Where Are They Now? By Trimella Chaney
Periodically, we focus on people from our region who have adventured out into the world and done amazing things. In this issue, we are checking in with film director, writer, producer and educator Janlatae Mullins.
H
ow does a 1997 Watauga High School graduate become an awardwinning film director, writer, and producer? According to Janlatae Mullins, “It’s Divine timing.” In the late nineties Jan’s family moved to the High Country from Marietta, Georgia, and Jan sustained a cultural shock. While attending Avery High School, she found acceptance within the close knit group of drama students, and later enrolled at Watauga High School, where she continued her drama studies. At Watauga Jan became a valuable member of the Pioneer Playmakers, the school’s auditiononly acting troupe, helping the ensemble to garner awards from the North Carolina Theatre Conference. Soon after graduation Jan attended an acting workshop where at the conclusion of the class she was told that she “didn’t have the look to be successful in New York.” Digesting this evaluation and reassessing her dream, she turned to other passions of hers—writing, and Dawson’s Creek. She proceeded to write a story line for the popular show and puzzled about how she could get to Wilmington by bus to pitch her idea. Divine timing. A cousin called to say that she was coming for a family visit on her way to Hickory. Soon Jan was on her way to Wilmington aboard a bus from Hickory. While on the bus, Jan met a guy who knew the Fincannons (the talent agency involved with Dawson’s Creek). He helped to arrange a ride for her to the studio. She admits that she naively thought that she could just walk onto the film lot. Unable to penetrate the security and unwilling to
Janlatae Mullins (far right) receives award at the 2018 Black Women Film Network (BWFN) Film Festival
give up, she decided to stay the night. She admits to sleeping on a park bench! But she was there the next morning when a man walked by wearing a Warner Brothers cap. Jan fearlessly approached him with a request for him to read her work. His response: “I don’t want to hear it!” Undeterred, she persisted. The producer growled, “I’ll take it, but don’t sue me. Our ideas are at least six months ahead of the story line and your idea may already be in the pipeline.” Sure enough, he contacted her saying that even though her “treatment” was fully detailed (comprising many more pages than typical), they had a similar story line already. Jan recalls fondly that this producer was a real professional who continued to accept her calls until the show was cancelled. The lesson she learned: Don’t procrastinate. Have ideas ready to present to take advantage of potential opportunities. This episode brought on a deep depression since Jan felt her dream was in front of her and she had messed it up. Moving back to Marietta, she found a church home. Soon she was writing screen plays, television scripts, and TV pilots, again giving voice to her ideas. She began attempting to produce on her own with equipment from Home Depot. At the conclusion of one of her film attempts, she realized she had no editing capabilities and no professional sound expertise. With the help of her pastor, Jan acknowledged that she had reached a “roadblock of knowledge.” To remedy this, she reached out to the New York Film School Academy and was accepted. While living with friends, she
began to acquire the tools she needed to realize her dream. She also attended The Art Institute of Atlanta to complete her professional training. Another incident of Divine timing in Jan’s mind was the Reel to Reel Film Competition sponsored by Jack Daniels. She entered the inaugural contest with her film, SOULFIRE, and became the first winner. As a result, she found herself doing press with actor Omari Hardwick and on a national tour. Jan’s inspirational story continues as she works as a professional director for BARK BARK, a branding video agency, teaches online screenwriting, and continues to write and produce. Her next project for Viacom is filmed at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. Jan’s advice to aspiring artists: “Your voice matters. Strive to understand the power and purpose of your voice because you are magic!” Now an award-winning filmmaker, Jan truly believes that artists need to get together and encourage their unique voices. When asked what part of the process that she enjoys most, she answers, “I enjoy the whole process. I love the writing, the directing, and the producing. I enjoy the group effort that it takes to complete the project. I want to produce work which connects to the God parts in all of us.” Ms. Trimella Chaney is a veteran theatre arts teacher and founder of the Theatre Arts Department at Watauga High School. She currently teaches at Appalachian State University in the Department of Theatre and Dance, and is a local community theatre director.
CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Winter 2020/21 —
37
