We recently connected with Jaran Huggins and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jaran, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
I love this question because it seems that the answer would differ depending on the day you asked. Today, I’ll try to answer as concretely as I can – I have always been someone who thinks positively about anything and everything while seeing the best in everyone. In an industry with so many ups and downs, I’d love to sit here and say that optimism is a choice; however, it’s also a necessity. Being a filmmaker has taught me to embrace my own passion and purpose through the creative lens. It has enabled me the unique ability to acquire perspective. Whether it’s of other people’s situations, circumstances, or experiences, being a storyteller allows me to understand and appreciate other people’s stories while counting the blessings in mine. It presents me the opportunity to sympathize and empathize with struggle while embracing the strength that comes from it. After all, we are forever learning in this craft and you learn through experience. I am extremely grateful to be able to do what I love and have parents that support my brother and I to the fullest extent. My optimism comes from my purpose, yes, but it also comes from the gratitude and appreciation I’ve realized along the way. That, I will always carry moving forward on the path laid before me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Jaran Huggins and I’m a screenwriter, director, and producer from Nashville, TN (emphasis on director). In other words, I’m a storyteller and help other people tell their stories. I’m a recent graduate of Temple University ‘22 where I received my BFA in Directing and now live in Los Angeles, California. Growing up, creativity was always at the core of my existence. Following in the footsteps of my brother, I started playing piano at the age of four and saxophone at the age of ten. My brother and I would use legos to create towns and build worlds in our small playroom while even creating imaginary characters to go along with them. We were always creating stories and talking way past our bedtime about our imaginary citizens before waking up early the next morning to continue building our lego world or as we called it, “The City”. Meanwhile, my late best friend and I would get together and create movies through iMovie trailers and old camcorders. As I got older, I started to embrace music and even more specifically, jazz, due to the freedom it allowed me. I hated playing from sheet music. I just wanted to be free to improv and write my own songs much to my piano teacher’s annoyance. Throughout high school, I did everything, sports, clubs, band, you name it; however, one thing stuck: my passion for creating change specifically through the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion. By my senior year, I was the president of the Intersectionality and Diversity Alliance at my school and ultimately decided that film was the route I was going to take in college so that I could create change through storytelling. At Temple, I struggled with finding my voice early on. I had so much to say with no idea how to say it. Living in Philly allowed me the unique opportunity to meet different people with different backgrounds and cultural experiences I hadn’t been accustomed to. The insecurities of imposter syndrome ate at my soul as I started to tell race-based stories about my own experiences. A professor reminded me to turn those insecurities into art and that’s exactly what I did through my BFA Senior Thesis film, “Sheet Music” (quite literally, a period drama about the insecurities of two black musicians facing pressure to live up to societal expectations) By the time I moved to L.A., my voice was the sharpest and cleanest it had ever been. I began to realize my calling as a director was not just to tell my own stories but to allow, encourage, and inspire others to tell their own stories. We all have different experiences which in turn, shape the lenses we use to see the world and those experiences should be cherished and valued. I have been blessed thus far to have had the opportunities to work on some amazing projects with even better people. Most recently, I was able to work alongside the team on the Emmy-Nominated FX Series, “Dear Mama”, which led to my current job working under director Allen Hughes. On the side, I am actively developing a script in memory of my late best friend, which I plan to direct in the spring through my production company, That’s Hype Productions. As I reflect in this interview, I recognize that the steps have always been aligned. It wasn’t until a few weeks ago that I realized, I have actually been telling stories my whole life. Trust those steps chosen for you and stay positive along the way. The hardest part of this industry is sticking with it. You’d be shocked at how far you’ve come.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Aside from optimism, it was faith, confidence through humility, and empathy that has carried me thus far. These all go hand in hand because I do believe it starts with you first. To me, optimism is having faith that things are going to work out. Everyone’s path is different and for you, it’s about controlling the controllable. In order to do so, you have to believe in yourself first. I took me a while but I finally recognized that I have just as much a right and privilege to be here as anyone else and so does the next person. We are all different. No one gains critical acclaim by upholding institutions, it’s about breaking barriers and creating new ones. You matter and your voice matters. Most importantly, stay humble. It’s never a bad thing to look back and appreciate your journey and the blessings in your life. Patience is such a virtue and it should be accompanied with gratitude. Even as I continue my path forward, I remind myself every once in a while to take a second and reflect on the journey I’ve endured thus far. Perspective is everything and your ability to empathize with others will ultimately not only make you better in your career, but in your personal life. You are the best equipped to deal with adversity when you can use it as a recipe for growth rather than a recipe for disaster. It’s all a mindset and that, once again, starts with you!
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
As I stated earlier in this interview, I have been extraordinarily blessed to have parents that not only support my brother and I in our creative endeavors, but believe in us through the good times and the bad. My parents have always been the example for me. While most kids only see their parents as their superheroes at a young age, I will forever see mine as just that until my last day. They are the reason for who I am today and I owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude. Growing up, they always invested in us, by allowing us the freedom to find our way. They cherished and embraced our interests no matter how outlandish they were. Yet, it wasn’t the financial-related investments that I’m referring to. No, my mom and dad invested in me as a person first. They always saw the best in me, even at my lowest. This is a huge part of the reason why I too, aim to see the best in everything and everyone. They have always been my biggest supporters and have never failed to have my back.” Just think it sounds cleaner that way. Again, it was their belief in me for which I am the most thankful. My parents never strayed off the right path, even growing up individually. My mom and dad instilled in me the core values I live by each and everyday. I can only hope to at least live up to half the person my parents both exhibit and will always give back everything they have given and poured into me and then some. It is through them that I realize the way I grant them a return on their investment in me is to make the most out of what they have provided.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @jaranhuggins (personal)
@thatshypeproductions (production page) - Twitter: @jaranhuggins
Image Credits
Marcus Maddox (black n white photo of me with iPad) Emily Krisky (photo of me pointing on set)
