Meet Taajera Jones

 

We were lucky to catch up with Taajera Jones recently and have shared our conversation below.

Taajera, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Overcoming imposter syndrome can be challenging, especially in creative fields where there’s constant pressure to produce innovative work.

I can’t say I have fully escaped this mindset , but I have been able to at least recognize it- which is a great first step. Being aware of my mental space is directly connected to my dreams and creativity because I am my biggest critic. Take any creative job and compare it to a 9-5- you can master being a nurse or chef, but creators are forever evolving and you can truly never master creativity, so the pressure to stand out and be great is compared to those who have already overcame imposter syndrome or was born with the ideal self- confidence.

In my current steps to better self- compassion, I focus on my accomplishments and how far I’ve came- I tend to forget where I started, so I remind myself of goals I’ve set for myself and have met. Setting more realistic goals are also helpful because yes! I want to be successful, but realistically what small goals can I make bigger goals? Thinking of bigger goals are great for vision boards, but what’s the plan to get there? Month by Month I have goals. I am a creator my schedule is all over the place and non- linear, so planning has been a “by the flow” whim I am still grasping, but it makes goals more easily accomplishable when you take it in smaller time measurements.

My biggest struggles with imposter syndrome is embracing vulnerability in my art; I think that’s one of the main things a true Artist should captivate because it’s the most genuine, however it has been a journey overcoming past traumas and understanding them. I also struggle with comparison- which I recognize as very common in today’s word especially with social media. You have that push sometimes to do more when you see other peers at where you want to be, but I also am guilty of beating myself up for it. Comparing, art, age, bodies, and life. I try to take social media breaks which helps fuel creativity and brain peace.

This year alone, I have went against imposter syndrome utilizing content to work and promote myself. Putting myself out there has been scary, yes, but I have gained the most growth in uncomfortable situations. I remember reading this quote: ” You can’t grow in comfort” , and I never saw it like that, so taking risks is now apart of my goals.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Who is Taajera “TJ” Jones? A filmmaker. A creator. A Creative.

Roll Play Productions is a business I started last year, catering to those in need of videography services. I shoot creative content, films, weddings, events, BTS, etc. Being the CEO and only employee, I plan, shoot, & edit all my projects- which can sometimes be overwhelming, but it’s the life of a creative entrepreneur.

Currently, I work on film sets as an Assistant Prop Master, curating props. This year I worked on a Blumhouse feature called The Woman In The Yard starring Danielle Deadwyler. It was fun- we filmed in Athens, GA, so I had a little vacation from Atlanta for a few months. I also just got off a indie- union project shooting in Atlanta starring Kountry Wayne & Coco Jones- who I have been the biggest fan of. The most exciting part has got to be keeping your cool around famous celebrities while putting a watch on them or introducing yourself as the key for the props department. It’s also a cool flex to always be the youngest key on set- feels like I am off to a good start in my filmmaking career.

Props is such a creative avenue – I use it to focus on attention to detail- which this department teaches you a lot of- especially working under pressure when Directors ask for a new prop that was never discussed and you have 20 minutes to come up with something before the cameras start rolling. Quick, think on your feet.

Truth be told , my main focus is actually Directing. So you may be asking why are you working in Props? Overall, I dibble and dabble in a lot of creative endeavors such as creative direction, cinematography , costumes, etc. I like to think learning different departments in film will help me be the type of director that understands what it takes for things to get done and also I am young and I will not turn down a film opportunity because I want to direct; I want to learn and be more efficient. I work on sets where “Above the Line” crew have no idea how departments work; my future self would rather know what I am talking about when I ask the Prop Master to have something curated in a short period of time . When I am not working on set, I like to tend to my personal projects as a director though. Speaking of imposter syndrome, this is actually where it plays the most. I second guess my work and have yet to put out passion projects due to that fact.

My current goal: do what I say I want to do which is direct.

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?

My 3 best qualities are my teamwork skills, hardworking mindset, & creativity; they have got me so far. I believe that the power of these 3 qualities put together has taught me that if you keep going you cannot fail. You only fail when you give up, so my advice will be this question: Have you ever seen a person who kept going fail?

Creativity does not equate perfection, although most creatives are natural perfectionist, but with Art you allow flaws and uniqueness to be the beacon of your work. It’s okay to mess up, just try again because you can only get better. Except criticism in this time- it will make you stronger.

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

As a filmmaker, connecting and networking is huge and an underlying must. Without this, you will struggle to do projects by yourself and your quality will never be where it should.

As an inspiring Director, I obsess over the genre of Psychological thrillers- I like guessing and having my mind think; I am a natural deep thinker. Directors like Jordan Peele, David Fincher, M. Night Shyamalan have really paved the way for my mind to dive deep intro stories that captivate you.

If I could Partner up and collaborate with Jordan Peele, it would be a dream. I remember seeing “Get Out” and thinking to myself- I want to create films like this, especially black horror on a psychology level.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

for the professional photos, OneShotJohn Photography

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?

We asked folks a question that led to many surprising answers – some sad, some

Highlighter Series
Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

Culture, economic circumstances, family traditions, local customs and more can often influence us more than

Highlighter Series
What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?

We think this is an essential question because so often there is a disconnect between