Meet Jenna Kanell | Actor, Stunt Performer, & Filmmaker

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

Hi Jenna, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’m happiest in a consistently evolving work environment, and not well suited for more conventional corporate structures. I thrive in the ebb and flow. The shifting spontaneity of the film world compliments my desire to experience more lives and worlds than I truly have time for in my short stay on this earth.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It’s strange to address how I’ve arrived where I am, because in all honesty I don’t truly feel as though I’ve arrived anywhere. Every moment seems like the middle of a perpetually changing, ongoing journey without one true finish line (aside from, you know, the big one). Some pieces of the path bear bigger bumps than others, but none of it’s been entirely smooth. I haven’t had the benefits of wealth or nepotism on my side. I’ve done battle against flagrant misogyny on more than one occasion, and negotiate a life alongside my mental illness regularly. But I also benefit from the privileges of lighter skin and an able body. Everyone has something holding them back and something helping them fly. I’ve tried to learn not only when to speak up, but how, and to whom. It’s easier said than done, but I make an effort to learn something about myself, others, or the world at large from every challenge. I’m certainly proud of the professional vignettes I’ve had the joy of experiencing, both in front of and behind the camera. Two accomplishments that spring to mind are the Des Rocs music video for “This Is Our Life,” and the TEDx Talk I delivered. Both are currently available on YouTube. Another valuable lesson continues to be, rather than waiting for any specific accomplishment to bring fulfillment in its entirety, to instead focus on enjoying the process, the habits, the small details in the every day. Meditation, veganism, and immersions in nature are a few tools that have proven invaluable.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Prior to the pandemic, I would have recommended stops at any number of restaurants and bars. But given the necessary safety restrictions, I’d instead suggest takeout from one of the growing amount of delicious plant based spots around town (such as Green Sprout, Harmony, or any of the incredible Ethiopian kitchens). Most people have Piedmont Park on their radar, but I’d take them to picnic in the lesser populated Grant Park (after a walk on the Beltline, of course, and for a stroll along the incredible Reynoldstown graffiti wall). And should they enjoy hiking, I’d take them north of the city to the mountains – we are lucky enough to live driving distance from some incredible peaks and views. And thanks to websites such as https://native-land.ca/ we can even acknowledge who all the beautiful land truly belongs to.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It’s tough to dedicate this shoutout to just one source; I feel grateful to stand on the shoulders of all those who forged the path before me. Though since you list books as an option, I’d love to spotlight “Peace Is Every Step” by Thích Nhất Hạnh. It’s helped shape how I move through the world and the way I express compassion to myself and other living beings. Hopefully others can benefit from the words as well.

Website: http://www.laserpigeonpictures.com/

Instagram: @Squidthusiast

Twitter: @Squidthusiast

Image Credits
Photo of me taken by Trevor May while I was producing the addiction recovery documentary “On Island.” Other photos are all still frames from various short films I’ve directed.