J
andae directed and produced her first film in the horror category titled Entity Project in 2018 and the film is heading to film festivals in the United States and South America. She’s in the process of producing and acting in her second feature film, expected to be released this year, with several proven actors and filmmakers. Jandae wanted to reflect in Entity Project the reality of a foreign person living in the United States, where friends also happen to be foreign, so she casted actors from different countries such as Argentina, Colombia, Germany, United States, and Turkey. The cast includes award winning Colombian actress Valentina Ezpinoz, Argentinean actress Carolina Levi, Talisha Williams, Gia Maulbeck, and Stephanie Geiger. I invite you immerse yourself in our conversation and feel the fire which radiates from this talented and passionate lady. I’m honored to have had the opportunity to converse with Jandae and I hope you’ll enjoy the fruits of our riveting conversation. William Jackson: What were the most memorable aspects of your early family life? Jandae Percem: I remember the beautiful beaches of where I’m from in Izmir, Turkey. Picking cherries with my grandparents from the cherry trees on their farm. William: How did you discover your talent for film? Jandae: It wasn’t until recently I got involved in filmmaking. I was an actress but after becoming a mom, chasing auditions became a hassle. I always loved writing stories that allowed my creativity to run free. I decided it was time to work on my own projects and watch the outcome. Filmmaking turned out to be a lot of work but fun at the same time. William: How did your career unfold? Jandae: My acting career has been a mix of theatre, television, and independent films. Frankly, I feel my
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The personal key to success, self-motivation, self-discipline, and a strong work ethic. Some can say I’m a good actress and some can say the opposite. But I know nobody will say she has a bad work ethic because I really work hard, and I don’t give up easily.
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career is now starting to really take shape in the way I’ve always wanted it to. A great amount of training, hard work, and taking risks is beginning to pay off. William: What has been your personal key to success? Jandae: Self-motivation, self-discipline, and a strong work ethic. Some can say I’m a good actress and some can say the opposite. But I know nobody will say she has a bad work ethic because I really work hard, and I don’t give up easily. William: How has your multi-cultural upbringing contributed to your success in acting and directing? Jandae: I spent my childhood in Turkey and my teen and adult years in the United States. Having experienced these parts of the world help me empathize better for everyone with different backgrounds, which helps with directing. In my films, I can relate easily to working with some with either a western or eastern world backgrounds. JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2019
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