Jeanine Daniels is hella talented. Let’s say that again. Jeanine Daniels is hella talented. Even as a young girl Jeanine was able to tap into her creative gene and cultivated a love for writing as well as music. Her education and experience in Arts, Entertainment and Media have led to Jeanine having her hand in acting, directing, producing and writing many projects and launching her own nine27 Entertainment along the way after success with such projects as the popular and forever classic web series “That Guy”. With its first brand, ThePLUGtv, now taking off, Jeanine is reclaiming her tribe and breaking through any glass ceilings over her vision or her legacy. She is by anyone’s dictionary definition- creatively free and forever dope. Let’s meet her…
Where were you born and describe your childhood?
South Los Angeles. Childhood was dope. My older brother did his own thing so I was sort of like an only child due to our age difference. I played a lot with my friends but was very happy being alone with my Barbies because I made very elaborate, dramatic, multi-part stories with them. My parents were divorced but they both showed mad loved. I had a happy childhood. Both my parents were crazy encouraging about any and everything I wanted to do or try.
When did you know you had been bitten by the creative bug? Did you always know how to use your power?
I was bitten by the creative bug when I wrote my first book in the 5th grade. I knew then that entertainment was my path.
Were you into the arts/acting in school?
My high school was divided up into 5 different programs. I was in the Communication Arts Academy which emphasized TV, writing, art, and video production; all the stuff I eventually fell in love with. Never went to acting school.
Where did you go to college?
Claremont Colleges, specifically Pitzer. Culture shock like a muthaf*cka.
Outside of your work, do you have any hobbies?
I love watching Anime any chance I get. I enjoy doing research for projects I’m working on. I try to take myself to the movies often. I collect visually abrasive earrings.
You’re a known earring fiend. What other creative ways do you express herself? What musical vibes usually set the music for your work?
I only really express myself in my work and my earrings. I dress pretty boring so my earrings are my weapon of choice.
I love music so much that it distracts me. So if I have crazy important or time-sensitive work, then it’s silence only. If I’m chilling, then my attention is all over the map. That’s how I find the music for my shows. And my friends make great music. I’m a Richard Wright fan for life.
What was the catalyst for your early work as well as your current projects? Did you not see yourself or people who looked like you or were you simply trying to put more of us on?
If I had to pinpoint the catalyst for my work I’d say seeing the little Black girl in Jurassic Park when I was a kid. She was so regular looking. And Black. But she was getting into it with dinosaurs. That image did something to me, and it just stuck with me, the idea of her; just being a regular black girl on the big screen. My entire creative career is about the average people, the everyday struggle. Nothing grand, nothing minuscule, just regular Black people like the girl on Jurassic Park.
As a Black woman did you encounter any negativity in more diverse environments that let you know what you would have to create your own images for the people to devour or instead be devoured by mediocre representations that you had no control over? Did you struggle with balancing trying to represent versus paying the rent doing things that weren’t really showcasing your true talent?
I have never ever struggled with any outright negativity in diverse environments. White women don’t clench their purses when I walk by, no one ever shouted “nigger” at my workplace. But micro-aggression and lack of opportunities given to me because I’m a Black woman, oh hell yes, all day. My desire to want to create stemmed from me wanting to entertain myself. Jeanine thinks Jeanine makes dope stuff. If no one else watched or cared, I’d still make it. I create Black content because I love my community, I love my friends, I love my mom, I love my people. So when you combine me seeing this little Black girl in Jurassic Park, me thinking I make dope stuff, and me loving Black people.
Now, I struggled with being a creative and paying bills. Shit, my phone almost got cut off last week. I’ve turned down several EXTREMELY lucrative opportunities in order to stay the course. But they were easy choices. My happiness in doing what I love is more important than my phone bill being paid. Eventually, it’ll get it turned back on but I could never get back all the time I wasted doing things I hated.
When you decided to start your own production company, Nine27 Entertainment, what evolution from Black and Sexy TV did you see taking place as you continued to present culturally driven content but now with more control?
I decided to start nine27 Entertainment because I needed to work solely on my vision. It was time for me to have control over the things that mattered to me. It was literally me evolving from a girl into a woman. No more people to lean on, no more hiding behind the shadows, no more being drowned out by others. I emerged, and I took my friends and my family with me.
What awards or recognition have you received as a creative?
Rising Star award for African American Women in Cinema Women of Excellence, Webby Award, Honorable Mention at Annual Toast to Urban Entertainment Executives
Tell our readers about ThePLUGtv?
