S5E20 - Jazeen Hollings
This week’s guest is Jazeen Hollings, She is a writer, artist and as she puts it, future ghost, from Toronto, Canada. She is also a professional video editor by trade.
After starting out as a Philosophy major and then moving into graphic design as an undergraduate, Jazeen fell in to video editing.
Now, she has taken a big step and decided to pursue writing as a career. Jazeen is entering the University of British Columbia’s MFA program for writing full-time in the Fall.
We chat quite a lot about making the choice to pursue a creative career and how sometimes it isn’t even a choice but necessary! For anyone who has been wondering if they should take the plunge and do the thing, Jazeen might who you need to listen to today (whatever day that is)!
Note from Rabiah (Host):
I had a lot of fun speaking with Jazeen. I got a little self-conscious that we talked a bit more about comedy than I would with a guest normally but she was interested and asked me questions when I asked her questions. It was a real conversation. That’s what I wanted the podcast to be but I’ve forgotten that from time to time and go from chat mode to interview mode when I’m nervous. And yes, I do get nervous at these recordings. This week, enjoy the chat!
Rabiah (London) chats with Jazeen (Canada) about her decision to head back to school for an MFA!
Find Jazeen
Mentioned in the Episode
Transcript
Rabiah Coon (Host): [00:04:13] This is More Than Work, the podcast reminding you that your self worth is made up of more than your job title. Each week, I'll talk to a guest about how they discovered that for themselves. You'll hear about what they did, what they're doing and who they are. I'm your host, Rabiah. I work in IT perform standup comedy, write, volunteer, and of course, podcast. Thank you for listening.
Hey, everyone. Thanks for joining More Than Work this week, I'm really excited because today I'm actually heading to a podcast festival here in London. I'm going to see my friend, Claire, who runs the Creativity Found podcast. And you'll hear an episode that she and I did together of her podcast coming up.
We're going to do a, my first feed drop here. I'm also going to get to see Rich Wilson from Insane in the Man Brain and Rosie Wilby from Breakup Monologues, plus a bunch of other [00:05:13] things. So it's going to be a fun day.
Uh, this week, I have a person who started out studying philosophy actually in college. And then she is now going back to school to get her master's in writing. And she's going to talk about how she got to that decision after spending time doing graphic design and video editing. But it's another great episode just around someone finding their calling and pursuing it. And I hope it inspires you.
Um, lately I've been kind of wrapping my game in comedy really, and also on the podcast, because I'm doing some things differently in the backend that you won't notice because they're really around marketing and stuff. But, um, with comedy I'm writing more and trying to enjoy every performance I do. And that's something that happened recently where I wasn't enjoying what I was doing.
And I'm trying to find a way to do that because otherwise, why do that? But I think it shows too that we can be pursuing our dreams and then realize maybe our dreams have shifted a little bit in that time. [00:06:13] So anyway, there's just a lot to think about, I guess, or maybe I'm just thinking about a lot, but I hope you enjoy this episode when you get to know the guests Jazeen and let me know what you think.
Of course, I would love for you to rate and review and follow the podcast as well, but you know that. Let's go!
Rabiah Coon (Host): Hey everyone. So my guest is Jazeen Hollings, and she is a writer, artist, and future ghost. How are you doing?
Jazeen Hollings: I'm good. Thank you so much for having me on
Rabiah Coon (Host): I'm just reassured that you are a future ghost and not like a present
Jazeen Hollings: not a present ghost.
Rabiah Coon (Host): yeah, I would definitely insist that this was video then, because you wouldn't even show up probably.
So that'd be amazing,
Jazeen Hollings: There's proof that there's life from the beyond.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Exactly.
I would just see your microphone floating around and
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah. I mean, that would be sweet. I feel like that'd be a much better podcast.
Rabiah Coon (Host): it'd be really fun to be honest, but we don't have that. So, so anyway, where am I [00:07:13] talking to you from?
Jazeen Hollings: Just outside of Toronto, Canada.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Oh, cool. Yeah. Is there another Toronto?
Jazeen Hollings: I think there's one in the States.
Rabiah Coon (Host): I didn't even know that. I live in England now and so I see a lot of names that are also in the States for sure, but I know why that happened obviously, but yeah. Well, cool. Well, I'm glad to have you here. So, first of all, you're a writer and artist, but that's not your full-time gig.
So maybe let's talk about your full-time gig is, and then go into what you're doing that's more than work as it is.
