Ever feel like the odd one out in a family of tradition and expectation?
A'Noelle Jackson, the award-winning filmmaker, actress, and entrepreneur, recently shared her remarkable tale of growing from the artistic "black sheep" in a military family to a beacon of creativity in Hollywood.
Her infectious humor and heartwarming stories about her father's bewilderment over her career choice bring laughter and encouragement to anyone wrestling with the pressure of family legacies.
A'Noelle's journey is a testament to the power of following your heart and breaking the mold, making this episode an inspiration for all seeking to claim their individuality.
Ever feel like the odd one out in a family of tradition and expectation?
A'Noelle Jackson, the award-winning filmmaker, actress, and entrepreneur, recently shared her remarkable tale of growing from the artistic "black sheep" in a military family to a beacon of creativity in Hollywood.
Her infectious humor and heartwarming stories about her father's bewilderment over her career choice bring laughter and encouragement to anyone wrestling with the pressure of family legacies.
A'Noelle's journey is a testament to the power of following your heart and breaking the mold, making this episode an inspiration for all seeking to claim their individuality.
Welcome back to unarmor talk podcast. Thank you so much for listening and watching each episode and continue pleased to share with your friends and family members and colleagues, and don't forget to leave a rating or review if you feel this is a awesome show. And you can connect to all of my social media on the parade deck Just look in a show notes or you can put in the search engine Mario P Fields parade deck and get all access To my social media. Well, let's get ready to interview another guest who is willing to remove their armor to help other people? Yeah, we're already having fun everybody. So you know what. Welcome back to unarmor talk podcast. You know, before we even started the show, we already have fun and it's unarmor talk.
Mario P. Fields:So today we have an amazing guest on the show. Her name is a no well, right, ain't? No, I love that, by the way, thank you. Build a business around, buy some a no well drinks, get your Faster to the metal box. So we In everyone, before we get to our amazing guest today. I mean, she is an award-winning producer. She is in the, the entertainment industry in that Beverly Hills, la and around the world area you got area you, the guys know the deal. She is also an actress, actor, act, whatever you want to put on a prefix and suffix, she does it all. But here's the beauty about a noelle she has a passion for helping young people gain a better understanding of Hollywood, the entertainment industry, and Learning those red flags, those pitfalls, so they have a better Understanding of what to look out for if they want to pursue that pathway in the future. Give it up. If you're listening, if you're driving, stop driving. How are you today?
A'Noelle Jackson:Oh my gosh, I am just so filled with joy. I'm so happy to be talking with you and talking to your unarmored fans, so grateful to be here.
Mario P. Fields:Well, before we jump into the topic for today, everyone, thank you guys. Thank you so much for supporting the show again, every single episode. I'm gonna thank you from the bottom of my heart. God bless you all because we continue to generate amazing, amazing transfer charity. And again, if you want to learn more about my nonprofit, go to wwwsteelservinginccom and you can learn all of the information about what we're doing here in Pitt County, north Ka-ka-la-ki. So here, we go.
Mario P. Fields:The admin is done. The admin is done. Aynol, can you please tell the listeners and viewers a little bit about you?
A'Noelle Jackson:Oh, I would love to. So I'm originally from Tacoma, washington. I am a daughter of an amazing veteran. That's my daddy. My mother worked for the Army helping people being able to transport their household goods from one state or country to the next. That job was incredibly tough for her, but she it was amazing as well. My two oldest sisters yes, I am the baby, my two oldest sisters also were in the military. They were both master sergeants in the Army, and so were their husbands too, and so they all retired. And then there's me, the artist, the actor, the painter and all good things relating to art.
Mario P. Fields:That is interesting. So here you are, surrounded by the way, tell your dad I said thank you for his service. You know in your family your sisters and your. You know your brother-in-laws and everyone that's been serving, and then your mom. I mean you know my wife and I moved, I think 20 something times in the 3,000 years I served in the military. That was critical to morale, man. Yes, those household goods, those shipments, oh my goodness, oh my. I salute your mom for that.
A'Noelle Jackson:Oh my gosh, when I tell you she would appreciate that so much. I'm definitely going to let her know. She would come home just tired. She would work from 4.30 in the morning to 6 o'clock at night, making sure y'all had y'all goods.
