On this episode of Creative Space, we have the pleasure of speaking with writer, director, comedian, and my absolute favorite person to follow on social media—Sam Jones. She’s written and directed branded spots for I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, Under Armour, Dollar Beard Club, Cricket Wireless, Pepsi, Samsung, Coca Cola and many more. Sam is currently a Creative Director at Paramount, writing spots across networks like Comedy Central, MTV, and VH1. 

She’s also the star of the hilarious comedy series, At Home with Sam Jones, which she produces with long-time collaborator Mathew Brian Makar. 

Sam’s incredible journey to where she is today was anything but traditional—she actually started out in insurance, followed by five years in the fashion industry. The common denominator though is passion and hard work for whatever she is doing. And she is a true artist through and through. Despite the demands of her work at Paramount, she keeps busy with her own projects as well, and currently has a short film and two feature films in progress, in addition to owning a bagel shop in the Catskills called Goodies. 

There’s so much to take in on this episode, but one particularly interesting theme Sam brought up was the idea of creative resistance and how we can waltz with it to avoid putting off our own creative projects. 

For more on Sam Jones, visit: therealsamjones.com and follow her on social media @therealsamjones.

Also, be sure to check out the spot she just did for Wendy’s starring Matt Cutshall.

SHOW NOTES—

0:00—Introduction

1:11—Put a little LOL in your heart

2:00—What is creative resistance

5:00—Sam’s childhood and early influences

6:43—Sleepaway camp and Doritos

10:00—Sam’s first creative pursuit 

11:30—Making art with her best friends

15:15—The difference between a sellout and a “soul out”

17:50—The journey from Libra Leather to becoming the “Brand-Aid” 

20:38—A man who never took a chance never had a chance

21:00—From Julie Maclowe to getting Revlon as a client independently 

24:30—What is creativity? 

27:00—Climb through the window and open your own door

30:00—Yetta the Sasquatch and her upcoming short film

35:56—How Sam wants to change advertising

39:35—What Sam wish she knew 5 years ago

44:00—Sam’s creative process

51:00—How our subconscious picks up everything

53:20—Sam’s gratitude practices

56:05—What drives Sam to create

58:00—What’s next for Sam

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