Jazeen Hollings: Sure. Yeah.
So I'm a video editor. I do a lot of like commercial/ corporate. Was lucky enough to do some short films. Recently cut like a trailer, which was really fun. So I do get to do some fun stuff in my, in my money job, but most of it is corporate. So it's kind of just, you know, cutting real estate commercials and stuff like that. Not as creative as I'd like, but it's fun.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah. Well, so the trailer you did, was it a trailer for a feature?
Jazeen Hollings: A trailer for a web series. It's like a period piece kind of like Peaky Blinders [00:08:13] or Bridgerton, but it's like an indie, Toronto Canadian version of that. But it was still fun. Trailers are fun to cut.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah. That seems fun. Cause you're telling this story very quickly, but not giving too much away so you have to really decide. And how'd you get into video editing?
Jazeen Hollings: At school, I was taking graphic design and then I took like a motion design class so it was like a like kinetic typography and like animation and after effects stuff. And I really liked that. And then after doing that for a little bit, I started doing more video editing stuff cause that's what people asked me to do.
So I was like, oh, cool. Okay. Let's, let's learn Premiere. Let's learn, you know, how to do that. And just kept doing it cause I didn't really know what I wanted to do. And I love film, like definitely one of my passions. But yeah. I just didn't have too much direction. So I was like, oh, this is cool. I can like set my own rate, which is nice, you know? And. Just kept doing it [00:09:13] until uh, fell in love with screenwriting. And that's when I was like, okay, I want to write, I don't want to do this any more.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah. That kind of brings you to now, I mean, I guess you had some big news relatively recently about what you're going to do with writing.
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah, so I applied for my MFA in creative writing because I just wanted to transition full time into writing and have some real guidance, I think, because being self-taught at something You get to a point where you're just like, Yeah. I would love like some intensive, like hardcore guidance and feedback and just to kind of take it to the next level.
So yeah, I applied to a bunch of MFA programs in Canada. And I got into the University of British Columbia MFA program, which I should not have. I just want to say that because one, yeah, one, my grades were not as good as they should have been from the school. And the other reason being, I had totally like messed up on my application and didn't send them a transcript when I should [00:10:13] have, and I had to like frantically email them and be like, "I'm so sorry, but I messed up."
So I definitely thought that there was like no chance. So, but you never know, so you might as well try it.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah. And if you make a mistake, just kind of own up to it, right. And just try to
Jazeen Hollings: yeah.
Rabiah Coon (Host): say, this is what happened. That's easier to understand then. "Oh no, I did attach it and you didn't get it" or something
weird,
Jazeen Hollings: you can't. really lie through a computer that way it's either there or you didn't do it.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah. And sometimes it's like, you just forgot and cause sometimes I've been late with something before and I've just said, well, I forgot.
So can I still do it or not? And then it's like, no, it wouldn't be fair to everyone else, okay. Or, yeah, go ahead. So.
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah. People are actually really like, receptive to the truth when you just tell them. Yeah, I've totally just forgot. And they're like, oh Yeah. Okay. I'm like, oh, okay.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah. All right. So I don't have to do my creative writing for this basically.
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah. Yeah.
So Yeah. That's some big news.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah. That's very cool. And congratulations. So you'll be going full time to school?
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah, I'm so excited.
Rabiah Coon (Host): When you [00:11:13] did your undergrad, what did you study?
Jazeen Hollings: So I did graphic design at okay. I do university. And then I did two years before that at UFT, University of Toronto for philosophy, which, you know, super useful degree.
Rabiah Coon (Host): yeah, yeah. That and art history both really make parents happy about student loans and stuff like that,
Jazeen Hollings: Oh, yeah. Very worth it.
Rabiah Coon (Host): yeah. Okay. And so you didn't finish the philosophy degree.
Jazeen Hollings: No, I transferred. Yeah.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Okay. But that's good. It's good to know you don't want to do something and just to stop doing it. If you can really .
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah. Like I liked philosophy. It was just very clear that it's a little bit depressing to study it full time. And then at the end of the day it's like, well, what can I do with this? And at the end of the day, I just wasn't like passionate about it. Like I wasn't going to get my PhD in it. I wasn't gonna, you know, devote my life to the meaning of existence so I called it quits and I was like, all right, let's go make stuff instead.
of.
Rabiah Coon (Host): [00:12:13] Yeah. So did you do art or any kind of art before you went to the graphic design degree or was that your first time really creating, I guess visual art.
