Meet Jocelyn R.C.

We recently connected with Jocelyn R.C. and have shared our conversation below.

Jocelyn, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

I think early on, throughout childhood into early adulthood, my confidence was so closely tied to the feeling of safety. And since I spent most of my time at school and at home, those were key environments in which my own baseline of self-esteem was formed. I have this vivid memory from 7th grade science class (circa 2001), when one day our teacher asked us a question, and nobody raised their hand. We were, for the most part, all paying attention, but nobody knew the answer. We looked around. No hands. Our teacher looked around and said, “Someone answer. Take a guess. You won’t be wrong, just try. Whatever you say, I’ll make it right.” I had the privilege of growing up with encouraging teachers and parents who nurtured a healthy and foundational confidence with which I eventually set out into the world. Very grateful for this.

For me nowadays, confidence first starts with the simple desire to do a good job–to be good at something, maybe even to be great at it. And how do I become good at something? Practice. This involves a repeating cycle of trying things, making mistakes, implementing new learnings, etc. The confidence I have in my current work is a result of committing myself to this cycle for 15+ years (and counting) on/in a variety of projects, teams, and work cultures. Each project brings new challenges and learnings, both regarding the work itself as well as my own performance and part in its process. Self-assessment is a big part of my practice and helps drive the overarching pursuit for improvement and experimentation.

Like any other emotion, my confidence also ebbs and flows. I’ve gone through enough artistic dry spells and bouts of self-doubt to know it’s just part of the whole deal. So I try to savor and save) things that boost my self-esteem. Each time a client returns, or refers me to others, is a boost. A pat on the back from a colleague. A complement from a total stranger. And particularly, because they’re both honest in their opinions, when either of my parents smiles at something I’ve made. I’ll take the boosts where I can get them, stocking up for the days when self-doubt creeps back in for a visit.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Among the driving forces behind my work is a persistent curiosity and reverence for the nature within and around us. I’m intrigued by our relationships with each other, the planet, and ourselves. Born and raised in the colorful swirl of a second-generation mixed culture childhood in Seattle, I went on to spend the first decade of my adult years following school and work opportunities from southern California to the Bay Area to New York City. That whole time, I had one foot on a more conventional career path, and the other foot trying to tap into creative side projects on the weekends. Also, each year I was moving into a new apartment, and every 2-3 years I was moving to a new city or state altogether. Much of my art has been informed by this period of frequent change, evolving sense of belonging, and frankly, cognitive dissonance (with the work I was doing, not the people I was working with).

By late 2020, I had stepped off the corporate career path and settled back in the Pacific Northwest, and the following year I resumed my video art and photography practice, full-time and in earnest. I’ve since had the privilege of exhibiting new work at the Jack Straw Cultural Center (Seattle), Northwest Film Forum (Seattle), and UMW MediaWall (Fredericksburg, VA). I also work as a contract photographer for organizations and businesses like Seattle Parks Foundation, Seattle JazzED, and Cookies with Tiffany.

Recently, I made my public art debut in New York City with a large-scale, site-responsive video installation, commissioned by MTA Arts & Design (Metropolitan Transportation Authority). The installation, “Seen in the Sound”, featured 18 individual videos across 50+ screens throughout Fulton Transit Center in downtown Manhattan, and exhibited for 2 minutes at the top of every hour from March 8-July 10, 2024.

For now this works for me, but as circumstances or my own preferences inevitably evolve over time, I will be open to whatever variety is yet to come.

Also, since you mentioned “nonprofit” above, I will plug the organization I co-founded in Seattle when I was 18. While I’m not actively involved in its operations, and haven’t been since the early years (2006-2009), NFFTY has grown to become one of the largest film festivals worldwide for emerging directors 24 years-old and younger and is worth sharing with any young filmmakers in your life: nffty.org

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Paying attention, remaining adaptable, and being polite.

Some of these skills may come naturally to folks, and some may require more conscious practice, but implementing these behaviors, has only ever benefitted me. Also applicable in multiple aspects of life.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Lately, I find myself looking to collaborate with audio artists (musicians, producers, composers, sound designers, audio engineers, etc.) because sound is so complementary to my video work. I have a musical background and know enough about sound design to be able to make do so far, but as I begin pursuing more experimental or larger scale projects, I’d love to be able to work with and lean on artists and experts in sound.

In a very specific instance, I’m developing a video art piece that is in need of an original and understated jazz score (a slowish tempo and film noir-reminiscent) similar to “We Two” performed by JJ Johnson and Kai Winding in the 1950’s.

In general, I love connecting with all types of artists–from dancers and composers to props stylists and lighting artists to writers and chefs–it’s refreshing to learn about each others’ creative mediums, techniques, and nuances and discover our similarities and variations.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Jocelyn R.C., Jeremy Cohen, Simon Blockley

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