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

Hi Jane, what’s the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make?
Quitting my job to travel the world. Hands down. That was six years ago…and back then I thought I had it all. I had an executive level job in production and development at an LA production company with over a dozen shows on network television. I had two Emmy’s and several nominations. I had a fancy car, a cool pad, and an awesome work family. I had played a role in helping the company grow and it looked like I would continue to rise the ranks if I kept on keeping on.

But there was something missing…a big something. I didn’t know what I needed, but I knew that my life’s purpose was no longer wrapped up in the accolades of Hollywood.

When you’re living what you always thought was your dream, it’s terrifying to admit that it isn’t living up to its promise and even more terrifying to leave it for uncertainty. Especially in a place like Los Angeles where it feels as if you’re only as good as your last gig or award.

After much reflection and almost no planning, I embarked on what I now call the ultimate Eat, Pray, Love (though I’ve never read the book or seen the movie!). I married my husband in late 2015, quit my job, and together we embarked on what was supposed to be a three month honeymoon, backpacking through Costa Rica.

Three months turned into one year. Then two. Then almost three years. We traveled through six continents and over 30 countries. To say this changed my life would be an understatement.

Yes, I fought those nagging questions: if I leave now, will I ever work at an executive level again? Will I be able to get another job when the traveling is done? How will I pay for dinner?

And when I returned home, I realized that the time spent thinking about those questions was wasted. The experiences, lessons, and connections I made along the way have made me grow as a person- -and a producer. Doors I didn’t even know existed opened- -and I learned that I can create my own doors. All because I took a left instead of a right turn. Well, some would say it was more of a U-turn, but whatever it was, it was the best decision I’ve ever made.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?  
In 2019, my creative partner Alexandra Bennett Cannady and I launched The Oz Effect, a media company that lives at the intersection of storytelling and social impact, with a specific interest in anything Neuroarts related.
This is a dream come true.  It’s extraordinarily difficult work, especially because we’re independent of studios and the traditional Hollywood model.  None-the-less, our work allows us to use our talents to elevate the voices and causes that we feel closest to.

Over the last two years, projects that have kept us busy include two national campaigns which used the power of media to make impact at the federal level, two digital therapeutic apps that use storytelling to heal, on top of the development and production of a book series, documentaries and TV series.
What are you most proud of?
One of the projects I’m most proud of has nothing to do with my media success at all.
In 2018, one of the most infamous mass school shootings occurred in Parkland, Florida. Most people may remember what came out of it- -March for Our Lives.
I was brought in to produce a music video for a song that was written by two teen survivors in the wake of the tragedy. I was boots-on-the-ground on the school’s campus just weeks after the shooting and worked with survivors and families of victims.
While producing the music video, I noticed a disconnect between what the media was reporting and what was actually happening on the ground. Everyone was so focused on March for Our Lives and calling the students “heroes”. But that was just a tiny fraction of the students. So many other students were struggling to find purpose and to heal. They didn’t feel like heroes. They didn’t want to be called heroes. They didn’t want the limelight. They just wanted to move forward.
The world was watching and there was an outpouring of support. But something wasn’t clicking- -many students didn’t want to process their trauma with adults and specifically with therapists. But many were creating. While they may not have had the words to explain to adults how they felt, there was a comfort in creating art (videos, journaling, songs, painting…) and the process of creating was helping to heal.
That and just hanging out with other students who had been through what they had been through. The combination of creation, connection, and shared experience happened somewhat organically. Still, there was a major gap between what was being offered as therapy and what the students actually seemed to want.
Being a producer, I’ve gotten pretty good at connecting the dots- -developing creative ways to solve problems and bringing in the right teams to make an impact. I dedicated the next few weeks to listening. An off-the-wall idea formulated in my head, which transformed into one of the most impactful projects I’ve ever been a part of. Very long story short, I called up an old friend, Jessica Asch, a renowned drama therapist and asked if we could collaborate to create structure around what the students were already doing- -coming together to create, connect, and heal. Together with the two students who had written the original song, we created a summer program, based in creative arts therapies and group therapy for the survivors. The camp was supported and funded by ShineMSD, a non-profit based in arts and healing that was created by the two students who had written the song in the wake of the tragedy.
Our program was studied by the University of Miami and featured twice on NPR. The preliminary research showed statistically significant reductions in PTSD symptoms, depression, and anxiety. Most importantly, I know we made an impact on the students we collaborated with, day in and day out.
This experience made a profound impact on my life. I now focus a good deal of my work on the intersection of popular media and the neuroarts, the study of how the creative arts affect the brain. (Big things coming from The Oz Effect in that arena, so stay tuned.)
What do I want people to know about my brand and what does Parkland have to do with it? Three things:

  • INCLUDE THE STAKEHOLDERS. After my experience in Parkland, I don’t approach any project without stakeholders involved. I just co-created a TV series for teens- -and you know who’s helping to create it? TEENS! We worked on a national campaign to eliminate solitary confinement. You know who helped? The survivor network.
  • IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU! See above. But seriously- -we all need to get over ourselves. The Parkland project would have made an AMAZING documentary- -I’m talking Sundance-worthy. Every producer’s dream. But…it wasn’t about us. It was about the students. We had offers up and down to create media from the experience and every time we turned it down. And it was much better for it.
  • THE ARTS HEAL (and there’s science behind it). It’s my personal mission in life to spread knowledge about evidence-based arts interventions that save lives.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The most magical place in the world is The Magic Castle in Hollywood…so if you can score an exclusive invite that would absolutely be the first thing on the list. (Though, I think you can also get in by staying at the hotel next door.) Hollywood out of the way, I’m a west side Los Angelite through and through (though I lived once in Agoura Hills), so I’d spend most of the time on the west side. Specifically in the Venice area. I’d rent or buy a cheap beach cruiser bike and spend as much time as I could on the bike path between Redondo Beach and Santa Monica. I’m into motorcycles, so I’d rent a motorcycle, find a local rider’s meetup group, and do a group ride through the canyons between Malibu and Calabasas, making sure to stop at the Hideaway Bar and Grill. No trip to Los Angeles is ever complete for me without a trip to Choriman in San Pedro for the world’s best chorizo burrito and Moonshadows in Malibu, because it’s got that incredible view and that je ne sais quoi that feels like old Hollywood. And if I was feeling wine-y, I’d hit up Malibu Wines- -mostly to kiss the giraffe.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This is a really tough question because I’m privileged af. I have an incredibly supportive family and friend-base. I know that I will always be able to get a job and will likely never be without a roof over my head. That said, I would never be where I am without the support of my husband, Jay Baur. He was the one who made me feel safe in the decision I made to quit my job. He remains my biggest cheerleader and the love of my life. I also want to thank the Baltimore Ravens for being the most kickass NFL team. #BigTruss

Website: www.theozeffect.com

Image Credits
Any images of travel were taken by Jay Baur

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