Jayce Baron is giving a voice where it needs to be!

Who is Jayce Baron? ( Give us some background information on your education, experience etc)

Jayce Baron is a mogul on the rise. I’m an Executive Producer, Director, Writer, Entrepreneur, and more. My tagline is “the intersection of advocacy and entertainment” and all things I create and do are for the betterment of humanity.

I studied communications and graduated college in 2010 and the recession forced me to start building a brand from scratch. Twelve years later, I have works in front and behind the scenes, produced a globally listened to podcast, produced and directed films, advocated for HIV awareness, helped pass laws to protect sexual assault survivors, and more.  

What is jBaron Creative House?

jBaron Creative House is an independent production house with limitless boundaries. Our goal is to tell stories and give light to those who are often overlooked by society. Last year we shot an action film addressing sex trafficking and the power of Black women. The script, written by TJ Ali and Directed by Shayla Raquel, won the John Singleton EmBrace Award from the City of Los Angeles. Our documentary film, co-produced and directed by Hailie Sahar, premiered on ALLBLK in February of this year. We are excited to be working with Sahar Productions again, along with Emmy Award Winning Director, Anthony Hemingway, for the upcoming biopic, Sir Lady Java. She was a very famous entertainer in the 1960s. She was a trans woman of color who was accepted and loved by Black Hollywood and eventually used her power to go against LAPD and revoke Rule #9, a law that prohibited anyone to wear clothing opposite of the gender assigned at birth. We see people like Ellen DeGeneres, Lil Nas X, Harry Styles, and more being able to express themselves without a second thought, and Java did the work for that. She is still with us and we cannot wait to tell her riveting story!

You are on a mission to help and inspire others, why is that important?

Oftentimes, we are taught as we get older that we are small when in reality we are all extremely powerful beings. I look around and see people acting from a lower frequency and that plays a huge roll in how the world works. If we all exercise our power to its highest potential while constantly learning and fine-tuning, the world would be a better place, and that’s where I would like to live during this lifetime. 

Where and how did you get your start in writing, producing and directing?

Honestly, I just did it. It took years and dedication, but I’ve always found avenues to create and contribute to the world. I started writing blogs online in college about my views of the world and pop culture. It eventually took off, and I started incorporating video blogs on YouTube. From there, I wrote my novel, Absolutely Me in 2015. Soon after, HBO pinged me to write a show concept. I wrote the pilot, found the money to film it, and got my hands dirty in the film production world.

When Gemmel Moore died at the hands of Ed Buck, a lot of people from the community came to me because of my platform in the advocacy world. I’m not an attorney, but I’m a filmmaker, so we made a film that highlighted all overlooked lives, especially trans people who suffer the worst in the LGBTQ Community at alarming and brutal murder rates.

I’m always growing and learning and cannot wait to tackle more. 

What’s the experience been like for you? What are some things people don’t know about what it takes to build a brand in this industry?

My experience has been both rewarding and challenging. Although my work is still mostly independently produced, I still deal with bigger companies and networks that are often operated by cishet white people. Because our content is so nuanced in the entertainment world (but not in the real world), I’ve run into some challenging conversations, just like I could imagine anyone who is marginalized working in any industry. I’m happy that social media has opened society up and we are slowly understanding that “our world” is not “the world”, and there are far more stories to tell outside of our bubble.

My advice: be professional, learn, have morals, keep going even when it seems tough, and don’t do it alone. Carve your own path that works for you. There is not only one route to accomplish something.

You do a lot of work on diversity, inclusivity and advocacy for the LGBTQIA2+ community with companies, can you describe your work with them?

I’ve worked with Hollywood Reporter, Billboard Magazine, the CDC, and have done things from PSA campaigns to hosting events. I’ve also done consulting work, producing, and more.  

You are a keynote speaker and advocate on a national level, how did you get your start?

The first time I was asked to speak was for a Pride Event many many years ago. I wrote an entire 5-minute speech I memorized and blanked as soon as I got on stage. I made the quick decision to just speak from the heart, and it came out more authentic that way. I continued public speaking when I saw people in my community, and others, not having a voice. We all have stories, and if telling my story and world views can help someone else, then so be it.