Jazeen Hollings: I had always been into like drawing and painting as a kid and like through high school for sure. I was always doing that even when I was really young as well. Like just always making something I think. And, yeah, I just think that I got a little bit derailed and in high school, like everyone was going to traditional universities and degrees, and they were kind of like planning out their future their third, whatever 10 year plan when you're like 17, which is insane. And I just felt like pressure to do the same thing, I think. Then I definitely didn't listen to myself at all because if I had, I probably would've just been writing and making art since a teen, but I just, didn't. Wasn't strong enough, I guess. I just didn't. So, that's the reason why I went to university pretty much.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah. Well, it's the acceptable path. It's the [00:13:13] accepted path, right? For everyone, I think, I mean, Either that, or you don't. But I mean, like for me, I didn't have much pressure from my family just because no one had gone to school prior to me, but it still, I wanted to be a lawyer because I thought you need to be a doctor or a lawyer and I was not going to be a doctor. So I was going to be a lawyer and I studied political science. And then around my second year of some things happened. In my life, that changed some perspective for me. But also I just took a writing class that wasn't in my major or anything. I took sociology too, which sounds weird.
But like, there was this, it was social deviance. So it was
Jazeen Hollings: Oh, nice. So yeah. like weird social stuff.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah. And so then I ended up not doing my major for over a year and I was just focused on writing and that kind of thing. And I'm just saying this to tell you that, and I'm probably 20 years older than you, it was the same thing for me.
Like I just didn't do it and I should have done it because that's what I wanted to do. And I will [00:14:13] tell you though, it took me and tell us about 40 to realize that that's what I should be doing. And so I'm doing more writing now, but I really am proud of you. I don't know you but I'm really proud of you for making that decision. Really.
Jazeen Hollings: I'm proud of you too. Yes. Follow your dreams. Go.
Rabiah Coon (Host): \ it is crazy that at 17 or 18 we're suppo as, as people and now, well beyond that, but even kids now, like a parents are listening like that planning your entire life when you're that age is such a ridiculous thing. Cause you have no idea who you are.
Jazeen Hollings: I know it's a joke. Like, I mean, there's the odd person who's just like, yes, I'm going to be X, Y, or Zed. And they've had like, they have that conviction and that kind of attitude of like, I don't care. Like nobody's gonna stop met but l ike, I don't know about you, but I had like zero confidence at 17.
Like I don't, I don't, I didn't think I ever was going to get it.
Rabiah Coon (Host): No.
Jazeen Hollings: So Yeah. it is. It's kind of insane how much pressure we put on children because you're still a child at that point.
Rabiah Coon (Host): So as far as screenwriting, you mentioned that that's [00:15:13] something you realized you wanted to do and now you're going to do your MFA. Have you written screenplays already a full one or parts of them or?
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah. I have a feature which is great. It took me so long. It was a nightmarish process, cause I'd never written one before and I didn't know what I was doing. And I had like, like eight or nine drafts until it made sense. I finished that about a month ago and then I had just had like maybe three or four, like short screenplays finished as well.
So just testing the waters and like seeing what kind of stuff I want to make and like, you know, what, what's the process like and what are the pitfalls and all that kind of stuff. And you definitely don't, you don't figure it out until you figure it out until you just do it. So. But really great experience though, really rewarding and maybe one day we'll get made into something or it will just be a script forever.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Did you have an idea before you sat down to write the whole thing? Or what was your process like? Or was it just [00:16:13] building the story as you went and how was that for you?
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah. For this one, I just had like an opening image in my head and a song to go with the image. You can't really promise a specific song in a script cause of like rights and money and all that kind of stuff. But this one started with just like an opening image and and like a doo-wop song to go over it.
And just the story kind of unfolded from there of how did we get to this point essentially? But they all kind of start different ways. It's usually an image though, for sure. Where it's like, oh, like That's freaky. Let's investigate that.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Hmm.
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah.
Rabiah Coon (Host): cool. And then in your, in your MFA, are you going to focus on screen writing or just writing in general or?
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah. So they have like a bunch of different courses. It's divided into like a thesis project, so a major project and then coursework. So there's lots of different genres that they offer, which is great because, you know, I've, I love writing fiction as well, and I love doing poetry. So those are [00:17:13] definitely genres that I would love to do as, as well included with screenwriting.
