We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Joelle Joyner-Wong a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Joelle , 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?
Confidence was something that I struggled with for a long time. In school I was that girl who never said a word in class. The girl who would have a panic attack if she was asked to read out loud or had to present in front of the whole class. I was afraid to use my voice. I was afraid to get out of my comfort zone. I was also very vulnerable to my feelings. I was that girl in class who cried over everything. My peers, mentors, and coworkers underestimated me. Some thought that I was never gonna make it in life.
Aside from all that, the one place I felt at home was the stage. I was fascinated by the idea of playing someone else. I started partaking in theatre when I was 6 years old when I took acting classes. From there on, I never looked back. It was my first time getting introduced to the entertainment industry, and I felt at home. As I got older, I realized I wanted to pursue entertainment more and study it in College. I got accepted into Sonoma State University and graduated in 2021 with my Bachelor’s degree in Theater Arts with a concentration in Theater Studies. The unique aspect about the Theater Studies concentration is that I got to learn everything ranging from acting, directing, lighting/technical theatre, set design, and playwriting. Playwriting was the key term that drove me to that concentration. Despite starting theatre as an actress, I also enjoyed writing stories. I loved the idea of brainstorming a plot, creating characters, figuring out the conflict, writing it all down on a piece of paper, and seeing it come to life. After writing my first play, I found my true calling in the entertainment industry. After years of everyone telling me speak up, and don’t be afraid to use my voice. I found a way to express myself. Being away from home for the first time also boosted my confidence. I realized that there’s a world outside of San Leandro. After years of being told what to do, I can make my own decisions.
When I graduated College, it was difficult to get my foot in the door. Not only because it’s entertainment, but also because it was 2021, in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Theatre’s weren’t open and I had zero to no experience in film. For the time being, just like every other young adult, I had to get a job unrelated to my degree just to get by. 2022 was the year of transition. After a year of job hopping, I found my way back to my art roots, and got my foot in the door job at Berkeley Repertory Theater on the Front of House team. Around that same time, I got accepted into my film internship at BAYCAT Studio, which is a non-profit organization that helps emerging filmmakers, specifically women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ artists. At my time at BAYCAT, I learned different arrays of the film industry regarding pre-production, production, and post-production. My time at BAYCAT taught me how to be a leader. It taught me how to be an entrepreneur. It taught me that sometimes you got take matters in your own hands and create your own content. This mindset lead to other opportunities such as, producing my first production of “Post Grad Life” at the free-play festival for PlayGround-SF, direct and organize my first stage reading for my play, “Fem-Ship”, and most importantly, packing my bags and moving to Los Angeles. After 3 years in the Bay Area partaking in internships, and getting my first job in theatre, I decided to finally move to the City of Angels and live the dream I’ve always wanted since I was 10.
After a year and a half of being in LA, I have no regrets. I’ve gotten to work on a wide variety of sets as a background actor, script supervisor, production assistant, and have directed 6 plays, in which 3 of them I wrote. Me, a girl who was used to clam up in class when the teacher asked me to read out loud. This is only just the beginning and I still have so much more to accomplish. My time in LA isn’t over, and I can sense that I’m gonna be here for a long time. I know who I am now and I know what I want. As the year is coming to a close, I already have plans for the upcoming year, which involves submitting my resumes, more networking events, spend more time with my friends and family, and of course.. create more. After 2 years of directing theatre, I plan to move more into film and tv and start working on the screenplays I’ve been working on since College. Looking back, if I had one piece of advice for that shy little girl with the curly hair and glasses, I would tell her don’t worry, and that everything is gonna be okay. She’s going to be okay and remind her to be patient. I may not have gotten over my shyness in a week like all my mentors wanted me to. But growth does happen. It just takes time and patience.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Script writing is my specialty. I’ve always been fascinated by the concept of writing something on a piece of paper and seeing it come to life on-stage or on-screen. When I was an actor, I found it more difficult to express myself because I was playing a character, and I had to focus on just my character and the character they are associated with in that moment. Writing a script, I have more freedom to express my story. I have more control over what I want and how I want things to start and finish. I’m most proud of my ability to sit down and find time to write. The hardest part of being a writer is finding time to sit down and devote time to the craft. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been able to set aside some time to write for myself. Whether it’s editing one of my old scripts, writing a poem, or just writing a page in my journal.
I’m also proud of the last 2 plays I’ve written: “Post Grad Life” and “Fem-Ship”. It may sound cliché, but I tend to write my best scripts when I’m not in my greatest moods. Both scripts have been therapeutic and have even taught me the lesson I needed to learn. More specifically, “Fem-ship”. The message is to remind girls to never forget their girlfriends. I got inspired to write this piece because we’ve all been young and in love. When you’re young, you think your partner is the most important thing on the planet, and you begin to lose track of your friends. The script is a reminder to girls that boys come and go. Which is a message I needed to hear myself. I’ve had my fair share of love, and after my last relationship, I had to rediscover how to make friends again. This is the first script I’ve written since moving to LA. So far, it’s had one stage reading that has been recorded. This was my first public stage reading, hosted and produced by me. I then had it read at a group in LA called Script Shuffle, where 5 writers get 10 pages of their script cold-read by actors. Both readings have helped me with what I need to edit in the script.
