Meet Joyce Fitzpatrick | Producer, Writer and Director

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

Hi Joyce, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
Legacy for me is important because I did not have any children. My legacy to the world will be my works i.e. my films, my documentaries, my television works, hopefully my books, whether they be fictional or biographical. Having children is wonderful, but with my creative contributions, I can communicate exactly what I want to say and if people want to learn more about me they can definitely see it in my work. I am an eccentric and love all genres, but my favorite ones are those that are out-of-the normal realm, I like fantasy and science-fiction, but I also like action and romance. I hope that when I’m gone, those who seek out my work will appreciate the areas of interest that I chose and will enjoy what my works communicate to them and will pass along my works to others.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

My art is definitely reflected through my films and stories. I’m most proud of my recent works “The Color of Medicine: The Story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital” and “Hidden Orchard Mysteries: The Case of the Air B and B Robbery and our most recent film, “Lethal Love Affair.” I’m also proud of my Television works: i.e. “Animal Control TV” which won several awards including “Best TV Pilot” and “Identity Confirmed” which also won several awards. None of these films or television projects were easy to make or write or produce, or direct. Making a film or tv project is not easy but it is rewarding. I don’t believe in over night success, but some do come by it quicker than others, but they still worked at it. I have gone through a lot of happiness and pain to get where I am today and I don’t regret it. But, if I could go back in time, I might have pushed myself harder and sooner and also challenged myself more. I have had a lot of opportunities and took advantage of some of them, but could have done more I believe. When I worked for E! Entertainment as a producer, I didn’t pursue the opportunities as much as I should have, and regret it to some extent. I really didn’t get much into the reality shows they produced but saw and admired Niecy Nash on one of their shows “Clean House.” She was the highlight of that show and that is why her star has risen to where it is now. I hope to one day work with her on one of my projects. You never know.

But I appreciate E! Enertainment because they kept me on for 9 years. I also didn’t take as much advantage of working for Black Entertainment Television (BET) as much I should have, but was appreciative of the three shows that I worked on, I worked with the talented Sheryl Underwood on the show, “Holla” which makes me proud of her today, because she took that interviewing talent to the CBS show, “The Talk.” I’m also proud of my work on “Comicview: Caliente” which was a staple of BET and I also worked on a comedy sketch show titled “The Way We Do it” by creators Andre Barnwell and Michael Derek Bohusz. BET was fun and a lot of black celebrities passed through our doors; i.e. Tariji P. Henson, Anthony Andersen, Rick James and more. It was fun. My career has spanned to other networks as well including the Discovery Channel working on Animal Planet’s “Emergency Vet.” It was a fun ride working for networks and cable networks and for PBS. But, now I want to focus on my own content that I can provide to these networks on my own terns.

What I want to the world to know about my brand is, that I look beyond the typical stories. I explore all genres and love telling bizarre and fun stories that everyone can enjoy in front of their television or theater seat that they can walk out and talk about the days to come. That is my goal.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
That’s a great question and a hard one. Southern California where I live is so diverse and has so many experiences. There are always the iconic features to show my guests i.e. ‘The Hollywood Bowl” for a concert, going to Santa Monica Beach and Venice Beach for a stroll to see the “Beach Life” and then there is DTLA where you can go to “J” Town or “Little Toyko” and then over to “China Town.” We’d also go to Dodger’s Stadium for a game and then we’d tour some old mansions in Beverly Hills if at all possible. There is so much more to see. I’d also take them to the shoreline of Longbeach, which is beautiful and down to Hermosa Beach and Huntington Beach. We’d also explore the Northern beaches of Zuma, and of course Santa Barbara for the day. Depending on the time of year they visit, we would also take a day trip up to Big Bear so they can see how we can enjoy the snow and also come back down and surf at the beach. It’s a beautiful life living in Southern California. There is just too much to see even in one week, but I’d do my best.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

I started my creative journey many years ago and did not have a mentor. But, I did admire several creatives who I actually met and at the time was too shy to follow them. I was an intern that worked for a production company “Syndicate It” in Burbank, CA which allowed me to witness history in the making.

I was fortunate enough to be at the “producers taping” of Keenan Ivory Wayans and the Fox Network’s, “Living Color’ where I met Tommy Davidson who at that time did the “warm up” for the audience and David Allen Grier. I watched the “Star Trek” skit with Jim Carrey and Damon Wayans and the Mike Tyson Dating Skit with Keenan.

I also sat right in front of Shawn and Marlon Wayans and right behind Keenan and Damon during rehearsals and I will never forget it. I watched as Keenan gave Jim Carrey and Damon direction during their skit. It was crazy to be a part of all of that, to this day. I still can’t believe I was there!

I have to credit Michael Wilson, the son of Dave Wilson, who was the director of Saturday Night Live (SNL) for over 25 years. Michael created the TV Comedy Sketch Show, “The Newz” which aired on the UPN Network which eventually became the CW Network. Michael gave me my first ever writing opportunity where my comedy skit “The Cat from Hell” was shot at Universal City Studios in Florida in front of a live audience. It’s available on Youtube under “The CoolestMovies Channel: https://youtu.be/uEM3viOIEtU?si=Q5oDeZuc_WB8w13E. I also received a compliment from writer and co-creator of the hit show “King of Queens” David Litt, he told me that my skit was super funny and that I had talent. It was the best moment in my life because it was the beginning of my creative career, but it was also the worst time in my life because I was currently going through a divorce and had lost my mother all at the time. Still to this day, I don’t regret that opportunity..it changed my life and made me realize that I had the talent to write and create.

I also had the opportunity to met Debra Martin Chase at an event where I pitched my script “African American in Paris” and she loved it. I didn’t follow up with Debra and I do believe I missed an opportunity, but I followed her career because she produced projects that were “out of the box,” that I admired. Maybe we’ll work together one day.

I’ve met numerous creatives and celebrities throughout the years, but never asked them for their help. I was very shy back in the day and that is the one thing I regret. But, I finally stepped up my game and finally got my first screen play that I co-wrote with my partner Jeff McCarthy passed around Hollywood by the agency UTA titled “Feeding Time.” This was the very first screenplay that I had ever written and it almost got picked up to be made. It was passed around to several studios and made it to Renny Harlin (Long Kiss Goodnight) and Stan Winston (Alien), who both praised it, but Renny said that it was a great script, but too close to a film he was already making titled, “Deep Blue Sea.’ Our film has some similarity to his, but was still very different. It is about animals that get affected by an outside force giving them higher intelligence and holding a dark secret as well. Our film is a science-fiction-comedy. So much fun, and I hope to possibly still get made today.

I would say that the person who deserves the most credit for pushing me and helping me to realize my talents is my producing, writing and directing partner, Brian Shackelford. He can be rough but he means well. I’m a hard shell to crack and he found that crack..Lol. He forced me to examine my flaws and to build on them and that is why I’m more successful today and I have ever been. Thank you Brian. and thanks to my other friends who believed in my talent and have helped me along the way.

Website: Flatcat-producitons.com

Instagram: @fitpatrickjoyce

Facebook: Joyce Marie Fitzpatrick

Image Credits
Joyce Fitzpatrick