So, I definitely like writing all things, not necessarily screenplays. And that's just because I feel like certain stories need different formats. A lot of the times I think very visually and I think in terms of films, So those stories just go right into the screenplay idea pile, and then other stories are like, you know what, I would love to have more than 120 pages to dedicate to this idea. That goes in the fiction pile and so forth and so on. Yeah.
Rabiah Coon (Host): That's really cool. And then as far as your art and you being an artist, I mean, do you think, what kind of art do you do first of all; the graphic design only? Or do you do physical, painting and stuff like that now?
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah.
So, I paint, but I guess I call myself an artist more so in the fact of like I do a variety of different things. So not necessarily just visual art, but like, like I would consider like you an [00:18:13] artist as well, because you do comedy and that's an art, that's an art form. I feel like anyone who does something that's, you know, really creative, it doesn't necessarily have to mean it's a visual art thing.
It's like, it's more of an attitude or a lifestyle, or just a way of being, I guess. But I do paint for fun, but just for fun.
Rabiah Coon (Host): It's interesting that a lot of your ideas come to you visually though, and
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah.
Rabiah Coon (Host): versus another. I mean, I don't know how everyone's ideas come to them anyway. I guess for me, because I'll write different things, but I like, I love non-fiction for some reason and always have I guess ever since I discovered the New Yorker, I don't know if you've read it.
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah.
Rabiah Coon (Host): There's just amazing, amazing, interesting stories in there that almost read like fiction sometimes, because they're just done beautifully, right? So I'll just think of an idea though, but not necessarily a visual idea. So I like to hear how you're, how you're doing it in that way. It's pretty cool.
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah. And so do you do you draw from like a lot of like real experiences? Cause I know [00:19:13] comedy is very much like that where it's like, you kind of have to just draw on your own personal experiences and, and that's interesting that you like nonfiction, cause maybe that's just like, you know, real life is very inspiring to you,
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah, true. And even films that I like and shows, and my mom, we were watching. I mean, I don't know if you've seen This is Us, but you know, it's a drama, like a family drama show. And my mom was like, oh, it was almost too real. Like just watching real people this one episode recently, and I investigated more about it and I found the one actress has contributed to writing it.
It was mostly about her character and then Mandy Moore had directed it. So it was a female director, but also her who's very invested in the show. And so I thought, and it was a different episode than other ones. You could see the difference. But I liked that it seemed a real cause I always liked like that things feel real, but to the point where they're almost too raw, but I think that's cool.
Jazeen Hollings: Right. You know, I love that. Yeah.
Yeah. I'm definitely the same way. I love maybe just like pushing it to a [00:20:13] point where it is extremely vulnerable and extremely raw because that's where all the good stuff is. I don't know if you've seen Fleabag.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yes.
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah.
But like her stuff, she just like. Like takes, like the way she writes is like, she just takes a knife and like stabs you and then like twists it. Like every, I don't know, every beat or every half a show or have like full, full episode or whatever. And you can tell that that's like coming from a real place.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah, it's rough because she'll say things and it's like, well, maybe I've thought that I would never have said it.
Jazeen Hollings: Right? Yeah.
Rabiah Coon (Host): you know, and I think too, some of the best comics and people I admire and things I try to do, I don't do much shock or very vulgar or anything as far as comedy but I've enjoyed working on things that like around mental health, for example, is one subject I'm playing with just because I've had experiences with difficulties there.
And then with chronic illness and things like [00:21:13] that that are hard to do in a five minute set. I have to do like a longer set in a show in a way to get that out. But it's fun to me because I do like, I don't like talking about it necessarily, but I do think that there's an importance in sharing those things and and, you know, I'll, I'll talk about them in the context of trying to help other people or something, but then on stage there's, there's funny things about it. There's funny things about certain stuff that maybe doesn't seem funny on the surface, you know?
And so I think that's fun. And I think that that's the part where people say, well, artists are dark or comics or always have a dark side and I think it's true, but I think it manifests in different ways, you know?
Jazeen Hollings: Totally. And I think I've somewhat similar to you in that respect of like, I definitely gravitate towards darker things just because I feel like they're more real or they, they feel more real or they feel like there's these things that people just don't want to talk about. And I mean, comedy [00:22:13] and, you know in regards to your stand-up is such a great way to shove something in someone's face.
