Why not JANN?

I write this article to rant and have a call to action. Something happened recently, and I have to speak my mind and then call on those in the Jamaican animation industry to start taking action regarding the development of the industry. Too often, I find that people in my industry are waiting on some white knight to come and save us. Life doesn't work like that. If you don't work toward fixing the problem(s), it will never be fixed. Let me tell you my story and why I have this call to action.

I have been a member of the Jamaican Animation Industry since about 2005, when I started studying animation at the Media Technology Institute, affectionately known as CPTC. Then I transitioned to teaching animation in 2013. I then joined the Jamaica Animation Nation Network in January 2018. Please note, I wasn't aware of JANN until about 2016/17. But it seemed like a relatively easy decision. I'm working in the animation industry; I should be a member of the association for that industry.

When I was a budding actuarial scientist, I thought about the association that I should be a member of. As a budding IT professional, I thought about the Jamaica Computing Society. As an upcoming graphic designer, I joined the Jamaica Design Association. So, while working in the animation industry, I joined JANN. Since then, I have joined other associations like the Animation Educators Forum and the Society of Animation Studies. I have even contemplated joining Jamaica Film and Television Association (JAFTA), Women In Film and Television (WIFTA) as well as Women In Animation (WIA). As a professional, it is in your best interest to be a member of a group of like-minded people so that you can grow together. I guess that is why I am so disturbed that many more people choose not to join JANN. Even if they do not join JANN, then join another entity, but that is not happening.

There are many lost opportunities because people from the Jamaican animation industry choose not to join JANN. I think, for me, the most disturbing incident was when JAMPRO brokered a meeting with both Netflix and Nickelodeon. JANN was given the information and we sent out the call to the network. Only a few creatives responded. It doesn't matter what beef you may have with JANN; that shouldn't prevent you from sending content to Netflix and Nickelodeon. It never should.

It is my belief, and I could be wrong, but I think my industry is so splintered that we choose to go on the journey by ourselves. When there is a choice to join an association that will help you to grow, most people in the Jamaican animation industry choose to go it alone. Why is that? I am genuinely perplexed. Animation is a team effort. It has always been. Then why are we choosing to go on the journey alone?

Recently I had a stand-off with a colleague who insisted that JANN was riddled with corruption, explaining that the executive members were stealing jobs from members. This disturbed me deeply. As a current executive member, I have never observed anything even remotely to that. I contacted my colleague to ascertain why he made such a bold statement publicly, and I am still waiting to get real answers. The main thing that was said was that this was done to protect the identity of the person it had happened to. I have grown tired of these rumours, and I think that is what has led me to write this article. The association exists so that we can move together as an industry. If there is anyone who is having a problem, say so, and say so with clarity. We can't move forward together if we decide to remain splintered.

Jamaicans are descendants of the most rebellious Africans who were imported to the Caribbean. Jamaicans are descendants of warriors and people who looked at slavery and said we wouldn't have it and they fought to abolish it. So, it breaks my heart that some people in the Jamaican animation industry don't speak up when they are having a problem with anyone in authority. I write this article because I had a stand-off with one colleague, but I suspect that there are more people out there who are having trouble but choose not to say the issues they are having with JANN and hence choose not to become a member. I write this article because there may be people from my industry spreading rumours about JANN without verifying from the source if, in fact, the rumour may have occurred. I write this article because some people from my industry may choose not to join the association because they think they must do it alone or don't see a need to be a member of an association. To you all, you are wrong.

Being a member of any association is important. It may not be JANN, but you should be a member somewhere. When COVID hit, and I needed help determining how to execute animation classes online, I turned to Animation Educators Forum for help, and they did help. I wasn't a member because of what the association could do for me. I was a member of the association because I would be a member of like-minded people. And when I needed them, they helped. When a student needed help finding someone else to work with, JANN answered the call. We were able to send out a call to the network to see if anyone could assist him in his time of need. I am not a member of JANN to see what JANN can do for me. I am a member of JANN because I would be in a group of like-minded people going in the same direction as I am. And when I needed help, JANN answered the call.

I still have no details on what occurred with my colleague's friend. I still have questions. Was the person a paying member of JANN? JANN usually sends out a call to the network when we get contacted about a job, so what happened in this situation? JANN can't take jobs because it is an association wholly comprised of volunteers, so how could we take an animation job? Why would an entity contact JANN if they know the animator personally? Are we (JANN) being mixed up with another entity? Specific details are still not clear. What I can say is that I have never seen this happen. Communication is prepared when we are contacted about a job, and the call is sent out to the network. This is usually sent by WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and sometimes Twitter and email. We never take jobs because all of us are working people with multiple other responsibilities. What is more likely to have happened is that we never saw the information in time because, as I said, we're all volunteers with no help or money. Sometimes, things fall through the crack.

Mahatma Gandhi said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." Basically, do the activities that you wish to happen around you. I chose to join JANN because I wanted to be part of the change. I challenge everyone in the Jamaican animation industry to do the same. Be part of the change and join JANN. I challenge everyone in the Jamaican animation industry to volunteer and help the association to be even better than it is. Only three persons are moving the industry forward as part of the executive body of JANN: Kevin Jackson (president), Kemar McInnis (training and development manager) and me (marketing manager). Volunteer and help us to improve, especially if you're dissatisfied with the service. In our next executive body elections, run for a position, and make the changes from the inside. What I won't accept is mumblings from outside and spreading rumours without anything real to substantiate what is being said. It is time we step out of the dark ages, make our ancestors proud, and fight for what we want! Join JANN (or at least join an association), and work together to progress together.

People in the Jamaican animation industry, this is a call to action for you. If you have any problems with my statement, feel free to email me at [email protected]. I am always open to hearing your side of why you're not a member of JANN. Let's go ahead and hash it out. In many cases, there has to be some discourse before we can have change.

#WorkTogetherProgressTogether

#WhyNotJANN

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