Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Camille Jay Cruz . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Camille Jay, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
There are many times I’ve been the only women in the room, the only person of color, the only Black person, the only Latina. I’ve learned not to shy away from my differences but to empower them. I had to learn to speak up and to be not be afraid if no one in the room understands what I mean. I trust my life experience and know what I feel is valid. I know that there are people in our audience, or within the audience we are trying to reach, who think like I do and want to see the same things I want to see in media.
I’ve also made it a two way street of learning and communication. I love learning about various cultures and social experiences and think it’s important to find ways these can be represented in the most authentic way.
Lastly, being the only one in the room can also mean being the only one who can do the work! I have never been afraid to do what I have to do to make sure the things I represent are presented in the proper ways. That can mean doing things outside of my job description. I’ve helped Cast with their hair because the Hair & Make Up Team was not equipped to handle various hair types. I’ve taken meetings with certain Talent in order to connect with them in ways my senior executives can’t. But the thing I take the most pride in, is making sure the under represented people around me, feel comfortable. As a producer, you often are the captain of the ship. So as captain, I make it my duty to check in, and make sure everyone feels empowered and comfortable to be in this space and work together to create magic.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’ve been working in media since my college days. I’ve produced Emmy nominated television, I’ve worked on some of the biggest festival stages, and created internationally recognized media and content.
For the next phase of my career, I’m ready to create more, on an even bigger level. I want to create the types of shows I want to see on television. There’s room for it all. So, I am currently developing a few shows that hopefully make it to your screens one day.
I have created a Producer’s Bible that will be on sale on my website. It’s a journal/check list that has all the breakdowns of a production from start to finish and will help producers sort out their ideas, develop their content, and keep track of it all in one place. You can visit CamilleJayProduces.com starting in May for that.
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?
Being nice to people has really gone a super long way. People will remember how you made them feel, and if you can make someone feel good, it can be life changing. I make sure to talk to everyone on set, no matter their position. I keep positive energy because I know energy is contagious. If the captain is unhappy, the energy will trickle down to the rest of the crew. You can’t make magic if everyone is unhappy.
Another skill I’ve learned is the power of the follow up! When you meet someone new, or complete a project with someone, it’s nice to reach out and solidify your place in that person’s world. Send them an email, a text or even a DM these days, and just let them know you had a great experience with them and are looking forward to a day you can do it again. It ties in with the feel good lesson. People will remember this and think of you when it’s time to work again. This industry is all about who you know, so make sure to keep good relationships.
The main skill people need to grasp is the most basic and that’s DO THE WORK! The people who DO things are different from those that TALK about doing things or LOOK like they are doing things. It’s very easy to talk or make it look like you are doing things. But the real ones know! It becomes evident when it’s time to get down and dirty, who actually makes things happen and who doesn’t. You can’t get out of doing the work. You have to put in effort. If you actually do the work, you don’t have to make it look like you are. Your work and effort will speak for itself. And trust me, everyone talks.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
I’ve learned to manage my time better by creating daily schedules and task lists. I’ve also learned to to break down the project into smaller achievements and milestones. Having “Create TV Show” on your to do list may seem like a huge task. But if you break it down into smaller parts, such as “”Write out Act 1” “Write out Act 2” “Edit draft 1” it can be more achievable.
I’ve learned that feeling overwhelmed sometimes is part of the journey. We have big dreams and we want to make them happen so bad, it takes over us completely. I try to channel that energy into motivation and drive to work hard on this project. But when I am feeling too overwhelmed and unhealthy, I’ve learned to take a step back and relax. The world is not ending and creating should be fun.
Most importantly, listen to yourself and do what you need to do for you. That can mean taking a day of rest, working out, going on a trip, or hanging with your friends. Give yourself grace. This life stuff ain’t easy!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://camillejayproduces.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/camillejay_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/camille.j.cruz.9
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camillejcruz/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/camillejay_
Image Credits
David S. Coy II
