Today we’d like to introduce you to Jalene Mack.
How did you get to where you are today, both personally and professionally?
I got started on the path of arts and entertainment as a kid due to the exposure to the arts. I saw The Jackson 5s in concert when I was 5 years old. I was about 7 years old when my mom took me to a community play in the 1970s called Faces. I thought it was so amazing to see people perform live on a stage in front of live audiences. But when I saw Kim Fields on A Different World, I knew acting on TV was for me. She attended a private school, wore a uniform, was near my age and black like me. That WAS me! She made me laugh and learn through life lessons. Since that young age, I was always involved in the arts. I attended dancing school, sang in the choir, participated in speech contests, active in the drama club, marched as a majorette in Mardi Gras parades and was in every school play. I knew I wanted to be an actress, I wanted to be a performer. But like most American kids were told, “education is important”. So off to college I went.
Xavier Universtiy did not have a theater department but in 1988 it was no surprise that I would sign up for Xavier’s talent show. Reesa, Tammy and one of my best friends to this day Leiza, who I met at X.U., performed a well-choreographed dance routine to the Oaktown’s 3-5-7 hit song “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah”. We looked like a real Hip Hop Group. We killed it; only to be knocked out of first place by a group of random guys who had no dance routine or costumes but they knew all the words to NWA’s “Gangsta, Gangsta”. So did the audience. Folks went crazy. I guess they deserved the win just for getting the place so hyped. I had done a number of other things over the years in the arts but moments like that kept the fire burning.
Some other campus activities at X.U. centered around Homecoming, Friday Beer Blasts, and Fall and Spring Festivals. I believe in 1988 or ’89, Paul Mooney performed comedy on campus at our Spring Fest. I was on the entertainment committee and was designated his student guide. We stayed in touch over the years. He would be one of many comedians, entertainers and industry game changers I would meet and work with or for over years to come. That experience at Xavier set the trajectory of my professional career with entertainers.
As graduation approached, I knew I had to make a decision at the fork in the road: Move to LA and pursue acting or further my education to make myself more marketable in the workforce because “education is important”. I decided to go to law school. I figured go to law school and learn about contracts so that WHEN not IF I pursued an acting career at least I would not get taken advantage of like many entertainers because I would understand contracts which they teach the first year. I figured if I failed law school I can then continue with my acting career but be better prepared for show business having at least one year of law school education. But I performed well in law school completing all three years and passing the bar the first time. I was a licensed attorney. But I still wanted to be an actress with strong interest in the entertainment industry in general. So I decided I could not be a struggling actress. I decided while pursuing acting, practicing law would be my “waitressing job”. Marrying the two careers, I went on to have a very successful law career ultimately as an entertainment lawyer with nearly 30 years experience and tons of film, TV, stage, commercials as an actor, producer, writer and philanthropist to match!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Most people did not realize I was an actress before I was an attorney. So now and then I would get “you’re a lawyer trying to act”. But for me I was an actress trying to practice law. Being a lawyer was my waitresing job. One person told me some years ago that I was wasting my parents’ money on my law degee acting. I explained that I wrote a play, produced it and acted in it. It had seven sold out shows. I later put my lawyer hat on negotiated a movie deal for the play called The Great Divide starring Tichina Arnold, Darrin Henson and many others. It paid well. I don’t think I wasted my law degree at all. I wear many hats in this business. As much as I have accommplished with my career as an attorney and as an actress, operating from Houston, TX in the entertainment industry early in my career allowed for slow but steady pace. I was a big fish in a small pond. Had I moved to Hollywood there would have been faster pace, way more work but more actors too. Being a small fish in a big pond did not seem like a wise move. My husband was building his architecture firm so moving was not really an option. Balancing family and clients was always challenging. Now that the entertainment industry’s technology adavanced and productions film in many markets outside of L.A., this created more work and more clients with legal needs.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Jalene is not only an entertainment attorney but this industry renaissance woman and ARTivist has successfully integrated the demanding roles of wife, mother, playwright, TV & Film producer, writer, actress currently starring as Wanda Kennedy in the UMC Network Houston drama 5th Ward, a hit television series renewed for a second season, Founder of Mack Performing Arts Collective (MPAC), a performing and visual arts nonprofit and author of The Business of Stage, Screen & in Between, Entertainment Attorney Jalene Mack’s Practical Advice for Performers, Playwrights & Producers by keeping the focus on her long-term goal “to make an impact on the entertainment industry.” Jalene majored in Political Science and minored in Mass Communications receiving her Bachelor of Art’s Degree from Xavier University of New Orleans in 1990. She received her Juris Doctorate from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University in May, 1993 and was admitted to the bar thereafter. With over 27 years of expertise in the entertainment business, she remains passionate about using her legal and business skills to support artists and further their Arts business. From