We had the good fortune of connecting with Jency Allison Weeks and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jency, as a parent, what have you done for you children that you feel has had the most significant impact?
As a working parent in the TV/Film industry, it has been important for me to continually show my daughter that I, Jency, as a person, wear many hats during the day to different people. Not just one single hat defines me as a person. During the day I am a neighbor, a patient at the dentist, an actress taking directions from a director, a sister to my siblings, a mom to my daughter, a customer to the Target employee, a wife to my husband, a producer for a film, a student at the gym, a daughter to my parents – the list is continuous. It’s important for me to set an example to her that titles do not define you, they create a whole human being. As one piece of glass might be needed, it’s multiple pieces of glass that create a beautiful stain glassed window!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Picture it: Frisco, Texas. 1990. Thinking about Frisco, TX in the 1990s brings me “home.” This was a time when The IKEA sign sat alone in a cow pasture. David’s Grocery Store was where we went to get the daily goods. Donuts on a Saturday morning required a road trip to Shipley’s in Plano. This Frisco was a 1 elementary and the middle school and high school was in the same building This was my childhood. This was my “home”. Fast forward a few decades; I am producing a film and a 70-year-old women runs out of her Brooklyn apartment in her torn pajamas and is screaming at my film crew over camera equipment sitting on “her” sidewalk. The confrontation nearly resulted in fists of fury and an abundance of language that would make Dave Chapelle blush. Trading in the Friday Night Lights for the bright city lights has been adventurous, to say the least. As I sat there drinking my cappuccino watching the tirade unfold, I couldn’t help but find the humor in the situation. Me, a small-town, Frisco girl sitting on a porch stoop in Brooklyn watching the eruption of emotion. This led to a flash-back experience of my last 10 years. If someone had come to me 10 years ago and said, “Jency, in 10 years you will live on the East Coast working as an actress and producer in and around New York City.”, I would have thought they lost their mind. During this time, I was not preparing for a life in TV and film. I had just finished a master’s degree in Sport Management and was working for a prominent Division 1 football program. However, deep inside, I wanted something different. Growing up, I always loved learning the behind-the-scenes aspects of the big screen. Coming from a traditional Southern family, I did not want to disrupt my “normal” life. Getting married and having our daughter only solidified that path to normality. In a round-about way, it was becoming a stay at home wife and mom that led me to a last-minute decision to take my first improv class. Shortly after, I was auditioning, signed with an agent, and working. The race was on! Like most, my career has had its ups and downs. What the general movie-goer might not understand is the hardships the actors experience until that one moment when they simply “fit” the ideal role, catapulting their career. A little talent, a little luck, and an endless amount of determination is what leads to success in this industry. I would not be where I am today if I had not decided to take a chance and pursue this crazy profession.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
Since I travel a lot for my job, I have many “favorite spots” in each town! – If you’re in Dallas: a great lunch place that is a frequent for me is FLOWER CHILD in Inwood Village. It’s fresh, organic, and feel good vibes. For a tasty dessert – STEEL CITY POPS. They are made daily from fresh and locally sourced ingredients, sweetened with organic cane sugar or honey. Flavors vary daily, but get one of their pops from the Creamy section and thank me later. – If you’re in NYC: Get a burger at THE BURGER JOINT. It’s quick, easy, to the point and it is my favorite burger in town. With all the fun shopping in town – go to BERGDORF GOODMAN that has all the art deco a heart can want and during Christmas, their ornament section defiantly fill a Christmas-aholics happy heart! – If you’re in Philly: My go to is WHITE DOG CAFE. They use local and seasonal food to create the yummiest comfort food. Desert is always RITA’S ice-custard. I will always get a GELATI (layers of Italian ice and custard) with their flavor of the day. My taste buds go wild every time and it is delicious.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
What I have learned from my daughter during my journey, is that life is meant to be “experienced.” When I watch my daughter, I see her taking every moment of her day and letting it overcome her. The park is a magical forest, the guitar is a way of speaking, people she meets are a blessing she see’s God has placed in her path. These experiences come in many different shapes and sizes, but we have to seek to acknowledge them. It is ok to slightly drift outside of your lane and experience something different and new. My decision to pursue the TV and Film industry has not been easy. It is a constant challenge that requires persistence and the ability to deal with the “R” word: Rejection. Focusing on the incredible people I have met, the memories of the different projects I have worked on, and the people that support my dream are what keep me going. My journey is not just mine, it belongs to everyone walking beside me; from my family, friends and fellow actors, to my daughter as she watches a woman follow her passion.

Website: www.JencyAllisonWeeks.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jencyallisonweeks/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jencyallisonweeks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jencyaw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JencyAllisonWeeksOfficial/
Other: Vimeo- https://vimeo.com/jencyallisonweeks IMDb – https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5576684/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Image Credits
Molly Gazan, Bryan Chatlin, Brianna Roberts, Steve Riley, David Edmonson, Linda McAlister Talent, Actors Connect LLC., BAC Talent Management, SAG-AFTRA