“Huh? My story? Okay. It was never easy for me. I was born a poor black child. I remember the days, sittin' on the porch with my family, singin' and dancin' down in Mississippi…”
Okay, so this is the biography for Navin Johnson of Steve Martin’s "The Jerk." It’s not my biography, lol...
What I can say is that I was born a poor Latina in Honduras. My destiny was re-routed to live with tender-hearted white folk in Winter Park, Florida. Instead of banana trees and dirt roads, I now was among strong oak trees and paved streets.
Those were the days…of watermelon spitting, BMX biking, sneaking out of windows to singsong with older pals at hush-hush pubs (just to see the musicians play). Didn’t they know I was only 16? It was also the days of intense studies. Yes, of the traditional content (like those oh-so-challenging AP classes), but also of life.
As an only child (and the subsequent syndrome that came along with it), I found myself dedicated to:
• Playing the violin at recitals statewide with the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra,
• Performing theater in black boxes, enrichment camps and the Orlando Youth Theatre Academy,
• Dancing modern and hip-hop technique at Showtime Dance Center,
• Molding clay into pottery for submittal to the Winter Park and Osceola Art Festivals,
• Writing short stories and poems for a variety of youth publications,
• And...lifeguarding and teaching swimming for the American Red Cross as if I had been a fish myself.
Whew!
Like everyone else, I grew up. And fast. It was at the University of Florida that I realized I could layer my love for music, art and story into one bundle in the visual medium of TV and film. Once the degrees were in hand, I trekked to New York City to pursue big dreams. Once there, I started to make a variety of TV episodes, specials, docs, short films, commercials, et al.
These pursuits made me realize that the big enchilada wasn’t about the guacamole but more so about the meat. Or, as a gringa would simply say— content is key. In 2005, I created Rolling Ball Productions as a venue to produce…well…everything…at least visually. (Okay, okay, I exclude infomercials, pornography and reality TV where people beat up their parents). RBP is continuing to grow and expand, so be sure to ask me what’s going on. Or you can visit the RBP site directly: Rolling Ball Productions.
So after years of NYC sun deprivation (and earplugs nearly permanent in my lobes), I moved to Los Angeles in 2007 to be among another mob of talented artists and entertainers.
As one to never pass on changing trends, I suppose I wore and currently wear many hats (aka director, host, producer, writer, painter, photographer). I refute labels but dare I say I try not to contain anyone, nor myself. Some may call me a “Renaissance woman” or even cynically doubt a woman of “too” many interests, but that’s simply who I am…perhaps short in stature but never in heart, curiosity and energy. If given a heavy tranquilizer, I perhaps may be that gal that juggles one and only one hacky sack, but I doubt it. (So you know, as a motto, I refuse tranquilizers).
One last thing you should know about me? I live for and seek out Beauty…and, I enjoy giving it as a present.
Hey, what about that enigmatic future, Jo? Hmmm, (shake shake shake) the magic 8 ball reads “Outlook good." It’s an autobiography worth having, and I wish you and yours the same.
Chrs,
Johanna
