JDS Video & Media Productions, Inc.

06/05/2026

Well... this escalated quickly. 🤣💜
Thanks, AI!

04/20/2026

Connie Stopher

First, try not to take things so personally. Sometimes you work incredibly hard on a project, and it goes sideways due to an unforeseen…

02/24/2026

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀
Discover how to turn your creative passion into real opportunities with portfolio tips, networking strategies, and digital arts training at JDS Creative Academy. Explore programs at JDS Actors Studio, DigiFest Temecula, JDS Video and Media Productions, and gain national exposure through Spirit of Innovation: Arts Across America.
https://dianestrand.com/post/creative-passions-into-real-opportunities.. 𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞

02/12/2026

It was truly an honor to interview Jorge R. Gutierrez, the visionary director behind The Book of Life.

Jorge is a creative force who fully embraces who he is — his voice, his heritage, his happiness, and his bold artistic vision. What makes him extraordinary is not just his talent, but his self-awareness. He openly shares that his autism is his superpower — the lens that fuels his imagination, sharpens his storytelling, and allows him to see the world in vibrant, unforgettable color.

When Jorge joined us at DigiFest Temecula 2025, he brought that same heart and honesty to the stage. He shared stories, laughter, real-life pivots, and the kind of behind-the-scenes wisdom that only comes from someone who has taken courageous creative risks. Our community of filmmakers, animators, and creative entrepreneurs leaned in — not simply because of his success, but because of his sincerity and the freedom he gives others to own their difference.

The interview was a powerful reminder that creative leadership begins with authenticity. When you embrace who you are, you create work that lasts.

Jorge, thank you for trusting me with your story and for being such an impactful voice at DigiFest. Your joy, courage, and creative spirit continue to inspire our entire community.

…It’s easy to help those who can help you. But nobility is helping those who can’t help you. I believe in karma. Anything good that’s…

02/11/2026

Still reflecting on the incredible energy and insight from my interview with Justin Guarini and Kim Walsh Phillips on the Marketers Cruise! ✨

Justin isn’t just a remarkable performer from 𝐴𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝐼𝑑𝑜𝑙, to Broadway, to coaching leaders and entrepreneurs; he brings a depth of experience that is rare and inspiring. His honest conversation about 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝑝𝑢𝑟𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 reminded me why we show up in the arts, in business, and in community: to connect hearts, broaden opportunity, and unleash confidence that changes lives.

Kim’s strategic brilliance, paired with Justin’s performance leadership, creates a powerful message that champions both craft and impact, exactly the kind of leadership we’ll celebrate at 𝑫𝒊𝒈𝒊𝑭𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔. I’m beyond excited that 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐭 DigiFest Temecula, a rare appearance that underscores the festival’s mission to elevate diverse creative voices and expand pathways for artists and entrepreneurs of all backgrounds.

Dive deeper into our conversation here:

02/10/2026

Stefanie Michaela Breaks Down ‘Turning Pages’ & Bringing the 90s R&B Sound Back to the Charts | by Diane Strand | Authority Magazine | Feb, 2026 | Medium
https://medium.com/authority-magazine/stefanie-michaela-breaks-down-turning-pages-bringing-the-90s-r-b-sound-back-to-the-charts-6b2e9acbb3f0

I had the privilege of sitting down with Stefanie Michaela, an artist whose journey redefines what it means to turn the page and reclaim creative identity on her terms. In a world often fixated on overnight success, Stefanie’s story reminds us that longevity in the arts is rooted in authenticity, disciplined craft, and the courage to evolve. Her forthcoming EP Turning Pages bridges the soulful warmth of 90s-inspired R&B with the clarity of her lived experience — a sound shaped not by industry expectation but by a deeply personal artistic voice.

Stefanie walked away from the music industry for fifteen years to raise her children, only to return with a vision clearly rooted in love, purpose, and creative integrity. Her work today isn’t just about nostalgia — it’s about connection, emotional truth, and bringing listeners into shared stories of resilience and reinvention.

What resonated most with me was her emphasis on creative confidence, perseverance, and authenticity. These are the same principles that drive transformative education and expanded opportunity in the arts — the kind that not only nurtures talent, but builds careers, community, and genuine impact.

Thank you, Stefanie, for a conversation that celebrates the courage to honor your voice, the patience to let your path unfold, and the power of music to give people permission to turn their own pages. I encourage you all to read her story, explore her music, and let it inspire you to lean into your own creative chapters.

There is no quick path. I wish I knew that doing all the X, Y, and Zs was not going to make me a superstar instantly.

02/10/2026

𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿: 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝗯𝗶𝗲 𝗦𝘂

Excited to share my latest interview with visionary producer Debbie Su as part of our 𝘗𝘰𝘱 𝘊𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘙𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 series for 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗲. Debbie is a powerhouse in film production, transforming creative chaos into cinematic gold.