Mario P. Fields:Tell her she's my new hero and you can tell her to watch the show so we can generate money. I'm just joking, but tell her. No, seriously. Tell her, did that made a world of difference? But let's jump right into the topic. Let's get it. Everyone was serving either in the military or working for the Department of Defense.
A'Noelle Jackson:Yes, yes, they did.
Mario P. Fields:Here you are. Let's talk about that journey. How was that?
A'Noelle Jackson:Gosh, let's talk about it, because when you have everyone in your family having one specific mindset and not to say it was bad or good, I think that they did what they needed to do to have a better life and I am so grateful for it. And I learned. But when I was a kid, I felt like a fish out of water, especially with my dad, because he just didn't understand. He's coming and shining his boots, creasing his pants, getting ready to go into PT, what have you? And he sees me. I'm reading plays, I'm talking about Chakowsky, I'm talking about all of these classic plays and what have you? He was like who is this kid?
Mario P. Fields:Ain't? No, I have to do it. And if you're listening to this, I got to do this because this is hilarious. If you are listening to this, you got to give them a YouTube channel and watch this. Your dad was probably like this. What in the heck are you reading? Are you reading defense strategies, exactly.
A'Noelle Jackson:When I say you look just like my daddy, he just had a little bit of a fade and he would just look like who are you like? I don't understand this. He never, and he did not understand my world at all. And it's interesting because when you were that young you're like you want to be accepted. You would have accepted for who you are, but when you, when you are a black sheep, it's not always comfortable.
Mario P. Fields:I can only imagine the discussions with your father and your mother. Babe, I think we went wrong right right, which child babe you know, the one is reading these.
A'Noelle Jackson:Why she reading the scripts. I don't understand. What is this? I remember distinctively my dad having a conversation with me Over the phone and he was like you know, I Just don't understand it. I don't know how you gonna pay your rent, how you gonna pay your bills. I don't get it. You could have just joined the army, made it up to at least a e5.
Mario P. Fields:Baby girl. What is your plan, dad? I want to go into the entertainment industry and be a producer. You know I'm out of here? No, I would. I heard of production and boot camp. That's what I heard.
A'Noelle Jackson:I.
Mario P. Fields:Hear what you're saying. You're saying for Jackson. Is that what you're saying for Brad? I'm hearing that.
A'Noelle Jackson:No, I'm gonna. I'm gonna make it in Hollywood. He said, holly, what?
Mario P. Fields:What? How about Holly yourself outside and think through this? So if anybody you know as you're in your passion, now we know you're in your town. Was there anyone in her family? It was like I think you're on something, oh my gosh, I got you my oldest sister, leslie.
A'Noelle Jackson:She's the one that she's the one that understood me the most because when she was Growing up, when she was a teenager, she was interested in modeling and all that in that aspect, and she and she did well in Detroit.
A'Noelle Jackson:Uh, for a few, for just a couple years, and then she realized no, this isn't the performances for me, and then she decided to join the military. But then, when I started coming into my own, when I started going from like being a kid into my Tween them, my teenage hood, and I expressed to her you know, I really do believe this is my calling, this one supposed to be doing she was the only one that has consistently supported me and she said that If you're going to do this, you need to have the discipline. It doesn't matter that I'm in the Army, you have to have discipline and consistency. And that is those intangibles that she taught me, even though she has that military experience. That was a seed that was planted in me. And so with that, although I may not be in my BDUs, in my BDUs and suited up, booted up, my mindset is that of someone that served.
Mario P. Fields:And I'm glad you brought that up. We call that transferable skills for everybody who's serving in the military. You're a veteran. You have some invaluable human skills that you just guys just heard it from our guests those were transferred.
A'Noelle Jackson:Transferable skills baby baby.
Mario P. Fields:You know so now. So, of course. So when you were in high school, were you in any groups or were you in any plays?
