Meet Janell Grace | Writer & Film Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Janell Grace and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Janell, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Consistency is the most important factor behind our success. Being able to stay motivated and continuing working on your craft is necessary in order to achieve success, so you have to stay consistent. Thats why it’s also important that we believe in ourselves and our abilities. The messages behind our projects also fuel our desire to succeed, because we take the subject matter seriously, especially the topic of mental health addressed in Love Conquers All.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I feel that my art is unique because I aim for a wide audience, and I enjoy connecting to others through storytelling and education. What sets me apart is that I like to talk about the unknown, and things that society doesn’t usually like to address, or may not be ready to discuss. Art is supposed to be a depiction of the times, and I feel that we are in an extraordinary time when it comes to truth telling, to where people want to be more honest about things that are going on in the world. I am most proud of the response I get about Love Conquers All, and that reading the story has allowed others to examine their own mental health.

Professionally, I am where I am today because of hard work, integrity, consistency, and my faith in God. I never stopped believing in myself and what I am capable of accomplishing. Working with young people from all walks of life has elevated my art and creativity, helping me tell stories that are engaging and relatable. Outside of my career, my own life experiences has given me perspectives that contribute to my art’s ability to connect. There has been many challenges for me, just like the characters I write about. Overcoming these is a marathon, not a sprint. I take things day by day, lesson by lesson. I want my art and brand to make people better – by making them think and helping them see themselves. I want my art to live forever, so that generations to come are impacted by the creativity and the messages.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If we’re in the LA area, I would first take them to where I’m from, Carson, CA, the south bay of LA. We would go to Ted’s Burgers because it’s a legendary burger spot in my city, or Yellow Basket instead. Then we would go to Hermosa Beach and walk the pier. After that I would show them more of LA, from Inglewood to Culver City where we could go to the mall or Louisiana Fried Chicken on Manchester. Later in the night we could go to Ace’s hotel for a drink.

If we’re in the Bay we would have to go to Lake Merritt in Oakland. We could also go to Dolores Park in San Francisco.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to thank my friend and Love Conquers All co-creator, Malik Glass. Malik, like myself, played multiple roles in the making of the film and the comic book, including writing, directing, and producing. Shoutout to Eli Beaird, the illustrator of the Love Conquers All comic book, and the artist behind the film’s screenplay. I would like to thank all of the actors who were casted in the film, especially our lead actors, Kris Sutton and Jyoti Swamy for learning the script so quickly and executing while on set. Special thanks to the production crew, Hidden Temple Media out of Sacramento, CA. They are responsible for both filming and editing the movie and are great people to work with.

I would like to thank Al Rowlett, CEO of Turning Point Community Programs, for connecting us to the broader health professional community throughout northern California. This has allowed us to network with multiple organizations and professionals who have strong passions towards having conversations about mental health, particularly in communities of color.

Shoutout to the cities of Oakland and Sacramento for allowing us to capture this beautiful story in their beautiful cities. Also to the numerous people who have shown love, interest, and support in Love Conquers All other projects from Nelly Nell Productions.

Website: nellynellproductions.com

Instagram: @nellynell1027