In this interview, Debbie shares her journey from growing up in 𝗖𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗼, 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀, to navigating indie film production in the U.S., and leading projects that empower new voices in storytelling. From managing tight budgets to producing music videos that challenge gender norms, Debbie shows that vision, grit, and trust are essential for creative leadership.

Some highlights from our conversation include:
-How stepping out of your comfort zone can open unexpected doors
-The importance of trust, collaboration, and clear decision-making
-Debbie’s five essential lessons for aspiring producers that transform how you approach creativity and leadership

Check out the full interview here: https://medium.com/authority-magazine/inside-the-producers-chair-producer-debbie-su-on-how-vision-and-grit-turn-creative-chaos-into-80a0f32ae09e
“𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐞 𝐒𝐮 𝐎𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝“

For creatives, storytellers, and aspiring leaders in the arts, this is a must-read.

An Interview With Diane Strand

02/05/2026

𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿: 𝗝𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿

Honored to spotlight this 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗲 conversation with producer, author, and creative visionary Jerica Morningstar, as part of the 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳 series.

Jerica Morningstar is the 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 and 𝗖𝗘𝗢 of 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗰., a public benefit creative company focused on storytelling, ethical innovation, and narrative worldbuilding. Raised in rural Arkansas with no industry access, Jerica learned to produce by necessity — transforming survival, structure, and imagination into a multidisciplinary creative career spanning literature, screenwriting, and cinematic storytelling.

In this interview, Jerica shares how growing up in chaos shaped her leadership style, why resourcefulness matters more than resources, and how emotional clarity can be more powerful than technical perfection. We discuss building creative systems from scratch, staying grounded under pressure, and why vision doesn’t need validation to exist.

What makes this conversation especially powerful is Jerica’s belief in 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘁𝘆 — the idea that creators don’t need permission, privilege, or access to begin. Her story is a reminder that resilience, structure, and intention can turn creative chaos into cinematic gold.

This interview offers valuable insight for producers, creatives, educators, and entrepreneurs navigating the realities of building meaningful work without a traditional roadmap.

Check out the full interview here:
𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳: 𝘑𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘖𝘯 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘛𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘰𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘊𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘎𝘰𝘭𝘥
An Interview With Diane Strand | Authority Magazine | Nov, 2025 | Medium https://medium.com/authority-magazine/inside-the-producers-chair-jerica-morningstar-on-how-vision-and-grit-turn-creative-chaos-into-616068791ceb

An Interview With Diane Strand

02/04/2026

𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 𝗔𝘀𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿

Have a look at my latest interview with the inspiring Ashley Bratcher as part of my 𝘗𝘰𝘱 𝘊𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘙𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 series for 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗲.

Ashley Bratcher is an award-winning actress, writer, and producer whose work amplifies women’s voices and stories of resilience. She first rose to prominence with her breakout performance in 𝘜𝘯𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘥, earning a MovieGuide Award nomination, and has since built a dynamic career spanning film, television, and independent features.

In this interview, Ashley shares her journey from growing up in a small town in eastern North Carolina to carving out a meaningful career in entertainment. We talk about embracing detours, protecting your creative voice, learning the business side of the industry, and why kindness and boundaries are essential for long-term success.

Beyond acting, Ashley is the founder of 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗺𝘀, a production company dedicated to telling stories about “ordinary women with extraordinary lives.” She also speaks powerfully about representation in film and television, burnout prevention, and how authentic storytelling can create empathy and cultural change.

This conversation is a reminder that success doesn’t happen in a straight line — and that purpose, perseverance, and community are what truly sustain a creative career.

Read the full interview here:
Rising Star Ashley Bratcher On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Entertainment Industry | by Diane Strand | Authority Magazine | Dec, 2025
https://medium.com/authority-magazine/rising-star-ashley-bratcher-on-the-five-things-you-need-to-shine-in-the-entertainment-industry-c83a955b9553

An Interview With Diane Strand

02/03/2026

𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 𝗗𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗶𝗲𝗿

Check out my latest interview with the inspiring 𝗗𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗶𝗲𝗿 as part of our 𝘗𝘰𝘱 𝘊𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘙𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 series for 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗲! Dashiell is a multifaceted filmmaker, disability advocate, and public speaker whose dedication to storytelling is reshaping how individuals with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities are represented in media.

In our conversation, Dashiell shares his journey from starting filmmaking in 8th grade to winning Best Actor at the 2025 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. He discusses how his advocacy, creativity, and love for storytelling fuel his films, including his feature-length documentary on the history of Trisomy 21/Down syndrome and his upcoming animated short, 3–2–1, featuring a protagonist with an intellectual disability.

Dashiell reminds us that perseverance, bravery, and community support are key to success, and that diversity in storytelling makes film and television richer, more inclusive, and inspiring.

Check out the full interview here:
https://medium.com/authority-magazine/rising-star-dashiell-meier-on-the-five-things-you-need-to-shine-in-the-entertainment-industry-11182ec6317e
Rising Star Dashiell Meier On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Entertainment Industry | by Diane Strand | Authority Magazine | Dec, 2025

An Interview With Diane Strand