And be like, look like this thing actually exists. It's real. And by the way, it's also a joke because everything is a joke on some level, I think. But yeah, I love the dark stuff. I think it's like very close to home
Rabiah Coon (Host): I think you can have both in the same thing, kind of like what I guess where you're just saying about colony, but even in a screenplay or something like You can have the characters that are depressed or that have some kind of maybe personality flaw or something, but it can also be funny, but it's, it's different when it's like, you're trying to make it, so they're all happy all the time
cause that's so unrealistic. Even that person, you know, that it's always happy all the time. And I think the biggest thing to me is like, almost thinking about people as their Facebook profile versus real life,
Jazeen Hollings: yeah.
Rabiah Coon (Host): And it's like, my Facebook profile looks very different than my life does.
And people will say, oh, I'm so jealous.
And I, someone said that to me recently. I [00:23:13] went on a trip and I'm so jealous. And in my head I was going, you're jealous of what? Because like that I'm there, but what about everything else? And I know you, you wouldn't possibly even go alone, so you're not jealous. So I'm here by myself for one thing, and I know that's not your deal, but then I thought there's all this other stuff going on
they don't know about. And I almost like how in a movie or jokes or whatever you can say. "Yeah, here's this person who also has all this going on" and it's there so they can be three-dimensional.
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah.
yeah,
The three dimensionality is, is I feel like where you get like the real stories. I'm recently finished the show. Barry.
I don't know if he, yeah.
Bill Hader show and, you know, he's a Hitman who is lost and doesn't know what to do with his life and stumbles across like an acting class. And he realizes that acting is what he wants to do with his life.
And It's just So exploratorave of, of like how we all kind of feel very unhappy in [00:24:13] a lot of ways until we kind of find the thing that brings our life purpose,
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah.
So thinking about just what we've learned about you is that you're pursuing this Philosophy degree, then decided to go and get out of that and do the graphic design. And then now you're, you've been doing this video editing job, which you do enjoy.
You've expressed that you do enjoy it, but you have this passion writing. So now you're getting out of that and going into the writing. And so those are two kind of, I would say, pretty major pivots in your life. How did you feel making those decisions and if you can talk about making those changes to pursue what you want, because that's a really bold thing to do?
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah, I guess with video editing, it was just like, oh, I'm doing this now. And I actually didn't really think too much about it. It was just like, oh, this is something that semi creative that, you know, won't make me want to jump off a building essentially. Cause I think that if I worked in an office over time, that's what would [00:25:13] happen. And then when I fell in love with screenwriting, it was just like this moment of like, holy shit, like this is what I'm supposed to do. And, in a lot of ways, it was extremely terrifying because it was like, well, I spent all this time, doing this other thing.
And obviously like the age thing comes into play where it's just like, oh, you're not 16 and you're not really attractive. So like how could you possibly live your dreams? Which is insane.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Well, that's insane anyway, but yes.
Jazeen Hollings: I realize it's very untrue, so Yeah.
I mean, you could do whatever you want at any age.
I don't think it matters. And but it was this really weird thing of I wanna live all of these different lives and like be all these different people. And experience all these different things. And then writing is a perfect way to do that because you can literally just make up any story that you want and, and craft it.
And you can be different people and explore different problems [00:26:13] and explore humanity and you know, you can make it funny or you make it scary, just so many options. But it wasn't until writing for two years, I think until I was brave enough to actually be like, "Hey, I want to make money at this.
I want this to be my life." And, and I mean, I don't, I don't need to get famous or make millions of dollars or anything. I just would like to support myself doing something that I love. And that's my main goal.
It didn't feel like a choice when I decided to do it, to pursue it full-time and to try to get really good at it.
It felt like I had to do it and it still feels like I have to do it. If I don't write every morning, my whole day is messed up and I'm not happy. So I, I don't know. It doesn't feel like a choice. It feels like I have to do it.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah. And so that's your writing, is that that's part of your writing practice writing every morning? Did you freewriting or?
Jazeen Hollings: I do. So sometimes I journal like when I have to get some stuff out, but like whatever piece I'm working on, I like to dedicate an [00:27:13] hour every morning to it. No matter what, because that's the only way that it will get done. I think
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah.
Jazeen Hollings: with life, life around.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Well, I always felt like the mornings, the only part of my day I can control.
Jazeen Hollings: Right. Totally.
Rabiah Coon (Host): And, and in a way I get frustrated if someone, if someone calls me or writes to me or something, I'm like, what? Like, this was my time and now you've intruded on it, you know? And that's not fair to whoever does that, but it's just for me, it's like, this is the time I have that no, one's supposed to be bothering me. Of course I can put my phone down, but you know, that's another thing, right?
