose & Pose is an exploration of my many selves with a dash of creative writing. So, be on the lookout for the release! Interested parties will be able to inquire about collaborating, browse my portfolio and contact me.

Pricing:

• Photoshoots: Sliding scale of $100-200

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alyssajones.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_sorbaet/

Image Credit:
Breana Powell, Miriam Brummel

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