We were lucky to catch up with Joyce Tsang recently and have shared our conversation below.
Joyce, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
Being the only one in the room who looks like me has been and still is a source of fuel for me to bring something different to the table. I am a woman in film, Asian, and rather small in stature so in more ways than one I’m often a minority just about any group I find myself in. Whether its on the sidelines of a football field, in a large commercial set, or in a intimate documentary setting I often lean into what sets me apart in be effective in my work.
As a creative, I embrace the fact that I did not come from conventional filmmaking education and often think about the various pieces of story through the lens of my unique background. That means I often have a different perspective that collaborators and clients value. For someone with several Sports Emmys, I don’t really watch a ton of sports (I hardly watch any actually) and I certainly don’t look like your average football fan but that also means I look at the project with a different eye. I’m not easily swayed by industry norms or popular narratives because I’m usually looking at the story from an entirely, unexpected angle. When everyone else is focusing on the obvious or what’s shiny in the room, I’m usually uncovering something others might have missed. Each person has a background unique to them and therefore a distinct perspective that no one else has so why not leverage it. That’s taking what can be perceived as a disadvantage and turning it into something valuable.
Like many minority women, I work extra hard just to get a seat at the table but hard work alone is not enough. We also need community. We need people to lend a hand, make an introduction, or set an example because no one can do it all alone. And it’s way more rewarding to do life with others. Sometimes that community looks like you, and sometimes it doesn’t, but regardless I’ve been intentional in building and fostering relationships because I’ve seen what a difference that can make.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a co-founder and executive producer at Only Today, a production company rooted in Portland, Oregon and I lead a small team of diverse Emmy award-winning producers, directors, editors and creatives who produce videos ranging from documentary style branded content to large commercial productions.
We are also Certified B Corporation committed to putting people first and using storytelling for good. That means we are part of a global movement of businesses committed to social and environmental excellence. It is a testament to our belief in making a real impact – on our communities, our environment and through the stories that we tell. This is woven into the fabric of not just what we produce, but how each film is created both in front of and behind the camera.
In 2023, Only Today was named one of the top 10 fastest growing private companies in Oregon and SouthWest Washington. More recently, our team was nominated for multiple Emmys for our work across two projects that aired this past February during Super Bowl Sunday.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Start with yes Invest in yourself
Invest in relationships
Start with Yes
As someone who often likes to have a plan A and a plan B and a plan C I can sometimes get bogged down in the details of it. This can be overwhelming when you start to play the game of what ifs, but I’ve learned that its just as important to have a plan as it is to just start. You might not know what you’re doing, where exactly you’re going, or the path you’ll take to get there but the most important part of any journey is simply to start. Be curious, embrace opportunity, and start with yes. If you wait until you’re “ready” you’ll be sitting on the sidelines for the rest of your life.
Invest in yourself
Whatever it is you’re interested in doing, invest in yourself first. Yes you may need capital and resources to start a business or make a career change but none of that matters if you don’t have a direction or know what you’re doing. So before you buy all that gear or sign that lease, take the time to figure out what makes you tick, and then spend whatever time and money you have learning as much about it as you can. Don’t be afraid of hard work. Take a course, shadow a mentor, volunteer, experiment – learn from each experience and educate yourself. Learning is a life-long endeavor and it is as important when you’re first starting out as it is 15, 20, 25 years into your journey.
Invest in relationships
You can certainly choose to go about life alone but you likely won’t get very far. No matter how talented you are, how smart you are, or how resourceful you are, you will inevitably need the support or assistance of someone else. That someone might be a colleague, a friend, a neighbor – you never know, an intern can one day become your client. Of all the experiences in my journey so far, I find that anytime I invest in a relationship I am better off for it. So give that person 10 minutes of your time, write that recommendation letter, have coffee with them, and donate 4hrs of your time – it might not show a return right away but it won’t be wasted time. Plus it’s a heck of a lot more fun and rewarding to do life with others!
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am always looking to collaborate with people and organizations interested in human-centered video storytelling. This can take many different forms; specifically I would love to partner with corporations with a social impact initiative, a network with long or short-form documentary video needs and/or agencies in need of compelling videos. You can check out my portfolio of work at www.onlytoday.tv and reach out directly. I would love to hear more about the good work others are doing in their communities.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.onlytoday.tv
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onlytodaytv
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onlytoday
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joycectsang/
Image Credits
Photography by Amanda Westcott and Noah Porter