her base in Houston, she has expanded her reach into the film centers of Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, Austin, New Orleans and other cities. Ms. Mack’s legal skills in Entertainment include a wide range of matters regarding Film & Television (scripted and unscripted) from development through distribution, Theater, Music, Books, Performing Artists, Contracts, Film Finance, Distribution, Federal Trademark & Copyright Registration and more. In addition to compiling a long list of acting credits in over 40 productions including Better Call Saul & Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice and winning a Hollywood & Africa Prestigious Award (HAPA) for Best Supporting Actor for the independent film Christmas Belles, Jalene was also either Producer or Production Attorney on another three dozen or more films and TV series. A few recent films she produced/executive produced include The Pillow Case (BETHer, Oct 30, 2021) Staycation (ALLBLK, Feb 2022) One Crazy Christmas (Tammy Townsend, Shawn Blakemore), The Great Divide (BET, Darrin Henson, Tichina Arnold) and My B.F.F. (Aspire, C. Thomas Howell, Sean Patrick Thomas.) She recently served as production attorney to MTV’s A Hip Hop Christmas (Dec 2021), Lifetime’s Safe Space (Jan 2022) and Red Guerrilla Entertainment’s North of the 10 (2022) which shot in Chicago and the UAE. A few clients former or present include Steve Harvey, Rushion McDonald, Kim Burrell, AJ Johnson, Kiana Dancie, LeToya Luckett, Nephew Tommy, Kenny Smith, Carl Payne, Greg Carter, Datari Turner, Rhyan LaMarr to name a few. Jalene also serves as the Executive Director of Tava Cares, a nonprofit that advocates financial assistance and resources to women diagnosed with breast cancer. For her work with the youth, contributions to the arts, law and the community, she has been honored with the President Barak Obama Lifetime Achievement Award, Top 30 Influential Women of Houston Award, Houston Lawyers Association, Matthew W. Plummer, Sr. Justice Award, Attorney of the Year Black Excellence Awards, and recently recognized as one of 40 Influential Women of 2020 by Los Angeles Wire Business Edition to name a few. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. You can find Jalene on all social media and professional platforms: @JaleneMack. Websites: www.jalenemack.com, www.mpac-arts.org, www.tavacares.org
The Founder, Executive Director/Artistic Director
Aside from all of her accomplishments, one of her proudest is Mack Performing Arts Collective, Inc. (MPAC) a 501 (C) 3 non-profit corporation founded by her January 24, 2011. Realizing she had invaluable knowledge as a business woman, entertainment lawyer, playwright, producer and actress, having a circle of high profile clients, industry colleagues and contacts ranging from all facets of performing arts, and having resources most often times out of reach of others were right at her fingertips, this was the opportunity to give back to her community, expand the growth of the performing arts industry, and make dreams come true. MPAC prides itself on procuring Hollywood celebrities to give back by teaching free to low costs education workshops to children and young artists in the areas of acting, film & video production, stand-up comedy, and playwriting. Joey Wells, Kim Fields, Faizon Love, Ella Joyce, Rushion McDonald, Roland Martin, Kym Whitley, Sherri Shepherd, Golden Brooks, Malik Yoba, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Gary Owen and Guy Torry are a few past celebrity guest speakers. MPAC also provides business panel discussions on television and film led by industry experts, comedy showcases and stand-up comedy series, and productions including a jazz show and theater. MPAC’s mission: “Cultivating the interest of Performing Arts by exposing, educating and entertaining our youth and young adults.” Jalene is one of the visionaries behind Entertainment MPAC along with her co-visionaries Emmy Award-winning Producer of the Steve Harvey Talk Show Rushion McDonald and Powerhouse Attorney Ricky Anderson. The conference was an Entertainment Empowerment of career changing speakers who empower, motivate and inspire success in the show business.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I have spoken on many panels, news shows, talk shows, etc. I know I know a lot. But about five years ago I was asked to speak at the Black Caucus on an entertainment panel that included some heavy hitters in the film and TV space including the iconic Rev. Jessie Jackson. I was excited to speak in such company but a bit nervous at the same time. I questioned whether I have a voice to fill the national space. I questioned whether my voice was just local to Houston. I did not turn down the offer but that concern was in the back of my head. Once the time came, all doubt went out the window and I looked forward to each question thrown my way. I was confident that my perspective and expertise was very much in line wth the national conversation. I am glad I went. I learned with certainty that I deserve to be in the room.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@jalenemack.com
- Website: www.jalenemack.com
- Instagram: @jalenemack
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jalenemmack
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaleneMack
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jalenemack#p/u
MPAC prides itself on creating access by procuring Hollywood celebrities and leading industry experts to give back to the next generation of talent by teaching education workshops, participating in panel discussions and networking events.
Provide a networking environment and information exchange forum for the performing arts and entertainment industry.
Provide a one-stop resource platform that fosters creativity, expands knowledge, promotes productions and enables growth in performing arts and entertainment through national and global connections.
Provide exposure and enjoyment to arts and entertainment through mediums that promote acting, film, tv, theater dance, and music.
Image Credits:
Natioanl Black Pre-Law Conference & Law Fair (photo of me speaking) Other photos were submitted by email
