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

Hi Justin, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
Knowing when to move has been the cornerstone of my personal and professional success. Originally from a small town in rural South Carolina, I knew from an early age that I wanted to pursue a career in entertainment and media. To do so, I had to relocate to where the industry was. My first significant move as a young adult was in 2000, when I relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, which was known for its bustling music industry. Artists like TLC, Usher, Outkast, Toni Braxton, and others got their start there. I felt at the time that Atlanta was where I needed to be. Then in 2014, I relocated again to Los Angeles as I transitioned from music and publicity into TV and film. The last move ushered me onto the international stage.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am the CEO and founder of JOC Media & Entertainment, an international creative consulting agency providing Film, MarCom & Music Entertainment solutions. What sets our agency apart from others is our global reach and the results we’ve delivered for 20 years through our innovative and resourceful business approach. Our efforts have promoted and increased our client’s brand awareness, economic growth & development, and garnered hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue. It has not been easy! We have weathered the economic downturn of 2008, relocated from the east to the west coast, where we had to rebuild our network and re-establish our brand. We’ve learned that to bet on yourself is the best choice you can make. As a result, we are still here and going strong amidst a global pandemic. Tenacity and resilience are essential to success.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
When friends come to visit me in LA, I like to introduce them to our beach culture with a trip to Santa Monica and Venice Beach if they want to experience the hustle and bustle. If they prefer something more serene, then it’s Manhattan Beach. Usually, I trip to Hollywood to see the Walk of Fame is in order, and I book tickets for them to experience a TV taping at one of the studio lots, which is always a treat. When it comes to dining out usually, it’s a trip down to Little Arabia in Orange County for Middle Eastern fare, or a stop through Koreatown, Chinatown, or the Japanese Village for Far East cuisine, and there’s always time for authentic Mexican food.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be where I am today if it had not been for the guidance and assistance of the following key people I’ve met throughout my 20-year career. Shoutout to GRAMMY-winning singer and actress Ann Nesby, journalist and member of the hip-hop trio, JVC Force, AJ “AJ Rok” Woodson, Desmick Perkins former magazine publisher of CRUNK Magazine, David Mitchell, publisher of Music Industry Quarterly Magazine, Claudia Hall former Marketing Executive at Southern Regional Medical Center (Metro Atlanta), TV & film location managers – Mac Gordon, Wes Hagan, Ryan Schetzle, Armando Boquirin, Sharif Al Majali of Desert Motion Pictures – Jordan, George David, former Managing Director of The Royal Film Commission – Jordan, and Dondra Tolerson, Chief Executive Officer, Teggun LLC

Website: https://www.jocmedia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocmedia_entertainment/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinocooper/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JOCMedia_Ent
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JOCMedia/
Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6347246/

Image Credits
All photos provided by courtesy of JOC Media & Entertainment

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