Meet Jehnovah Carlisle of MSMU Screenwriting Professor

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jehnovah Carlisle.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I hail from Berkeley, California. I grew up in a single parent household. I was raised by my late father. I attended all Berkeley schools – elementary, middle school, high school, college. As a young person growing up, I had no aspirations to be where I am today.

In fact, my only concerns as an adolescent were trying to get my father’s respect and survive my environment. I was a very affable kid, full of energy, creative, dauntless, but my father saw to it that I toughened up. He was an ex-con, as hard as they come, and parenting for 18 years was probably the hardest thing he ever had to do. He would often time preach the value of education, but his street persona offered a different sermon.

To make a long story short, at 18 I developed into the man my father molded me to be, intelligent, yet hard. I was incarcerated at 18 and lost my father during my time away. I was released at 19 and made the decision to pursue higher education. I fell in love with cinema at the University of California, Berkeley, obtained my MFA in film production from California College of the Arts, and now I write, direct, and teach cinema for a living.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There were many potholes in my road. One of the hardest obstacles I had to face was finding employment post-incarceration. Once you’re labeled a criminal, it doesn’t matter what your aspirations are, the employment system is set up to not hire you. I’d suffered long stints of unemployment, working odd jobs here and there to support my way through school. It was tough, but it built character.

Another struggle was higher education. I wasn’t prepped for college, so upon getting there, I had to work 10 times as hard as the prepped students. The university level was even harder. But that experience has endowed me with the unyielding work ethic I have today.

We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I’m a screenwriter, director, and educator. I’m known for the numerous short films that I’ve created in the Bay Area. I’m also a professor at Mount Saint Mary’s University in the creative writing program. I teach screenwriting at the graduate level.

I’m proud of Mount Saint Mary’s creative writing program because it is robust, offering student’s high-level training in multiple genres. It also integrates the humanities into its course load, providing students a rigorous liberal arts education as well.

I’m very passionate and dedicated to what I do as a filmmaker and educator. It is my passion and dedication that sets me apart from others.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up I was an excessive doodler that was very fond of insects and the outdoors. I could tolerate being alone for long stints of time, being an only child and all, so I believe this is where I found my passion to create. When I got around peers, I was a very sociable person.

I’ve always been a leader, and I was usually the person who took the initiative to bring all kinds of people together. Also, do to my upbringing and my many life experiences, I’ve been told that I possess an exceptional amount of compassion for others.

Contact Info:

• Website: jehnovahcarlisle.com

Image Credit:
Benjamin Michel and Mao Sakurada Reich

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