One thing that sets me apart is taking the initiative and putting on my plays myself. The Free-Play Festival for “Post Grad Life” was an experience that changed me for the better. It was my first Fringe Festival, but it was also my first time putting on a play by myself. I had to book a rehearsal space, set up my own casting calls, and find set designs and props. It may have been a rollercoaster at times, but it was a learning experience, and the show came out amazing. Overall, I’m just proud that I took the risk to put on my own play. The skills I learned from the Free-Play Festival helped me prepare for the next few plays I directed and encouraged me to set up my own stage reading. I’ve learned in this industry that a lot of times I will have to take matters into my own hands. If I want to produce one of my plays, find a space myself, and get it performed. If I want to see my script filmed, find some people who have gear and equipment and find a place to film it. I learned that I can’t wait for the opportunity to fall into my lap. If I do that, my scripts will never be seen or heard.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
My top three phases of knowledge that have been impactful on my journey are that things happen for a reason, to never give up, and to be kind.
If I have any advice for young adults early in their careers, I would suggest to realize that everything happens for a reason. Life is gonna throw curveballs at you all the time. In that moment, you may think your life is over. But in the end, it’s about how you handle the change and realize it’s gonna lead you in the right direction. When it comes to perseverance, just like any industry, the entertainment industry is tough, but never give up on your craft. Your “dream” job won’t come fall into your lap; you’re gonna have to work hard in order to get to the top. This may mean you’ll have to start at the bottom of a company. If you wanna work in theatre, you may have to start off on the front of house team to get your foot in the door. If you wanna work for a film studio, you may have to work as an assistant or a receptionist. If you wanna be a writer or director, start filming or producing your own work. If you wanna write for the theatre, find a small theatre company that will put up your play. For film, connect with some friends who have film equipment, or even just an IPhone, and showcase your work. You may also have to get more training and or learning. So don’t be ashamed if you have to take an internship so you can learn more. When working in entertainment, the more skill sets you know, the more successful you’ll be. Finally, while navigating life, please don’t forget to be kind to one another. My mom told me that there is a difference between being nice and kind. Nice means you’re doing it because you have to. Kind means you’re doing it because you want to. In any industry, you don’t want to burn bridges because you never know when you’re gonna run into them again. One day, that person may be your boss. It’s always more important to take the ride road, instead of sinking down to their level.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
I think one big area of improvement I’ve accomplished in the past 12 months and even beyond is taking risks. Risk taking was something I struggled with for a long time. In school I was that girl who never said a word in class. The girl who would have a panic attack if she was asked to read out loud or had to present in front of the whole class. I was afraid to use my voice. I was afraid to get out of my comfort zone. Peers, mentors, and coworkers underestimated me. Some thought that I was never gonna make it in life.
A big risk I took was relocating to Los Angeles last year. It’s been a dream of mine since I was a kid, and as much as I love the San Francisco Bay Area where I grew up, I never envisioned my future there. I’ve always wanted to live in a city that was centered around the arts. Looking back, I think one reason I took longer to relocate was that I was scared. I feared what if I didn’t have a job? What if I end up hating it down there? What if I end up homeless? I was listening to what everyone else was throwing in my head. Then, in the Fall of 2022, I connected with a freelance producer in the Bay Area. He asked about my goals and aspirations and I told him what I wanted. His honest response was to pack my bags and move to LA. But the key thing that stood out and still stands out to me this very day is when he said, “What’s the worst thing that could happen? You don’t get a job in entertainment? Big deal. Find another skillset. The most important thing is that I’m around the environment”. He then told me that he wishes he moved to LA when he was my age, but he didn’t because he was scared, and that is one of his biggest regrets. Since that conversation, I knew my true calling. I realized in that moment that I needed to stop listening to everyone else and listen to myself. I didn’t wanna have any regrets. After over a year of living in LA, I can say it’s been the best decision I’ve ever made. I’ve gotten to work on so many projects and explore places that I would of never gotten the opportunity to do up North.
Being in LA has increased my risk-taking. From going to different entertainment mixers, to social events, and finding new friends, to submitting and emailing my resumes to get any opportunity to boost my career. Risk-taking can be seen as a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can lead to great awards and innovations, However, it can also lead to some negative consequences, depending on the situation. I think I was skittish towards risk-taking when I was younger is because I was afraid of the negative consequences it could have. Ultimately, the key to risk-taking lies in careful assessment, preparation, and understanding the context. In this industry, you’re gonna have to take huge risks because if you never do, you’ll never be as successful as you want to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wwwjoellejoyner-wongcom.godaddysites.com/
- Instagram: joellevictoriaaa
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelle-joyner-wong-7b24381a5/
Image Credits
Image 1: “Post Grad Life” Table Read. Books on B Street, Hayward, CA. June 2023
Image 2: Cast and crew of “Origin Story” by Nathan Alan Davis. Sonoma State University. October 2019.
Image 3: “The Strand That Beads You”. Directed by Joelle Joyner-Wong. New Works Festival. Conundrum Theatre Company. September 2025. Pictured: Melissa Meliha, Braven Everrett, Jasmine Brimsmayd.
Image 4: Fresh Baked Pears New Works Festival. Pear Theatre. Mountain View, CA. November 2023.
Image 5: “Love No Evil” written by Braven Everett. Directed by Joelle Joyner-Wong. Think and Imagine Play Festival hosted by playwriting group Fierce Backbone. February 2025. Pictured: Roslyn Mizgorski and Duncan Emmons.
Image 6: “Post Grad Life”. Rogue Theater Festival. August 2025.
Image 7: “Post Grad Life”. Free-Play Festival. SF-PlayGround. August 2024.
Image 8: BAYCAT Studio interns tour Pixar! June 2023. Pictured: BAYCAT Studios Spring 2023 interns!
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