Storytelling has existed since the genesis of communication. From folklore and fables of the Greek gods and goddesses to fairytales and the Bible, stories bring life to culture and communities. It’s what drives traditions.
For brands, stories create an engagement factor with consumers. For entertainers, stories create awareness, insights on different topics, and an escape to a different dimension.
“You’re never going to have enough time to capture it [the story] exactly how you want,” states Hollywood film and television producer Jordan Davis. “That’s true when the company is making $200 million movies or $3 million movies where we were making it in one day. So what you have to do is be really focused and work together with other people. And do your best to get the essence of what people are trying to communicate and what the story is trying to say; it’s never going to be perfect. But if you get part of what you’re trying to share with people, that matters most.”
Davis produces under the banner of film and television production company Davis Entertainment. The company has produced over 115 feature films and 13 television series, with various projects at networks and cable broadcasters, streaming platforms, major studios and independent distributors. She recently produced the BET television event The Wine Down with Mary J. Blige, featuring guests Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Taraji P. Henson. Her credits include Lifetime’s film Love You to Death, inspired by the story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, and Netflix’s upcoming film, The Uglies, starring Joey King and Laverne Cox.
After graduating college, Davis interned at a Boston news station. She learned the art of storytelling during her experience, prompting her to visit other news stations nationwide. It’s through storytelling that you can share the lived experience of others. She eventually moved to Los Angeles and began working as an assistant at the then-MCA Universal, now Universal Studios.
Davis immersed herself in the Hollywood culture, working and learning as much as possible. The power of the ask drove her to understand that if you ask, most of the time, others will respond and want to help.
“People would let me come in and have access to all this stuff,” she explains. “I looked at contracts. I got to figure out what happened before me and what was happening. I went to every lunch I could. I took every other assistant out for a cup of coffee so that I could learn. I felt like I was basically in an advanced degree of the business.”
As Davis pivoted from corporate Hollywood to the production side, she worked directly for the late Sidney Sheinberg, president and CEO of MCA, as a Washington liaison and director of special projects. She took the non-distributed film footage and created a concept of a show by editing the footage together. She then pitched her idea to writers and directors, which sold to HBO and became Dream On.
Davis ultimately met her husband through work and began producing under his entertainment company. Last month, Davis produced two Lifetime Original movies, Mary J. Blige’s Real Love and Mary J. Blige’s Strength of a Woman.
“Women are such an integral part of the film and television industry,” commented Ashaunna Ayars, an executive producer of The Wine Down and co-producer on Blige’s Lifetime Original movies. “Being able to work with such skilled, passionate, hard-working female creatives who strive to push the culture forward is something to which I am so blessed to contribute to. Jordan, myself, Mary, and all those involved in production forged a set that was dedicated to creating diverse stories for our audiences. We truly combined a range of creativity and talent to bring these projects to life, and I wish that we continue this trajectory and increase roles for women behind the camera.”
As Davis transitioned in career, she focused on the following essential steps:
- Strategize actionable ideas that you can accomplish. Be clear in your intentions and how you will achieve your goals.
- Don’t just meet people who are doing what you want to do. Ask them questions. Intentionally listen to their advice. Ensure you leave the conversation with two other people you can connect with—make your room bigger.
- Be brave. Don’t ever listen to no as something that matters. Your life is your journey. Make your ideas what you want them to be.
“If I believe something is valuable or worthwhile,” Davis concludes, “I don’t care how many times you get knocked to the mat, as long as you get up one more time than you were knocked down. I assume I’m going to fall. I think the world had very little expectations of me when I started out. So I didn’t think it would be perfect and magnificent and great. I felt like I was going to have to fight for everything.”
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