ThePLUGtv is a digital network which aims to change the narrative by introducing audiences to people of color who live lives that are so much more than the sliver of the minority experience that traditional media’s gatekeepers allow on screen. With an original slate of programming of Comedy, Drama, Fitness, and Alternative reality, ThePLUGtv’s mission is to create, develop, and produce high-quality content that authentically represents people of color. By creating job opportunities & providing career-building experiences for a diverse workforce, and highlighting diverse on-screen character roles for people of color, thePLUGtv produces a more diverse Hollywood.
Did you have any regrets initially when you left Black and Sexy TV? How did you decide to push forward into developing your own?
Absolutely not, it was time to move on. The way the other partners and I operated was no longer aligned and it had been that way for a while. I’m a creator, so pushing forward was the only option. I wasn’t going to stop because of a partnership that turned sour. When I get lemons I make lemonade.
Recently your legacy has been tested. Looking back, how do you tell other creative’s to protect their necks while maintaining their truth and remaining authentic? How do you push past the discouragement and disappointments?
Pushing past discouragement…sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you let the doubt seep in. If you get caught up in it and turn your back on your passion, it wasn’t for you. If you turn your back but you can’t sleep, you’ll be back. I turned my back, got depressed, and then was back at it the very next day because this life is in my blood. Tips: Learn about intellectual property protections, business operating agreements, and know that it’s rare that your interests and that of business will stay the same over time. IP and business agreements help you know what’s yours and what you can do if/when you part ways. If you have the money, hire your own lawyer to counsel you.
What have been your biggest struggles since branching off on your own? What is something you “lost” in the process?
My biggest struggle since branching off has been growing brand awareness. It’s hard to get the word out that I’m back with new content with no marketing budget. The time commitment it takes to get people to like, share, comment, blah blah, is a whole other job I wasn’t prepared for.
What is your long-range goal for ThePLUGtv? What do you need from supporters and the industry to make that happen?
The long-range goal is to be the next Netflix of course. I need money to hire more staff and pay people so they can actively dedicate their time to building this with me. Money. Money. Money. If people are looking to invest reach out to me and I’ll connect you with my manager.
Tell us about some of the ThePLUGtv projects.
Petty Fitness: Two best friends on a journey to reconnect the mind, body, and spirit to meet their superficial goals. Unlike most fitness shows, we exhibit all the failure, slips up, and back peddling that diet and exercise and spiritual cleansing requires. Season 1 just ended. Check it out HERE.
His & Hers: A non-linear series chronicling the authentic life of a regular millennial African-American couple. Each episode is written by Jeanine Daniels and brought to life a different Director & Director of Photography. Two people, one apartment, all Love. Created by Jeanine Daniels & Janie Chavers (her mom), HIS & HERS focuses on Harold & Tyree, a 30 somethings couple who reflect the good, the bad, the ugly, the awesome, and real situations of authentic Black Love. It’s the next show being released on The Plug. Teaser is HERE.
Auntie’s Advice: A live-action advice show hosted by brutally honest Ms. AuntieNeen (Jeanine Daniels) & her unfiltered special guests of comedians, podcasters, musicians, and random homies. Trailer is HERE.
Almost Not Quite: A mockumentary-style anthology series following 6 people and their obscure relationship statuses. Think Netflix’s Easy, but much Blacker.
What’s your favorite color? I don’t have one. But I wear a lot of black shirts because I sweat a lot, so they save me from serious embarrassment. So I guess…. black.
Wow. All of these sound awesome but let’s be real. When is the last time you cried and why?
I cry all the time. My over 30 hormones have not been kind to me. I cry over the stupidest stuff. My friends have called me a robot all my life because I never used to cry, so this is new. However, the things I cry about are never things one should really cry about. In fact, I can tell you I cry a lot watching anime. Whenever a group of friends are trying to defeat someone, they come together and work hard, and someone gets killed, Water Works. Assassination Classroom is an anime that legit f*cked me up a couple months ago. Every time I think about how they ended the season, I get teary. See, stupid, shit.
Who is Jeanine Daniels on the surface and who is she at her core?
Jeanine Daniels is quiet, rudely sarcastic, prefers to be alone, doesn’t like to be social or meet new people, and side-splittingly petty. Jeanine is passive until pushed too far, then…*********************. She’s incredibly self-sacrificing and has complexes about her body, face, and feet. She’s insecure AF, and sometimes over it all and wants to stop trying. But Ms. AuntieNeen is funny, wild, aggressive, social, confident, and hilarious on all levels. She’s the one people like; not Jeanine.
And that’s ok.
For more information on Jeanine and her current projects etc. please visit jeaninedaniels.com.
