Meet Joni Elaine

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Joni Elaine. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Joni below.

Joni, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

I look at the people from the past who are known now for what they brought into the world. History is a huge reason as to why I am devoted to the arts. I think about how life on earth is temporary and it is what we leave behind that matters. For many artists, having a role model or some type of representation matters. It’s a form of motivation for those who need someone to feel inspired by. To me, representation goes deeper than what meets the surface like skin color, familiar faces, etc. Representation to me is how my role model thinks, what their views are, someone I can relate to- someone who makes me feel less alone in a room of people who do not think like me. I’ve learned how to be successful by staying true to what truly interests me. As an artist, many of our projects are the voices from our souls. These voices reach those who are meant to hear them.

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 am a visual storyteller and dancer who combines my love for retro-cinema with modern dance. I own a faith-based video production company called No Popular Fruit Productions that primarily focuses on storytelling through humility and love. My films carefully capture the emotional depth of the past through a semi-modern lens. I made my first film as a pre-teen after I watched Lana Del Rey’s music video for “Video Games” on YouTube. I was deeply inspired by the vintage look and feel of it as well as her haunting vocals which led me to create my own brand as an artist.

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?

Looking back, I believe that having a good sense of self was the most important quality to have in my journey. It’s important to know who you are in a world where so many people don’t. It’s easy to be influenced by the wrong crowds- especially in the arts. But knowing who I am has definitely helped me move forward through those common challenges that arise at times. The other two qualities I believe positively impacted me throughout my journey were humility and love- the same qualities that are apart of No Popular Fruit’s mission. It’s important to stay humble and love those around you. It’s how we make the world a better place!

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

The creator of the universe. God. Jesus Christ. I go to Him first before I make any decision for my projects. I want my work to serve for the greater good. I ask for guidance when I feel lost and also for the right people to be placed into my life to help push me forward. It’s all about asking and receiving. After all, closed mouths don’t get fed.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nopopularfruit/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nopopularfruitproductions/videos
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/jonielaine_/