Jazeen Hollings: Like how dare you encroach on my boundary
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah. Yeah. That I, that I'm not that you don't know about that I'm not respecting.
Jazeen Hollings: right, exactly. Yeah. I've actually, I've thought about that a lot and I think it's like a self-trust thing. I feel like it actually has nothing to do with other people or the outside world. Cause I would get really pissed off if someone was ruining my writing [00:28:13] time air quotes. And it's just like, wait a second. It's not them. It's me being like, if I don't have this, I'm not going to make something, but that's not true.
You know what I mean? It's. Yeah,
it just, I don't know. I don't know why creative people get crazy
Rabiah Coon (Host): absolutely.
Jazeen Hollings: when people interrupt them. So I definitely think it's more of an us thing.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Totally. And it's just like, then just don't have my phone out or just don't be on logged into something. It's very simple. Anyway, if I really don't want to be interrupted, I can prevent that from happening. I live alone. I mean, if someone breaks into my flat, that's another issue, you know?
Jazeen Hollings: How dare you you ruin my creative morning time.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Just take what you want, but please be quiet. I'm working.
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah.
Rabiah Coon (Host): So you do have some writing on your website though, and some blogs and stuff. So can you talk a little bit about what you choose to put out publicly?
Jazeen Hollings: It's whatever, whatever resonates, I think. Yeah.
It's weird because for a long time, I was very much just like, Okay. [00:29:13] let's decide. Let's make a plan and make topics and be very logical about it and have a spreadsheet. And now I'm just like, if I feel like writing about it, that's what I write about.
And that's, that's my baseline for what gets out.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah. I do know someone who has spreadsheets for a lot of things, and I feel very seen right now, but also very attacked.
Jazeen Hollings: Are you a spreadsheeter? I was for a very long time.
Rabiah Coon (Host): I am. I have I, I am and you filled in a Google form and,
Jazeen Hollings: I did,
Rabiah Coon (Host): then that goes into a spreadsheet, which is super fun, for me. And then and I have a spreadsheet for my comedy, so I ,know exactly how many gigs I've done and how long I've spent on stage. And
Jazeen Hollings: I think for that, that makes sense. Cause that's like a, I know you're keeping track of all the things, right? But I feel like when you come up with a joke, you probably don't have a spreadsheet of potential jokes. It's more just like you're [00:30:13] walking down the street and you're just like, oh, that's hilarious.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah. And then that goes in Notes.
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah, exactly. Let's write that down now
Rabiah Coon (Host): and itAndvery unorganized and there's like probably 200 notes that have weird thoughts. Like if someone ever opened up my notes and saw what I've written down. Most recently it's "plus sized nudists" question mark. And I can't make it work. I can't make it work.
I have not, but I know something there because that statement is funny, but you can't just go on stage and say that and that's it.
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah, but the idea that like, you're like, there's something there, somewhere.
Rabiah Coon (Host): there's something there. So no, but that's, that's really cool that you've just kind of figured out over time what you want to do. Yeah. And are pursuing it. I think that's, that's so important. And I, I like how for you, it's not a, it hasn't, it's not a choice at some point. And I think that that's the mistake some people make is that they have this calling to do something, but then they somehow rationalize it like they [00:31:13] can't possibly choose to do that. And I don't think you have to make a living at writing, even if you want to write, or if you want to do what I do, comedy, which you're talking way too much about on this episode, it's about you but if you want to do art, if you want to do whatever you don't, you have to find a way to do it in your life.
I mean, do you agree that even if you're not doing it, full-time, there should be way you make space. Like you said, for an hour every morning, you write for example, right now?
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah.
I feel like you have to make space for the things that you love or else it's like, what are we doing on this planet? Our job is not to go work a nine to five for somebody else, so that we can make money and have a crazy amount of things in a crazy amount of space. For some people maybe that is what gets them excited every morning. But just for me personally, it's just like, if I don't have something that I'm working on that I can express myself with or investigate something or, you know, work at then I just don't feel like I'm [00:32:13] alive. And I know that sounds insane. But Yeah. I guess, I guess it just, that's why for me, it's just not really a choice, even if I don't make money at it.
Cause like I've been writing for two years. I haven't seen a cent.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah.
Jazeen Hollings: That should detour someone from not doing something but that's the only thing that keeps me going.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah.
