Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Farris.
Jen, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a film and television locations professional. Sometimes I act as a location scout during pre-production while other times I hold a locations management position on set during production.
My background hails from a phenomenal Historically Black College or University (HBCU), Bennett College, in Greensboro, NC where I studied Mass Communications and landed jobs in television, radio, the music recording industry and the public relations industry.
My career experience ranged from doing voice-overs on popular drive-time commercial radio stations to executing southeast regional radio promotions for record labels; managing southeast regional performance rights for songwriters, and later creating public relations campaigns and press tours.
All of those experiences gave me a wonderful skill-set to be able to analyze and process large quantities of information, plan large-scale events and tours, pitch creative ideas, hone-in on my writing skills, and develop a hard-core “go-getter” execution style.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
This process has been quite smooth for me. One thing led to the next thing. I follow my faith in everything that I do and I have only felt bouts of frustration along the way. There has never been anything that really was unshakable. I just brushed my shoulders off and kept it moving.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Jen-Farris.com – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
As a location scout for episodic television or feature films, my job is to match the visual story with the scripted story. I find the places that tell the story. I find the actual places that you see on storyboards. Real and true spaces that exist inside of our communities in Georgia. I have been known as a ‘research renegade’ because I find stuff fast and I scout hard. I push to always make the production designer, location manager and art director content on my physical findings and make the producer content on the cost to use it.
I am proud that I am able to shape stories visually. It is very pleasing to know that locations that I have found helped tell the story and that my efforts helped make the production visually appealing to audiences that watched it on screen.
I honestly believe that beginning my career in the entertainment industry foundation as a college student was a major elevation in the thickening of my skin, the toughening of my bootstraps and the agility of my hustle. It takes a lot to frustrate me and a lot to make me give up.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I want to travel the world and I want to find ways to travel domestically and internationally in film and television locations. I am a member of the Location Managers Guild International and want to expand my network and grow with colleagues all over the world who also do what I love to do.
Social change is a big component in my vision and finding ways to create change, creatively, has always been a goal. Currently, I want to focus on finding a way to streamline those goals info my daily activities so that I am not looking or reaching for it. Instead, my global creative workspace and social change will merge into one space.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jen-farris.com
Image Credit:
Crew Nation
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