A'Noelle Jackson:I got. Yes, I was, and this is how, actually how my whole journey started. So I initially got into acting to get over stage fright. I was about 11 years old, right, and I was casting this play for school and I just knew I was going to be the best. I was going to kill it. I was like I'm prepared, I get on stage and I forget every single line, every single line, and I run off the stage. I'm crying, I'm like I can never do this again. Da, da, da. And it wasn't until I got to high school where I had an amazing professor may she rest in peace and she saw that I was like trying to look for electives and she suggested that I sign up for her theater class and I said, girl, not me. No, when I was 11, I had to destroy the play. I ain't doing that, it's.
Mario P. Fields:They never. They stopped doing the play period, like when I ran off the stage. They got rid of it.
A'Noelle Jackson:No, it was all right, but she her name is Mrs Halpern and she encouraged me to sign up, so I do, and that opened my entire world. I ended up doing musical theater Actually, I did guys and dolls once on this island All of these big productions that have required just moving your body, singing, making sure you hit in the right notes and acting. And from there I saw that I felt myself transform Like before then. I wasn't really sure, certainly, where I put into the world, especially because, as you know, my whole family is in the army and I'm like that doesn't speak to me. I support my family, what they do, but for me I'm like that ain't it. And then I got on stage and I was like, oh, hey, listen to what they're going.
Mario P. Fields:Yeah, I told you you need some discipline, so let's go to boot camp.
A'Noelle Jackson:This is right and I might not let me put on these tap shoes and these ballet shoes real quick.
Mario P. Fields:Hey, they're going. Oh, you see you got on stage. You got to write a little shred. Ran. Boot camp affects all that army E5. Some people get on stage, ain't no L? You will own the stage after you do some time in the army.
A'Noelle Jackson:Oh, when I say that was my daddy the whole way, and I was like I don't think that's for me, I don't think it's for me, and he just could not wrap his head around it. He was just like he's into this day, like I had talked to him about two weeks ago and he just said, baby girl, you know, I don't know what you're doing, I don't know what you're doing, but you know what I'm proud of you. I'm proud of you.
Mario P. Fields:I just keep doing what you do Amen and look at you now award winning producer, and that's pretty cool. How that's going. I really don't understand what you're doing. I know you're doing good. And so I love you, and I still have a pair of BTUs just in case.
A'Noelle Jackson:Just in case.
Mario P. Fields:Just in case we can expedite your training Right.
A'Noelle Jackson:And I promise you when the growing up that everybody thought it was just I was going through a phase. I'm going to grow out of it, I'm going to snap out of it and I'm pretty sure, like in my now 30s, that my dad still thinks it's a phase, but I'm so glad that he's so much more supportive.
Mario P. Fields:That is cool. You're the first guest that I've ever had that not only was the parent in the military to a veteran, but pretty much a whole family structure.
A'Noelle Jackson:Yeah.
Mario P. Fields:So, and I love how you didn't give up your passion, even after running off the stage. Anyone right now that's in a family not just military family, but a family where everyone's in the doctors or everyone's a nurse, or everyone is this and you're that person doing something different what advice right now would you give that person?
A'Noelle Jackson:Yo, ok, I'm going to say two things. Number one remain committed to the vision that you have and you cannot be upset that people, even in your family, may not understand your vision, because God gave you the vision period. So just because no one else sees your vision, that it's not for them to see, because if it were, then God would have gave it to them. But he gave you that assignment. So remain committed. And number two once they see the fruit, they'll come along anyway. Trust, they will come right along. But you just have to remain committed to your vision and even if you just commit to getting up earlier and maybe reading up on something that is your passion, being so immersed in what you love is going to bear fruit. That is my belief, so yeah, remain committed.
Mario P. Fields:That is beautiful, Because I enjoy interviewing you and every single guest I really do. But before we get to the point where I want to say I'll let you go and have fun, I will keep you out of your way. You have a passion for educating future professionals in the industry. Can you talk a little bit about that?
A'Noelle Jackson:Oh my gosh. Yes, and so I'm originally from Tacoma, as I said, and yes, it rains all the time, y'all. But with that said, I found myself on many sets working behind the scenes and in front of the camera. So there is a position called production assisting and you're literally a gopher running around grabbing coffees, making sure people have their lunch in their snacks and making sure that the production does have everything that they need. That's a really powerful position to be in, even though it is an entry level position. Where am I going with this?
