Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Kanell.
Jenna, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
When asked about “my story,” I’m unsure of its beginning. Entering the workforce? Birth? Ancestors fleeing Nazi Germany? Pangea?
I imagine I’m overthinking this. I usually do.
It’s important to me that my story remains under constant revision and in perpetual growth. But in very broad strokes, here are a couple of beats of my waking up here:
My mom Gillian Gansler is the vice president of a woman-run educational consulting firm, and my dad Michael Kanell is an economics reporter and journalist. You can learn more about my little brother Vance in the TEDx Talk I delivered. I’ve also semi-adopted one Greg Levitt as a big brother.
“My story” in many ways surrounds my telling of stories. It’s all a bit meta. This evolved from oral storytelling by myself behind furniture, to reading, to writing, to acting and stunts as a union member, and to directing films via my production company Laser Pigeon Pictures.
I’m excited to talk with you and honored to be a part of this Voyage in more ways than one.
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?
Rumination on the path behind me reveals a number of both peaks and valleys. I am sure that the road ahead will prove similarly, though I’m hoping more prepared for each.
There are the obvious hurdles, of course: the financial circumstances of class, the systemic plagues of misogyny and queerphobia, the looming presence and consequences of rape culture.
Some of the advice I’d give is that which I’m still learning to take: normalize talk therapy, and learn healthy coping mechanisms. Find allies. Be one.
Depression is a monster I’ve only recently come to name. One piece of advice I’d impart is to familiarize yourself with your beasts. They may never go away, but they can exist on your terms.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
As a filmmaker, tackling a challenging piece of subject matter and rendering it digestible remains one of my favorite tasks. I’ve had the pleasure of attempting this with topics such as autism and post-traumatic stress disorder and always fight for intersectional diversity both in front of and behind the camera.
As an actor, I’m fortunately often plucked up for intelligent characters (including Ginny Terzano in “The Front Runner”), or the ones who aren’t afraid to fight (including “Terrifier” and “The Bye Bye Man”). My dry humor and Krav Maga self-defense training help me stand out, as does having the vocal cords of, as my friend puts it, “the lovechild of Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits.”
Representation is vital to me; I want to be a part of the next “CSI Effect.” I’m proud to have embodied a number of badass chicks of one kind or another, and grateful to be alive at a time when there are more such roles than ever.
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
In addendum to the points touched upon earlier: approach the field you’re drawn to, and attack it from every angle.
The more knowledge you absorb about the big picture, the more that comes across when you focus on any one aspect of it.
To quote Oscar Wilde, “experience is the name we give our mistakes.”
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.imdb.me/jennakanell
- Email: www.LaserPigeonPictures.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squidthusiast/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/squidthusiast
Image Credit:
TEDx Tryon, The Content Creators of Atlanta Awards, Tash Ann Photography on the set of “Bliss Is Orange,” Austin Film Festival
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