So as far as we've talked quite a bit about what's worked for you, but is there any advice or mantra that you just like to share with people or something that you've come across as that's been helpful to you?
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah.
I guess like my mantra has been be afraid, but do it anyways. That's my mantra. And then and I think that, you know, I would tell that to anybody. Yeah, Be scared because if you're not scared, then you're probably not doing something that's, that's open and real but be scared and then just do it. Just figure out a way to do it.
Rabiah Coon (Host): I talked to a lot of people about getting on stage and get nervous every time. Yeah, absolutely. Because otherwise it doesn't mean anything and [00:33:13] it's like, do you get worried when you publish a piece? Of course, because it's going to be seen and people might have an opinion on it that's not great or it is great. It's almost scary to do well sometimes. I don't know.
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah. Well, before the pandemic I had done like a Second City stand up course. And I had, and I had done like maybe 10 shows. Like I wouldn't call myself a standup person, but I did 10 shows and there is nothing more nerve rattling than telling a joke and nobody laughing and yeah, there's, I mean, It's like, it's a special skill to be able to put yourself out there over and over and over again, hoping for a certain response and getting a completely different one.
And that's the fear that I think a lot of artistic people have to push through like every single time. Maybe Yeah. a lot of them probably not all of them. I'm sure there are amazing, incredible people who are just like don't care.
Rabiah Coon (Host): [00:34:13] Yeah.
Jazeen Hollings: And I envy those people, but.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah. Cause when you, when you share writing too, right? I mean, it's not just performance, but it's when you share writing or you share even, maybe even with your video editing, I mean, you send it to someone and they might have feedback you don't like. I mean, I know I've my, one of my best friends in the world is a graphic designer.
Actually, and then I have other good friends who are too, and I don't know how they do it because I mean, in the sense that they have to get negative feedback constantly for good work. And I don't know how someone does that. I don't think I have the constitution to handle that because I'd be like super annoyed all the time, you know?
Jazeen Hollings: I mean, you get to a point where you just like turn it off. Like you just turn off like the, the, like I'm going to take this personally switch in your brain, you just turn it off. Some of them are so funny when you're working with like business people who know nothing.
Absolutely [00:35:13] nothing about how things should look and you'll give them something and they'll pour hours into it. And you're like, this looks sick and they'll come back and then just be like, okay, here's something really funny. Okay. Here's something really cool that we should do. We should make the font Comic Sans. I don't know. We'll just be like, okay, I don't, you could either get upset or you can just be like, Yeah, totally. By the way, I'm going to charge you an extra whatever for that. I'm going to at least make money.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah. I feel like Comic Sans should just be called tragic or something like this should rename it. And be like, okay, this is not a funny font because too many people have taken it seriously. So it's no longer.
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah. it's like your life is overflowing. Like this is what you use when it's done. It's gone.
Rabiah Coon (Host): It's horrible. It's horrible font.
Rabiah Coon (Host): All right, so then I have a set of questions called the Fun Five that I just like to ask everybody.
So the first one, [00:36:13] what is the oldest? T-shirt you have and still wear.
Jazeen Hollings: Uh, yes, um the oldest t-shirt I have and still wear is a t-shirt from a Pixies concert. From 11 years ago, I think. And I'd like, the color is like deteriorating. And I think like, I don't know the print on it is like, can't even tell that it's a Pixies t-shirt, but I just love it so much and I'll never let it go.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah, very cool. Very cool. So if everyday was really Groundhog's Day, like it's felt for a lot of the last couple of years, because we were had to be in our homes. What song would you have your alarm clock play every day?
Jazeen Hollings: So I think something that would be really funny for like other people to witness, but maybe not for me to wake up to every morning.
would be beautiful day by U2, but just like just the chorus.
So it would start with like, it's a beautiful day, but just for the rest of my life,
Rabiah Coon (Host): that would get annoying
Jazeen Hollings: I think that, yeah, that would be horrible.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah.
Jazeen Hollings: It could be worth it.
Rabiah Coon (Host): So, [00:37:13] all right. Coffee or tea or neither?
Jazeen Hollings: Coffee in the morning tea in the afternoon.
Rabiah Coon (Host): That's smart.
Jazeen Hollings: it was, it used to be coffee all day and it was not a good time.
Rabiah Coon (Host): yeah. Do you like any specific kind of tea?
