Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jane Kim. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Jane, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?
I grew up with a dad who has the kindest soul, I think I get it from him. I grew up with the saying of “if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say it at all,” and was taught to be kind to everyone. It takes a lot for me to be mean to anyone, and it drains so much of my energy that I don’t want to be giving to someone who’s already being rude to me. I tend to be very sensitive and take things to heart. I recognize that everyone has a bad day, and I don’t want to make it worse by being rude in return. My mentality and one of my favorite things about myself is my kindness. Although I have my moments like anyone else, I try to be kind to everyone, no matter what. It does get taken advantage of from time to time, and sometimes I mix up standing up for myself with being rude. I try to think of the other person’s feelings ahead of my own, and people get used to that, unfortunately. I’ve been told I’m “too nice” by parents, friends, and mentors, so I try to focus on being kind rather than being nice and recognizing that difference is important.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I grew up at 5 years old knowing exactly what I wanted to do: acting. I used to have in my bio on Musical.ly (now known as TikTok) “actress/singer/model,” and at the time, that was my dream job. I was always drawn to the arts and creative spaces. I used to point at the TV and say, “I want to be in there,” not knowing that it was an actual career. I didn’t have the support at the time until I chose my major for college, which was Film. It was the only thing I wanted to study, and this was my chance to learn. I ended up dropping out of college and joining an acting studio. Brandon Thomas, my acting coach, has been there for me since the very beginning. I remember I was about to turn 19 at the time, and now I’m about to be 21. Whenever people ask me about classes, I always refer them to him; he’s the best, and I’m always learning and growing from him. I’ve grown to love all aspects of filmmaking, acting, editing, lighting, screenwriting, directing, producing, etc. Every time I’m on set, I feel so happy, even if it’s a 6 am call time and I’m there for 15 hours, I learn something new every time. I am now writing my scripts that I want to act in, and also produce and direct some day, it’s in the works currently. I now have a casting call up for it, it’s called “Beneath It All,” and you can apply through Backstage or DM me on Instagram @janemjkim. I post on YouTube, I edit and produce my videos that are uploaded every week. I feel this rush of excitement and motivation whenever I’m doing something film-related or creative. I like to draw, paint, play piano, guitar, ukulele, sing, and dance. I know that I’m in the right place because of the excitement I feel when I’m on a set or writing, it’s when I’m the happiest. In the future, I hope to have a podcast and produce feature films that shed light on mental health. Mental health is such an important topic, and there are so many stereotypes about all disorders.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Being kind, ambitious/curious, and being able to deal with criticism and rejection. You never know who’s listening and who knows each other, so it’s always important to be kind, and that goes for not just in the film industry, but in life. You need to be able to network and make connections with people, and no one wants to be around someone rude for 15+ hours a day. Willingness to learn, staying curious, and being ambitious have led me to learn so much about the film industry. It’s one of my best qualities because I can easily get interested in a certain topic or skill, and I’ll spend 6-8 hours a day learning and honing it. Taking criticism and rejection is the hardest thing, especially when you’re sensitive like me. But it’s necessary when you’re an actor or in the film industry in general. I’ve gotten a lot of criticism, some constructive and some not. It’s harsh and, of course, hurtful, but you shouldn’t take it to heart. I’m still learning that, and it’s so much easier said than done.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am looking to collaborate with people who are kind and ambitious, that’s a quality I look for when I want to work with someone. Anyone who is a filmmaker or in the industry, or trying to be. Whether they’re actors like me, directors, producers, casting directors, production assistants, etc. I’m willing to collaborate with someone who has a passion for it and wants to be in this space for a good reason. They have a reason to want to be a filmmaker, not just for money or fame. I am looking for people to work with constantly. I’m casting for “Beneath It All” currently, and I’m looking for actors and crew members.
Connect with me on social media:
Instagram: @janemjkim
TikTok: @janemjkim
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@janemjkim
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/janemjkim
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@janemjkim
- Other: TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@janemjkim
Image Credits
Chris Gamez
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