SHE’S more than film and fashion. Ayana Jara Jordan Jimenez is a lot of things crammed into one good looking, well-mannered lady. She’s a budding career woman who is also into dancing, but she’s primarily a millennial who is undaunted by the challenges she accepts.
She has done her share by taking on the task as an all-around-girl upon the prodding of her cousin, director Don Frasco, during the making of the glossy film, “Waves.”
Now stepping up as the right hand marketing person juggling the menswear company Elated Industries and the film outfit, Waverly Pictures, the 23-year-old is all set, facing the year ahead just excites her.
So, what is Ayana looking forward to? She declares: “Me growing up.”
(CDN PHOTOS : EDD BUENAVIAJE)
You have your hands full with menswear line Elated Industries, Waverly Pictures and your dancing. And you still have time to party. Is the party girl in you still prevalent?
I do get that question a lot! I used to be a party girl but right now things are kind of different. It’s all about the balance. I still do go out but now I know my priorities. In college, I was partying more and was not focusing. However right now it’s more on what do I want to achieve, I just try to make it more consistent in my everyday dealings so that there’s structure. It’s all about the discipline.
How did you come to realize this? This need to focus and stay disciplined?
It was just recently, this year. What affected it was the people that I worked with and the work that I am doing which is film and marketing for Elated. Working with these people somehow gave me this insight that there are bigger things than being wasted every night, not doing something or just slacking off. There’s so much you can do while you are still alive.
How’s it working with director Don Frasco?
“Right hand” in a way I guess since with Waverly Productions, it’s just the two of us. He is the filmmaker and I help out in producing and marketing. I never studied filmmaking, only the business aspect of it. So working with Don is like a crash course on a lot of stuff and I learned a lot in a year’s time. I started out April 2014. He is my cousin and I have always looked up to him.
So far, what’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in that one year?
Nothing really that specific, although I see it in him that you just have to work hard. In that one year or so since working on the film Waves, it wasn’t that easy since Don was juggling both the creative and the business aspect of a lot of things however, being able to pull it through is just amazing. He studied film in New York and after studying he thought of touching base here in the Philippines, he believes that there’s so much that we can still do here.
How tough was it?
Let’s just say when they started making that film I was still an Entrepreneurship student at the University of San Carlos. During shooting we hired specialized crew from outside the country and out of the blue, Don asked whether I am interested to help out and immediately I said yes. Bisag unsa ra ang i-sugo sa akoa and I would just do it because I was eager to do it. I thought it was fun during that time because I was young however I was a sulugoon during that time as I was tasked with anything. I was running around helping out the production with no specific job description.
Well at least he had you immediately onboard his team …
Actually he talked me into working with him towards my college graduation. He gave me few months to think about it however at the back of my mind, I know that I surely will miss a lot of actual learning. I mean I was already in the industry so it would be something that I would regret if I will miss out on the opportunity. Two days after my graduation I walked into the office and that was it.
So you did not initially want to accept the offer?
My passion has always been dancing, so I had other plans in mind. With dancing, I was planning to either go to LA or New York just to further my craft. There’s a lot of good training there and besides, I do want to start a performing arts academy here – that has always been my ultimate dream. Realistically, I was just starting – I don’t have the foundation. I don’t know how to start it moreso I don’t even have the financial backup to start everything. So with film, like dance, it is still culturally and artistically related and eventually I have gained pointers here and there. I am learning and really, it is very challenging producing films.
And this passion for dancing?
It is my expression, my reflection through movement. I was always artistically inclined. I love doing arts and crafts and I was really active in school in terms of extra-curricular activities. I like it more than actual studying. So I joined performances because when I do it, I feel like I am at peace. But sometimes to reach something you want you have to compromise so right now, I am basically making the most of what I have and besides, not everybody is given this opportunity.
There’s this notion that you must have it easy considering your blood relations and you are already born rich?
No. I think it’s the opposite. I don’t think everything is easy. Even if we’re provided with something there is always that something that we still have to work hard for. In my case, I have to provide mostly for myself.
Seriously?
Not financially. I mean, I have my parents to help me with that however with the stuff that I do and with work, it is more of proving things to myself. I love my family and yes we are also not a perfect family, when the mindset is not the same it is kind of hard to agree on some things. I still strive and I see bigger things about the world.
What’s your take on the competition as Elated and Waverly Pictures are up against the big retail and film giants?
To start with, it is more about building the brand – who and what the company is. Right now we are different because we are a Cebuano brand and you don’t have that much here. We try to make it different in a way that aside from the quality – we make it personal. We just don’t make a film or design clothes and put it out, no. We always think of details and judging from our look compared to other brands I can safely say that ours is entirely unique, every detail is well thought out. With Waverly Pictures, we can’t deny the fact that there’s a lot of good films distributed internationally, even us we adore a number of films. What we are just up to is to share whatever stories we have here in Cebu to be told internationally.
After “Waves,” what’s next for Waverly Pictures?
Right now we are currently developing our next film. Hopefully, it would be better than “Waves.” This one is going to be based here and it will be in our native language. It would be more youthful.
What’s your ultimate favorite film?
“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” Looking back when I watched it, even until now, I can still feel something from that film. Movies are supposed to give you that emotion and I have to admit “Eternal … “ is quite heavy and complicated. At first I didn’t quite get it pero after watching it parang everything just fell into place.
Who are the people you look up to?
The everyday people that I work with, have conversations with. Individuals that are near us have a story to tell and somehow I let them inspire me. And, oh yes! Elon Musk of Tesla and SpaceX, his vision of a conceptual high speed transportation system blows me. He is all about the future.
You come across as a meek person. What makes you mad?
You know I would always ask myself that question: “Nganong dili man ko masuko?” I think masuko ko pero I always try to keep it to myself lang. I don’t want to be aggressive about it. More of like absorb it and try to think of raising my position as a person. I would only get mad siguro if other people would disrespect other people. Homophobia, racial discrimination … that just angers me.
You have beauty, brains and the pedigree. Are you giving beauty pageants a thought?
I do admire these ladies (those who join beauty pageants). To be there up on stage, their intelligence and tenacity and the discipline. It is not easy because more than the physical it is the commitment, heart and soul. Right now what goes on in my mind is the whole notion or purpose behind it. I just don’t want it to be just for show. Realistically, for now, I don’t see myself joining one.
How do you see yourself a few years from now?
I still want to pursue dancing gyud. I still have to go to New York or LA. And besides I love what I am doing now which is marketing. The thought of being able to influence the taste and preference of individuals, I see doing what I am doing now for the long haul.
How do you deal with pressure?
Even before I started working, I was always like this. I like working with bigger perspectives and thinking ahead. There’s more to life than the small box that we are in. There’s a lot of things that one person can do and you just have to do it. If you put your heart into something nothing could stop you. I think this is me growing up.