Meet Catalyst Creator, Jeanette Bonner, based in New York, originally from New Jersey!
What project are you currently working on? What is your role in the project?
As a producer, I currently have two short films in the festival circuit, two projects in post (one a docuseries, one a music video). I currently host and produce an ongoing podcast (#single). And I have a couple projects that are on the drafting table but not official, including two features I might produce and a short I’m currently developing to produce as well as act in. And in my downtime I’m starting to write a book. :)
Do you have a favorite hat under the “creator” umbrella?
I’m really drawn to producing. People chide me for not calling myself a writer because I have written a few things, but that’s because it’s not my passion and it’s not how I see myself. When I refer to myself as a “creator” it’s really about coming up with an idea and executing it. For me, the hyphenates actor-writer-producer are sort of all implied in “creator.”
I have met many people that say they hate the producing part of filmmaking but to me there’s something enormously satisfying about executing a project, being at its helm and making key decisions in order to make something happen. Of course, there’s a ton of stress and anxiety that comes with being the key decision maker. But even though I ask myself what I’ve gotten myself into every single time, I always come back to it.
What were your earliest inspirations? How did you get started as a creator?
Oh I think that everyone probably answers this the same way; acting is the gateway for most of us. And I think that’s simply because there are limited creative options for teenagers interested in working in the arts and entertainment; I wish more schools would offer filmmaking classes or production tracks or Technical Director internships for the school play.
For me, my first time producing was when my friend and veteran ITVFest founder AJ Tesler told me he had created a web series festival for him and his friends who were making videos and short films and had nowhere to showcase them. I just remember thinking: “I wanna get in on that.” So I called a kid I went to high school with who I heard was a writer (did I ask of what? no), asked him to write a half hour pilot with a role I’d star in, and hired my boyfriend to direct it (who had never directed anything but thought it’d be fun). I cast my friends and had the videographer from my acting class shoot it. I think I spent about $2000 all told. I remember submitting the series via video tape (!) to ITVFest, I think it was the second year it was running.
The pilot was pretty mediocre but I loved every second of it, and I just thought “I wanna do that again!” That boyfriend and I (who’s now an ex) came up with another idea, which ultimately became my series GHOST LIGHT (2014-2016). So, the short answer is: I started as a creator as a means to an end. I wanted to make my own work in order to compete as an actor at a different level. Back then that was revolutionary, now it’s practically a requirement to be constantly making content and new work in addition to regularly auditioning.
Whose work do you admire? Who are your dream collaborators?
Oh god this question brings up so much anxiety. Haha! I just am not one of those people that makes lists about dream collaborators. (Is saying Phoebe Waller-Bridge too basic?) And then I always end up feeling like: should I have that list?? Am I just lazy?? haha.
Within my own community I’m a pretty huge fangirl of Naomi McDougall Jones. I think she is a model of DIY - but do it better. She is constantly challenging and questioning the industry model and looking for ways to bring more women to the forefront and to get more representation across the board. She’s a powerhouse.
Honestly, all of the women out there trying to shake up this industry and pave the way forward for more inclusive opportunities - companies like Free the Work, impact, Women in Media, The Future of Film is Female, the 51 Fund... these organizations and their founders are the ones whom I admire and it would be my honor to collaborate with them someday.
What’s your proudest moment as an artist so far?
Anytime anyone comes up to you at a festival who you don’t know to tell you that they loved your series or your film or your podcast and you inspired them to pursue something creative themselves? CANNOT be beat. Give me a million awards, and this moment, when it happens, it’s like all your present, past and future selves are whispering: “See, I told you it would matter.” What’s your future memoir title? A few years back, when I used to live in Brooklyn off the G train, I was bitching to someone that the G train doesn’t ever go into Manhattan, so anytime I had to go anywhere, I had to go “up on the G, over on the L, and then up again.” And he laughed and said, “Up, over and up. That’s the name of your memoir.” And I thought about it for a half second and realized how profound that name was for this wacky career we have. I might throw in a couple “down, over, and up”s so it’s more like “up, over, down a bit, over some more, up, transfer trains, down to catch the local, then up again” etc .......... but you get the gist. :) Stay up to date with Jeanette's work and news!