Interview with “Black Snow” actress, Jemmason Power

Full transcript of Interview with “Black Snow” actress, Jemmason Power.

0:04KT: From balling on the netball court to facilitating in the development industry to placing an important lens in the modelling industry to an amazing showcase of South Sea Islander focused show. Proud Aboriginal and South Sea Islander Jemmason Power makes her debut on Black Snow. Compelling, vulnerable, and enigmatic. Jemmason Power, thank you so much and welcome to the For Your Reference Podcast.

0:32Jemmason: Aw, thanks. Fair. I just say that was the deadliest introduction I've ever received and it's now going to be ingrained in my brain. And um, yeah. That was so cool. Thank you for having me.

0:44KT: No worries. You can NFT it. You can gif it, you can do whatever you like.

0:49Oti: So before we get started, we would love to take the time to honor where you're from and the land you acknowledge.

0:56Jemmason: Thank you so much fam. Um, it, we are saying that I'm actually, um, I want to acknowledge the lands on which I'm currently connecting in from, which is, um, on Darumbal Country in Rockhampton, which is actually, um, my birthplace. Um, so that's like super special. Um, and I'm actually, I'm, it just so happens that I'm here with family, um, for a little bit of an early, early break, early holiday.

1:20Jemmason: So, um, it's really special that I get to connect with you on, on my birthplace, um, um, in Darumbal Country. So, and I just wanna, you know, um, acknowledge my elder. Um, past and present and, um, you know, pay my respects to the, the work and the energy, um, that they give me every day. Um, and really honor the, the traditional, um, custodians and where I'm coming from here, but also where I work.

1:52Jemmason: Um, the engine, um, Because without country we have nothing. Um, and we are nothing. So, um, you know, honoring and respecting the people who have gone before us in order for me to do what I do today. Um, so I really appreciate you guys for just, um, allowing space for us to take time, um, to give honor where honor is due.

2:13KT: Yeah, absolutely. Uh, we're currently recording on Wol country. Um, I hail from the islands of Tonga, if you would like to acknowledge your lands as well.

2:24Oti: and I'm from Kenya,

2:26Jemmason: Deadly.

2:27KT: feeling that, uh, Pitbull, Mr. Worldwide right now.

2:30Oti: Yeah.

2:31Jemmason: Heck yes.

2:34KT: Um, there, there, there's so much importance on Indigenous storytelling and really speaking with your full chest on stories that are real. And, you know, if it's not real, we're gonna sniff it out and we're gonna feel it, right.

2:49Jemmason: Oh yeah, Amanda, that.

2:51KT: So I just wanted to start off this interview just talking about, you know, a history that even Australians aren't very familiar with about South Sea Island people, because Black Snow does talk about that, and I just wanted to hear what that process was in working on Black Snow and playing the beautiful character of Hazel.

3:11Jemmason: Yeah. Yeah, definitely. It's um, By all accounts, a special piece and one that I think is, um, you know, it's the right time for it to, to come, um, about, um, and I feel like. You know, as a South Sea Islander community, we're, we're very much ingrained in our, our faith. Um, we have a very strong, um, faith foundations, whether it be in Pentecostal, um, or Seventh-day Adventist.

3:44Jemmason: Um, and that's definitely a strong theme that you can see throughout the piece. Um, in terms of the South Sea Islander values, um, as a community. Um, and in terms of like the, I guess introducing the world, like not, not just Australians, but the world, um, to our history as well, um, because we live and work here, um, on Aboriginal country, um, and, and yet people don't know.

4:15Jemmason: Who we are. Um, and so we're often referred to as the forgotten people. And when we say referred to, we refer to like, that's what our aunties, um, explain our communities as you know, um, Auntie Marion Healy, who was a cultural, um, advisor and who actually led, um, all of our cast and crew on a cultural immersion, um, for this production.

4:37Jemmason: Um, That's, that's what she would refer to us as, as the forgotten people. And as, um, all of our cast and crew were able to go through this, um, learning experience, they were able to really, um, actually sit with that. um, just those words because words have meanings and, and the meanings that we place on, um, words have power to them.

5:00Jemmason: And so for people to realize that, yeah, um, we are, we are people that are here in Australia and who had a massive, massive impact on, um, you know, the sugar and cotton industry. Um, and that's, that's, that's that the flourishing industry that we see today, that's off the backs of our people. Um, and so to be a part of this project that speaks to that in a way that's, um, that's tasteful and entertaining, um, and thought provoking, and it just, it has all the things all bottled up in it.

5:36Jemmason: And, um, you know, I think it's just a really exciting. And beautiful piece to be a part of, not just the end product. Um, you know, this gripping six part series of a whodunit? Like who doesn't like a whodunit series? Um, But also the underlying, um, themes and just these beautiful, um, I call them Easter eggs, um, or golden nuggets.

6:00Jemmason: Um, whatever you wanna put to that, that you, um, get to discover along the way. Um, so I think I'm really excited about that for people to discover our history whilst just, um, being entertained, I suppose, you know, as, as storytellers too.

