I first saw Joy Brunson on stage at Spelman College in a production of The Colored Museum by George C. Wolfe. We became friends shortly there after and even got to share the stage under the direction of Jasmine Guy in the stage adaptation of The Bluest Eye.
Fast Facts about Joy Brunson
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Schoolin' Life: Spelman College
Crayon Box Color: Sunset Yellow
Website: www.joybrunson.com
Twitter: @JoyBrunson
Instagram: Jojomcnair
Joy resides in Los Angeles, CA living, creating and dreaming. Since our time in college, Joy's grown into a powerful actor, activist and already phenomenal woman. Always churning out new ideas and platforms, I was excited to catch up with my friend and sister in the arts.
Pat: Who is Joy B?
Joy: Um…[it depends] on the day…
but today I would say that I am Joy Brunson. I am an “Actor-prenuer”, I’m an
artist and I create platforms, specifically for women— specifically for woman
of the African diaspora to grow and live and learn more about themselves in
every way.
Pat: What’s an Actor-preneur?
Joy: I think it’s all
encompassing because acting is my main priority and my main passion but I really
really do love creating platforms, like I said. So when people ask me, instead
of saying well, “oh I run a non profit and oh I write on the side and oh I also
have a vegan web show…when people ask me what do you do? I can just say I’m an Actor-preneur.
Someone told me that one day, “Oh you’re an Actor-preneur” and I liked that!
So, it’s a conversation starter and it’s also all encompassing
Pat: You should put that at the bottom of your resume! So
as far as acting is concerned, what coming up?
Joy: Coming up? Goodness…I
honestly will know something within in the week. Since moving to LA, it’s been
more about getting settled into the city and meeting casting directors and
that’s been great. This last pilot season I went out for a lot of things. I
have not booked yet, but to be in that
caliber, to be I that room to be, you know, going up against working actors—because
there are so few of us, black women working actors—I know that I am just
inching closer. But I am working on my one-woman show, so personally that’s my next biggest goal.
Pat: A one-woman show? Tell me More?
Joy: It’s called “Inner Joy.” Subtitle
is TBD, but it’s called “Inner Joy.” I’ve been working on a one-woman show for
years, honestly. I’ve always been hesitant because not only am I performing it,
but I’ve chosen to write it, so it’s like two ways in which I could have viewed
people judging me. But now I see it as me needing to get this work out to be
creative and to be artistic and to spread what I feel are important messages.
They [the characters] are all women. They span time and location and they are
all talking about different ways they have found peace. For some of them it’s
because they were gay and didn’t know how to come out and for some it’s because
they lost children in the earthquake in Haiti and one is because…um…Well, I
guess two are about lesbians actually when I think about it! (laughs). One is a young girl who is
kinda pan-African but I’ve put it into a voice of a nine-year-old and what we
teach our children about sexism and colorism, but in a fun, creative nine-year-old
way. It’s all women trying to figure out who they are and the process helped me
figure the woman I’m becoming.
Pat: I want to talk about Get Rooted!
Joy: I was hesitant about it,
because I’m very particular about how I come off or at least I try to be. Umm
as someone who’s like, “Oh I’m vegan and therefore I am here and you are there”—and
I think that sometimes veganism comes off like that—people kinda condemn people
for their choices. I personally don’t care what you do with your body, but I
find that especially in our community a lot of people are interested more and
more in weight and health and what goes into their body. And I feel that
veganism is a perfect way to find that. Also, being from the south, I’m not a
life-long vegan. I was raised on meat and I understand how it tastes, but for
me I like to know very specifically where my food comes from and then I’m able
to make that choice. If I know it comes a factory and I still want to eat it,
then cool. A lot of times in the African-American community we sit down at the table,
cover our food in hot sauce, and we don’t question how far back it went before
the grocery store, we don’t care as long as it’s on discount. I think for any
community, especially for the black community in order to repair this tear in
our cultural fabric, we have to start from the inside out.
I didn’t want to make
another vegan cooking show. I wanted to know that it happens, and everyone has
a different definition of it. Our last episode, we had young people who are
artists [and vegan]. One eats fish, but she considers herself vegan. Another is
dietary vegan, but he has no problem wearing leather. It’s what you make it,
you know, but the point for me is to be in control over your food.
Pat: Now, you also have non-profit organization under your
“Actor-preneurial” umbrella, Tee2Tea?
Joy: Well, Tee2Tea is a golf
mentorship organization where we use the game of golf to teach principles of
life. So…commitment, dedication, accountability for young minority girls 8-18.
First off, we do not discriminate [against] any sweet little Caucasian babies.
It’s so interesting that when an organization [is] for a specific group, people
are focusing on what it’s not. This
is not anti-white org, this is not a anti-male org, it just happens to be an
org for minority, mostly Black mostly Hispanic young girls.
We make the game of golf
affordable and accessible. In the inner city, there are no golf courses. Not
only is the game of golf, different and unique but it can open doors…it opened
doors for me. When people find out that you can play golf, they look at you
differently. Men, especially white men, people in power places look at you
differently to be able to step outside of what is considered “normal” for a
young black girl and say, “No, I know how to do this” is really beneficial.
We have summer camps and are
working on having another golf tournament. We also have what is called “High
Tee,” which is just mentorship. The girls go through etiquette class and
self-empowerment class, because I didn’t want just another organization that
taught a sport. Those organizations are great, but for me, I wanted to make
well-rounded individuals and young women that will contribute to society. It’s
still very new, but I have lots of dreams for Tee2Tea. I hope it can be a full-fledged
program that lives on it’s own, where girls can come and grow after school and
during the summer.
Pat: I’m a web series fanatic, so I was so exited when on
saw you on YELLOW.
Joy: (laughs)
It is so crazy to me because I feel like I’ve done other stuff but it seems
like yellow has been the thing that my friends like the most. Honestly, that’s
why I did it. They [BLACKandSEXYTV] have a following and they do good work and
I had so much fun.
Pat: Speaking of film and TV, what’s your stance on black
women in the media. How do you feel about “Lupita” fever?
Joy: I don’t know what it is, but
where there’s this hit black person, you
become that. As soon as she started
becoming popular, I had quite a few people saying that I remind them of her and
I’m like NOOOOO. We’re just similar colors, but we are very different. It’s
like “oh, there’s a black dark skin girl…” But in the same vein I’m like,
“There’s a black dark skin girl and I get to be like her!” That is a very beautiful thing. As far as black women in
the media, I think things are beginning to change and I’m very excited about
it. There’s still healthy competition and there still are inner circles, but I
think that’s just more human nature than anything else. Overall, I’ve seen
black women act very professional toward each other. They may not be friends or
acting chummy, but I’ve never seen them mean or try to cut them down, which is
great. There is sisterhood and I’m still finding that and not necessarily in
the black community, which has surprised me. Some of my closest friends in
California aren’t black, but they have been incredibly supportive. I had to
kinda take a step back because I’m used to Atlanta and being around beautiful
strong black women. This person isn’t black but they believe and support me and
have my best interest at heart. The women, the female community has been good
to me, right now. Did I answer you question?
Pat: Finally…what’s your vision down the line?
Joy: Well, like I said my biggest
thing is my one-woman show. I want to continue theatre out here and continue to
build my brand. If I say I’m going to be here and work here, I need to start
planting seeds here. I think God gives us gifts and if you don’t nurture them, they will go away. So I’m working on growth as an actor right now. But hey talk to
me in a few months and I may be on a project!
#artsupportsart
Keep up with Joy and all of
her “Actor-preneurial” adventures at www.joybrunson.com
and check out Get Rooted on Youtube!
There's always enough black to go around,
Pat