Jazeen Hollings: Chamomile. Just like a chill. Yeah. Some of that will just wind me down.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Nice. Alright. Can you think of a time you laughed so hard you cried or something that just makes you kind of crack up when you think of it or interact with someone?
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah, so, recently my boyfriend and I have been watching storage wars. I don't know if you've ever seen that show.
Yeah, I know
Rabiah Coon (Host): what you're talking about.
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah.
It's like people bid on storage lockers and they try to like outbid each other and like, like try to figure out how much their wares are worth. It's the stupidest, reality show I've ever seen.
But the theme song is this super American country, like gritty bluesy, like yeah. Like we are in America and the, the lyrics of it and the melody, are like, money owns this [00:38:13] town. As I go throughout my day, like, I'll be sending an invoice and I'll be like money owns this town. And just, this is the stupidest thing ever, but that's what makes me laugh right now.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Great. Yeah. That's I know it's like, Ugh. I mean, I'm from America and some of the things we put on TV for people to watch just amaze me. And then we wonder why people think certain things about us, you know? All right. And then the last question. Who inspires you right now?
Jazeen Hollings: So for me, people usually don't inspire me and I know that sounds conceited and weird and horrible. But it's actually mostly just everyday things or like situations or like things that happen to me that maybe inspire a story or inspire me to write anything. I would say that like some of my favorite authors are Margaret Atwood or Alex Garland who writes a lot of scifi stuff. He's a director as well. He did Ex-Machina and Annihilation and all those sorts of [00:39:13] things. Stephen King I look, I actually really look up to his work. I know a lot of people kind of dismiss him as just like a genre writer.
You know, he's like, ah, it's this horror and sci-fi and whatever.
But he's put a lot of himself in a lot of his work in really interesting ways. Like The Shining for example, is actually about like his kind of his his addiction to alcohol and also the fear of him pushing his family away because it's getting in the way of his writing, like his work.
Obviously it's a very severe, severe metaphor for that. But he puts a lot of his own fears into his work and I think that's really, really brave. So yeah, I think that's my answer.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Oh, that's great. I didn't know that about Stephen King. I have read some of his stuff a long time ago and yeah, just because you're in a genre doesn't matter. And I did I actually read Handmaid's Tale. I didn't read the next book. I think it's on my Kindle right now waiting, but that was incredible to read.
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah,
Yeah, she's amazing.
Rabiah Coon (Host): yeah. And just, I [00:40:13] read it after watching the show. And so then it, it changed my view of the characters so much. Even though it was a lot shorter. It was just text. That was a lot shorter and more concise than two, two or three seasons. I don't know how many seasons I've been at the show, but it was really amazing how in so few words, she got these characters to be so real, you know, it's amazing.
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah. I, I mean, they're just making like so many incredible shows right now. Like, like Handmaid's tale, for example, like the book is, is great. And deals with a lot of kind of really scary themes. But the show, in my opinion is maybe even more bleak and hits way home.
Like it hits home way more, I think. So yeah. but you know, she's great. I love Margaret. I would she's Canadian, which is great too.
Rabiah Coon (Host): All right, cool, so if people want to find you, where do you want them to go?
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah, they can check out my poetry on Instagram at Jazeen underscore underscore underscore underscore underscore (@jazeen_____) it's just like a [00:41:13] long line after my name. There's my website. You can check out some of my art there. That's jazeen dot com (jazeen.com).
Rabiah Coon (Host): Super. Well, it's been it's been a lot of fun talking to you, so thanks for being on More Than Work.
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah, well, thank you so much for having me. It was awesome. Talking about all this fun stuff and also hearing about your comedy. I just have like, this really weird, obsession with comics cause I think what you guys do is is so hard.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Yeah. I feel like, yeah, I've talked to more about it than I usually do, but that's okay. People can
enjoy, enjoy that, right?
Jazeen Hollings: Yeah.
Rabiah Coon (Host): Thanks for listening. You can learn more about the guest and what was talked about in the show notes. Joe Maffia created the music you're listening to. You can find him on Spotify at Joe M A F F I A, Rob Metke does all the design for which I am so grateful. You can find him online by searching Rob M E T K E.
Please leave review if you'd like to show and get in touch if you have feedback or guest ideas. The pod is on all the social channels at at more than word pod (@morethanworkpod) or at Rabiah Comedy (@rabiahcomedy) on TikTok. And the [00:42:13] website is more than work pod dot com (morethanworkpod.com). While being kind to others, don't forget to be kind to yourself.
