Meet Jalyssa Jimenez: Filmmaker/Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jalyssa Jimenez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jalyssa, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Taking risk and sacrificing for your art is a scary but beneficial tool to use as a creative. From what I’ve learned within the field, is to continue displaying your work to the public. No matter the outcome or result to how people may react to your craft. I am constantly vocal about topics on mental illness, body positivity, and the protection of women in my film work. As a result, I do come across viewers that demonize me and my content. There is also times that I am not fully satisfied with what I make. I am guilty of not being fully confident with my work sometimes. I however will continue creating no matter the outcome of my work. Because my art is my truth. My art is my therapy and is apart of who I am.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Back in 2019, I was struggling with my anxiety disorder and learning disability. Without any recourses, I was trying my best to maintain my mental illness but was failing to find a solution. I grew into a deep depression in the process and isolated myself completely. It was this difficult moment in my life that pushed me to rely on my art for free therapy and create content that people can rely on for their mental stability. How We Cope is a documentary series and media space where viewers can observe and connect with stories of mental illness. Once a year, I produce an episode series where I interview a few people to share their journey on how they learned or are learning to cope with their mental illness. People that have been featured in the documentary series are artists, community workers, spiritualists, and many more. I was then blessed with the first season of the documentary series to be broadcasted on BronxNet. How We Cope also digitally worked with a community art space during the summer of 2020 called “Art In The Park” created by artist Nichelle Cuevas and Yuraika Bloomfield. A social gathering that gave young BIPOC communities an outlet to express themselves creatively. As much as I love working with my brand. it has been challenging to keep up with creating more content during the pandemic. As well as checking in on my mental stability. My goal, however, is to create different content in How We Cope that reflects on the importance of mental illness and educate viewers on how to cope with themselves. What I love about my brand is the reaction my work gets from my audience. Knowing that what I post can give someone clarity is what fuels me on making more content.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am very big on taking everyone I know to food spots in the city. 787 coffee is a Puerto Rican ruined cafe. One of the drinks I love so much is their Coquito latte. 212 Hisae’s, is an Asian fusion bar located downtown Manhattan. Their food and drinks are inexpensive, along with meeting dope people. Ajisen is a ramen spot located on 14 Mott st. Where their food is also inexpensive and their ramen portions are enough for you to walk out full. Harlem Food Bar Is a community base spot located at 2100 Frederick Douglass Blvd. I love their food so much. They’re also very welcoming and their drinks are perfect. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When I started my passion as a filmmaker, I have come across beautiful people that have blessed me with growth throughout my artistic journey. Nichelle Cuevas, Derrick Pacheco, and Armiel Chandler are family to me and have held my hand throughout all the projects I’ve created and cheered me on. They are creatives themselves and their work has blossomed my perspective on art and how I should express my content. Further showing me to use my voice unapologetically and speak my truth. Sade Falebita is a multimedia producer and teaching artist at Downtown Community Television Center. She has mentored me back when I was a student and taught me how to have faith in my film work. Her dedication and confidence as a creative are what impacted how the way I create my craft. Anthoney Limongi is a Post Production Coordinator at HBO and has flourished the way I perceive my editing technique in film. Meeting him and getting to know him as a person encouraged me to comment on my passion fully. I look up to Anthony and the way he has succeeded as a Latinx filmmaker. I have come across organizations as well that have inspired me and gave unconditional love towards me and my work. Project Feel is an art collective that makes content, base on love and community. They collaborated and gave spaces for other artists to build their craft and share it with a wide audience. I was blessed to have worked on a project with them called “Lovethyself” where I was given a voice to express my experience with body positivity and self-love. This organization has warmed my heart and showed me how my film work is apart of who I am as a person. Overall I am grateful for my entire art community and how my moments with them have built me into the artist I am today.

Website: https://jalyssafilms.pb.online

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howwecope__/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jalyssa-jimenez-9879a6179/

Other: https://vimeo.com/dctvny https://www.instagram.com/negralatina__/

Image Credits
“LoveThyself” – Project Feel