Art & Life with Jean Carmen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jean Carmen.

Jean, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’ve never believed in myself as someone “special” or “talented,” just someone who knows they have a purpose far larger than what most people perceive. At first, I was forced into performing arts school at eleven; my mother had no idea what that shove would later evolve into. I was made aware of how much of an outcast I was every day. Kids older than me teased me, tripped me in the halls, pulled my hair. I hated everything about myself, so theatre was a way to be someone else if not for just a moment. I was enraptured with the idea of going through something terrible and finding the rainbow at the end of the darkness, and I realized it was time I did the same in my own life. Even though it took seven years, I stopped letting people tell me I couldn’t be me, I stood up for who I was and wanted to be, and I will continue this fight toward my own rainbow. That’s what I want to be an actor, to show those who are also afraid to speak that it’s going to be terrifying, petrifying, but in the end, it will always be worth it. That even the shyest person can harbor the loudest voice and move mountains. I want to inspire people to look within before they look without and that loving yourself is the greatest gift the world could use right now.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I am, and will forever be, an Artist. This one word encompasses everything I love: acting, writing (books, short stories, scripts, screenplays), drawing, photography, and filming. As I’ve mentioned before, I want to be my most authentic self, so I want to create the most authentic, genuine, honest, and real stories through my scripts and characters. What’s the point in sugarcoating? The truth hurts, yes, but it is more appreciated than pretending it is less than what it seems. I want people to be brutally honest with me, and I may get hurt, angry, annoyed, or defensive, but I will always come around and think about how I can improve and grow. Through my work, I want people to understand that being human is nothing to be ashamed of, that ugly cries are normal, that love exists regardless of gender, that being nervous and shy isn’t shameful – it’s more than okay. I want people to know that everything I do is genuine, that I’m trying and will only continue to learn and share that knowledge. The world is so full of hate and quick judgment, fast tempers, and unrelenting disagreements, I simply want to bring kindness and acceptance to this world.

Artists rarely, if ever pursue art for the money. Nonetheless, we all have bills and responsibilities, and many aspiring artists are discouraged from pursuing art due to financial reasons. Any advice or thoughts you’d like to share with prospective artists?
For the longest time, I refused to work. I didn’t want a “normal person job” because I was afraid I’d become trapped and never leave to achieve my dream, but that’s all part of the fight, isn’t it? It doesn’t matter what obstacle is in your way if you truly want it bad enough, there isn’t a single excuse to hold you back. Everyone is given the same amount of hours in a day, some of us sleep through most of them; others don’t sleep at all; it all depends on how badly you want it.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
People can see my work through the local community at the moment. I get involved in film festivals in my town, where my films are played at Harkins Theatre. I upload videos of my life on YouTube, to show people what an aspiring actor does, how I started, and hopefully where I’ll end up. Words carry, and the day for mine is nearing. Platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter reach farther than my local community, and I’ve met so many beautiful people from all over the world. I have supporters from Australia, Norway, South Korea, California, Canada, Greenland and it’s such a beautiful and inspiring thing to know that regardless of where we are, we can connect so easily.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeancarmenn/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeanCarmenn
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/JnCarmen
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM0wOmZ1ECPnTYt57Kdc0Bg?view_as=subscriber

Image Credit:
Photo with blue dress: Alesha Bush
Still with white sword: ‘Pearline: The Denouement of a Samurai’ director Edson Florez

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