A'Noelle Jackson:When I went on set, there were several times that I was the only African American female on set and everyone else was not African American, they were Caucasian and I maybe would see one or two Asians, and then there was me, and so I remember I had got like I'm happy that I was getting the work, but then I was sad because that means that there was a disconnect within the African American community and getting into working on set, whether it be commercial, film or TV. So I started calling different assistant directors, supervisors that were hiring me, and I said, hey look, I'm glad you're hiring me, but you don't know any other black people.
Mario P. Fields:You got more talent out there. There's more talent of humans that are black.
A'Noelle Jackson:Yeah, and they're like no, you're only one. And I said, oh no, we're going to fix that. So what I did is I started calling my alma mater. I called my high school, the high school I used to go to. I called every school district and I said, hey, do you have a theater department or do you have a film department? Let me speak in your school. And I started just speaking to young kids and young aspiring filmmakers and saying, like, this is the way to go. Becoming a production assistant is the way to get in. And then, as my career had developed from production assisting, then being on camera as an actor, to now producing, I talk about the whole gamut of navigating Hollywood safely, because Hollywood can be this open secret, so to speak. We watch TV all the time, we consume media all the time. We're always on TikTok and YouTube, whatever.
A'Noelle Jackson:Are you talking about me? Are you talking about me?
Mario P. Fields:I mean, I wasn't trying to change.
A'Noelle Jackson:I was trying to talk about you and nothing. But we get so inundated with media all the time that we think we know, but we really have no idea how to start. So I am extremely passionate about talking to young ones, especially young brown and black kids, young women, young fem, presenting individuals. I love talking to them about how to get started, how to navigate Hollywood safely, meaning that there is a major difference between a manager and an agent. There is a difference between being a production assistant and being a coordinator, and I break it down so simply that no one leaves confused. I talk about how to talk with your parents about your aspirations and how to help them understand that this is an industry that you can make money out of and you can actually have a sustainable career. So extremely passionate about that.
Mario P. Fields:That is, I mean from growing up in a military family to running off the stage to find someone who believes in you and giving it another shot, to helping future folks, especially the brown and black communities and young women, gain a better understanding of how to get their talent showcased in Hollywood. A Noel, what a noble effort. My friend, wow, you got me on a trial, but I think I'm 97,. You know, coming in May I'll be 97 years old. Wow, wow. So before I give my normal, see you guys later and send off looking back, if you can give yourself one piece of advice when you were in high school or even when you got out with the college, but what advice would you give yourself then? What would you give yourself?
A'Noelle Jackson:The biggest piece of advice is to relax because it all works out. It works out. It may not make sense at the moment, but it all works out. That's the biggest thing. I wouldn't change anything. I wouldn't change any decisions I made. I would tell myself to relax because it all works out.
Mario P. Fields:I love it. And how can people find you? You guys got to get on our Instagram, your mom and grandma, daddy, grandma, how can people?
A'Noelle Jackson:find you Please hit me up on Instagram at Fearless Actress. That is at Fearless Actress. If you want to check out some work that I'm currently doing, please go on my website at bethefearlessactresscom.
Mario P. Fields:Nice and I'll make sure those links are in the show notes. Aynol, it's been a pleasure. This has been fun and I'm outlining it's been a pleasure to stop this production, but everybody be like all right. Mara, you went one hour and 8,000 minutes, no.
A'Noelle Jackson:Oh no, because we can talk baby.
Mario P. Fields:We can, but thank you so much for removing your armor to really go behind the scenes. Again, thank you, Again, thank you for your family service and everyone a couple of weeks. You guys know the deal. If you'd like to listen to me, you will hear this I don't know. You tell me what type of voice it is or you can see me on a YouTube channel. But God bless you all. May God continue to bless your friends and your family members, in no particular order. See you later, Aynol.
A'Noelle Jackson:Bye. Thank you so much All right.
Mario P. Fields:Thank you for listening to this most recent episode and remember you can listen and watch all of the previous episodes on my YouTube channel. The best way to connect to me and all of my social media is follow me on the Parade Deck. That is wwwparadedeckcom, or you can click on the link in the show notes. I'll see you guys soon.