6:15KT: And I

6:16Jemmason: I dunno if that answered it, but

6:17KT: It it kind of covered everything. Um, I think something that's also important that's explored in the show is we've got this history that, again, no one is talking about, but then there's also recent histories that are happening as well. You know, like using Pacific bodies for labor. Can we talk about it? it's time to talk about it.

6:41Jemmason: It is. It is. And it's, you're so, it's so true. Hey, um, you know, I, I hope that this show does that for people, you know, starts getting people to ask the question, did this really happen? And for people to actually do their own homework and go, wait, is it still happening? Is this still, is this still a thing?

7:06Jemmason: Um, And, and that being an invitation for everyone to go along the journey together and it not be something that divides people, but brings us together, um, as, as a nation and as, um, this beautiful, um, you know, Mix of communities coming together. Like we have to embrace that if we're going to kind of move together as one. And yeah, let's talk about it. And I'm here for it, you know, I'm here for it.

7:32KT: I got

7:33Jemmason: and I think that's really cool.

7:34KT: The DMs have time. We've all got the time.

7:38Jemmason: Yeah. And, but I think that's really cool how, um, I get to, I guess, embody that through Hazel. Um, I'm natural, and I think people find this out really quickly, is that like, I'm naturally like this bubbly, like, you know, kind of happy go-lucky person. Um, but I wrestle with a lot of, um, hard stuff as well as, as an Aboriginal and South Sea Islander woman and a mother, um, and a sister, uh, and a daughter and all those things, those responsibilities and, and those complexities that come with it.

8:13Jemmason: Um, I was really excited to bring all of that. Into, um, this character that is Hazel, um, which is kind of scary too, cuz she. And

8:26KT: She's been through.

8:27Jemmason: she been, that's the thing. The truth of the matter is she's been through it. And, um, I was really, really, um, it was a, a, a personal blessing for me to be able to, um, physically embrace all of, and, and kind of bring that to the forefront. Um, Because I, I suppose in our realities today, um, or just our realities in general, is that you, you can't necessarily do that, um, in society without being looked upon as, you know, angry

9:02KT: We we're not, we're not afforded the space to be human sometimes,

9:06Jemmason: yeah. Oh, preach. That's, yeah.

9:10Oti: What was your favorite scene to.

9:12Jemmason: My favorite scene to shoot. Oh, um, the one with, um, there's, there's a scene and it, it, I'm trying to think, does, to spoil anything, but it doesn't, um, the, the scene where Hazel gets to spend time with her family,

9:27Oti: Yeah.

9:28Jemmason: um, and she just gets to fully sit and be in her black joy,

9:35KT: Yes.

9:37Oti: we love black joy.

9:38KT: back one more time, Jemmason. Run it back one more time.

9:42Jemmason: Uh, yeah, that's it. That's, that's, honestly, that's, that's, that's the scene. Um, actually there's two of them. And I think, you know, I feel like people will be able to pick them out straight away, where it's just like, she just gets to sit and, and, and be in black joy. And for that to really be showcased and, and for, you know, us as blackfullas and people who, who know that feeling like I get like goosebumps on my face just thinking of it cuz it's just such a special space to be in.

10:11Jemmason: Um, because the cultural load that we, can I say that as a collective in this space? It's not. It's not a uniform that we can take on and like put on and take off. We, we carry this cultural load and, and these, these responsibilities into our work lives, um, into our schools, into the shops, um, everywhere we go.

10:34Jemmason: And there's this kind of, you have to have this, um, sturdiness about you. Um, in order to kind of survive and thrive and thrive. But the one place where, you know, um, many of us don't have to have that is with, with family, with kin, with mob, um, you know, sitting around a table having, having yarns eating food, A lot of it's around food.

10:58Jemmason: Um, you know, it. It's just being in, being together with each other, breaking bread around the fire, with the guitar, with three guitars, um, and everyone just singing and like, that's for me. That was, yeah, one of my favorite. Um, Pieces to, to be a part of Cuz it that definitely there was no acting involved in, in that space.

11:21Jemmason: It was just, you know, I've actually felt sorry for the crew at one time cuz we were having too much fun and we were like trying to be quiet in parts and it was just, and I just kept saying to the director like, you ain't gonna get us to be quiet like you I'm sorry. You're just gonna have to do your movie magic and snip around, snip around the noise,

11:39KT: But the, don't you worry, I, I cried many of tears. Many are happy tears, many are heartbreaking tears. Um, you know, watching these episodes and, you know, just even moments of like driving around with. Your aunties and going to places. And what I really love about Black Snow is there is, uh, like there is no fear in venturing into and saying hard to talk about stuff. Being like, you see this wealth, this was on the backs of our people. You see

12:07Jemmason: Right. Right. Uh, And just like, let's not just circle, like, let's not circle around this history or thread it into something and make it a part of a, you know, um, an analogy for people to kind of guess. It's like it's there in your face. There's no need to read between the lines. Auntie said what she said.

