Meet Kelli Jones | Screenwriter

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

Hi Kelli, how do you think about risk?
I joined the military when I was eighteen years old. Leaving behind everything and everyone I knew felt scary. However,I knew deep down that it was something I had to do to get what I wanted out of life. To me, life is all about taking risks. We must be willing to embrace the fear of the unknown in order to move closer to our goals. Whatever those are. I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today physically, spiritually or emotionally had I not embraced this at such a young age. This isn’t to say that it has always been smooth sailing, but I’ve never been one to sit in discomfort for too long. If I feel stuck, and know that I need to do something, I may fight it for a while. Wallow. Make excuses to justify why I can’t make some necessary changes. But eventually, in my experience, things will get so uncomfortable that you have no choice but to take a leap of faith. To see what’s on the other side. That’s where growth and wisdom come from. I sort of struggled through the same thing a few years ago when deciding to transition into my career as a screenwriter. I fought it for a long time because I didn’t believe in myself. And to be honest, I still struggle to believe in myself at times. But I decided to try it and it’s done really well for me so far. Everything in life comes down to taking risks and the willingness to accept the consequences of those risks. For better or for worse.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a Choctaw screenwriter with a focus on writing for television. Currently, I’m a fellow in The Writers Guild Foundation Veterans Writing Project. I recently completed the Native American Media Alliance TV Writers Lab, which made me a recipient of the 2nd Annual Native American Writers Accelerator Grant in collaboration with Netflix. I found out recently that one of the TV pilots I wrote placed as a finalist in the Atlanta Screenplay Awards. I learned early on that it’s critical to celebrate wins, big and small. As optimistic as I strive to be, the reality of life as an artist is that you never know when the next victory will come. And sometimes, hearing positive feedback about your work is what you need to motivate you to keep working. Otherwise, it feels like you’re writing or creating in a vacuum. And that’s OK too, but it ultimately comes down to your goals.

It’s fun to look back and think that I started out in the entertainment industry as a background actor. Those were exciting yet challenging times. I moved to Los Angeles only a few months after being discharged from the military and had no connection to the industry. I grew up in Oklahoma, and at that time production wasn’t booming in other regions like it is now. If you wanted to work in film, you had almost no choice but to move to a major market like LA or New York. So starting out, I worked as an extra for about a year. I wanted to learn as much as I could about filmmaking and heard that being on set was one of the best ways to do so. I really didn’t have a solid plan, but those experiences taught me that I thrive in creative environments. Eventually, I started working as a commercial actor. I did all of that while finishing up my bachelor’s degree in journalism at California State University, Northridge. I didn’t realize it at the time, but all of those experiences were preparing me for a career in screenwriting.

Every obstacle I’ve overcome has forced me to live more authentically. To be more vulnerable when necessary and to be more compassionate towards myself and others. It’s taught me more about who I am at my core. So many times on my journey I’ve questioned what I was doing and why. I still do. Especially in those stagnant times during which nothing seems to be happening, or when I’m waiting to hear feedback on a project that I’m working on. But I think it’s okay to question your reality and what you’re doing. One of the most significant lessons I’ve learned is that you just have to keep moving and trust that you’re exactly where you need to be in this moment. Every story has a hero with an obstacle they must overcome to achieve something. It’s the human condition. We are the heroes of our own stories.

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.
Los Angeles Itinerary: Day 1: drive PCH up to El Matador Beach then hit Malibu Pier before we grab lunch/dinner at REEL INN
Day 2: Ride bikes on the bike path in Venice up to Santa Monica and back; shop on Main Street; lunch/dinner at The Rose Venice
Day 3: Visit Urban Light at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; eat at HiHo Cheeseburger
Day 4: Horseback riding at Malibu Riders; catch a show at Malibu Playhouse; dinner at NOBU
Day 5: Hike Mandeville Canyon in Brentwood; eat at Sushi Sasabune
Day 6: Drive to Palos Verdes to visit Abalone Cove; eat and watch sunset at Terranea Resort
Day 7: Paddle board in Redondo Beach. Shop and play tourist; brunch at The Slip Bar & Eatery.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Often, those close to us believe in us more than we believe in ourselves. Thanks to a close friend and mentor that I will keep anonymous (you know who you are) I was challenged to take on an exciting career as a screenwriter that has forced me to grow in the most meaningful ways as a human and creator. I also want to thank the Native American Media Alliance for all of the admirable work they do advocating for Native representation in the entertainment industry. Each year, NAMA offers several educational programs for Indigenous creatives. Lastly, The Writers Guild Foundation for their dedication to providing military veterans with the right tools to transition into a screenwriting career.

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