Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Jay
Taylor, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started the journey of film directing & screen writing through the lens theatre. I’ve been involved in theatre arts since the age of five and it was always my passion. I went off to college and noticed that the shows that were being produced didn’t have characters that looked like me or any role that I could believably play. So I decided, if there are no roles for me, then I need to create them. That propelled my interest into film and I decided that’s the place I wanted to be. I would write and direct my own short films, and then i started getting opportunities to write and direct short films for my peers in the industry. My love for storytelling on stage and on screen has now transcended into my love for storytelling via social media. I am infatuated with different ways you can tell a story using no more than 60 seconds, and because of that, it has led me into the field of content creation and social media management.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being a screenwriter & filmmaker in south Florida has not been an easy journey. Especially because the demand for the stories I aspire to tell, isn’t really here. Take LA or NYC, everyone there is an actor or performer, or someone connected or wanting to connect to the entertainment industry. Here in South Florida, the community is small, and if you add black to it, it becomes even smaller. Another issue I’ve faced is the follow through, you can connect with people at an event, and they would be down to collaborate on a project, and then after the event, the connection would go flat. It required more marketing and follow through than I expected and that was hard for me as a creative, and because of it, I was discouraged and lacked the motivation to create. I started to become dependent on people, needing them to utilize the gifts that were already bestowed upon me. But I believe that if you do not steward your talents, then you will lose them. And my creativity has been my “why” for everything I do, and I wasn’t willing to let it all go.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a freelance social media manager, screenwriter and film Director. I am known for directing short films and writing scripts and poems for queer spaces. I am most proud of having a published book called The Love Below that talks about the three points of love from the queer perspective. My book received so much love during its debut in 2020 that in 2022, I created a podcast based off its namesake. What sets me apart from others is my creative eye and ability to tell stories. Whether the stories be on screen, in a novel, or in a reel, my work allows those who have been silenced to be heard. I am passionate about the arts, and believe my job as an artist is to constantly be a vessel, letting the art form use me to advocate, educate, and activate.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The quality I feel is most important to my success is confidence. Confidence in my opinion is what sets you apart from other artists. Confidence, allows you to move in spaces that insecurity and doubt would never let you. Confidence is the buy-in to any brand, and people will support you just because you are confident in yourself and your product. Whenever I went into a situation with confidence, I always came out on top. However I know confidence is not something that comes easy to a lot of people, in actuality it can be very hard as an artist. Therefore extend a lot of grace to yourself, and become comfortable with learning curves and exploring something new. Confidence is the most valuable quality to one’s success, therefore people can’t believe in you more than you believe in yourself. In the world of art and entertainment, you have to be your biggest fan!
Pricing:
- The Love Below Book https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084LJZNM4/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.whoistaylorjay.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whoistaylorjay/
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/whoistaylorjay
- Other: https://thelovebelowpodcast.buzzsprout.com