12:30KT: Yeah.

12:32Jemmason: And I love that. I, I love that. Um, I love the freedom that this gave, um, you know, our aunties and, and our, our matriarchs in this piece to just speak their truths, speak our truth, um, in such a beautiful way. Yeah.

12:47KT: Even if you don't want to hear the truth.

12:49Jemmason: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

12:51Oti: having spoken of, um, Easter eggs and nuggets, was there something specifically that South Sea Islanders all see and be like, yeah, that's a nod to the community.

13:00Jemmason: Oh my goodness. Um, Oh man. I think it's like every episode you'll find something in there, whether it's like, um, like make sure you're home before those streetlights get on. Otherwise, best believe you're gonna be in trouble for him. Um, you know, the, the, the love and the fierce protectiveness of our parents.

13:24Oti: Mm.

13:25Jemmason: you know, the fierce protectiveness, you know, I've, I've got a, an amazing mom and dad and you know, there, there's so many, so many things where like Hazel's dad, um, and even, you know, in the 1994, um, period where, you know, they're so proud too. They're so proud of their children's achievements and it's like, yeah, that that's us to a achieve.

13:47Jemmason: Um, but even. Hair. Oh my goodness. I don't even have enough time. I, I could, I could speak on this for hours. Um, the, the fact that like, growing up we had, like, for me, I had this like innate hate towards my curly hair. Always wanted to straighten it. Always, always wanted to make it like look like the other girls in my school, um, just to make it pretty. And so a lot of the, the dialogue that went on between Young Hazel and young Izzy, it was just like, oof.

14:21KT: yeah,

14:22Jemmason: Don't you know it. Um, and then, you know, Glenda telling her like, don't ruin this beautiful hair. And it was just like,

14:29KT: yeah.

14:30Oti: Yeah.

14:30Jemmason: you tell all those girls, don't ruin it. Um, so

14:35KT: getting the iron out and Like

14:38Jemmason: Like this. Yeah. I could do not. I I did, I've done that in my adult years, um, when I've gone back home to Bowen and we, I didn't pack my straightener and we were like, oh, yeah, we're gonna do it. Just like sit there

14:53KT: She's extra crispy today.

14:55Jemmason: Mm mm-hmm.

14:57KT: I.

14:57Jemmason: Fresh and crispy. Yeah. So yeah, there's, there's heaps. But I think, um, yeah, the, the family connotation and, and the hair was a massive one, um, for obvious reasons.

15:07Jemmason: But yeah, that, that I think a lot of us have gone through that stage and, you know, as kids and young adults are just not embracing our hair. And, um, yeah. I'm so, I'm so glad that I, it, it hasn't taken me a whole lifetime to get to the stage where I love my curls. Um, but that's been a journey in itself, so I really hope that that's a bit of a, um, a love letter to, to our young ones to go like, keep those curls. Boo

15:37KT: One of my favorite moments in the show was you, you know, it's an event and you know it's gonna go off when a guitar comes out and they start swinging. Sweet darling.

15:46Jemmason: Oh my goodness. Yes. Oh

15:50KT: Jemmason, tears, happy tears, sad tears. Generations of tears Just like came down.

15:57Jemmason: Honestly, it's, yeah, that was, yeah. I don't even know. I can't, I can't even remember how it came to be, but we were just like, you have to, you have to sing that one. Um, and yeah, that just was like it to a tea. Like that's just our, that's our community to a tea. Yeah. You haven't been to a sassy event unless the guitar has been pulled out. Um, and that song has been so

16:25KT: Uh, so we'll, we'll wrap up with our final question.

16:28Oti: So what do you think will be the lasting message of the show?

16:31Jemmason: There is no way that people will forget who South Sea Islander people are after this show. Through our stories, um, through our music, through our pain, and through our joy. I think this message is a beautiful, um, introduction to who we are as a people throughout, through our music, through our pain, um, but also through our joy.

16:58Jemmason: So I hope, I hope people, um, feel that, um, not just in the scene and, and, um, through us, like our, our physical appearances, but also through the music, the, the music of Black Snow, um, really. Hits you different. Um, and there's a reason for that because a lot of, uh,

17:21KT: I was like this music, like this was curated. Oh,

17:25Jemmason: it, it was, it, everything of Black Snow was curated with love,

17:29KT: Yeah.

17:30Jemmason: um, everything. Um, and right down, right down to the music. Oh,

17:37Oti: Love to see. It really did

17:39KT: Well, it's an introduction to the world on the South Sea Islander community. It's an introduction of Jemmason Power, friends and lovers. This has been so amazing. Is there any, is there anything else you wanna say? Anything else you wanna Oh, plug feels a bit gross and commercial right now. Is there anything else you wanna leave us with?

17:59Jemmason: Oh man. Um, now just that I appreciate you guys, I appreciate the, the work that you do in this space. I certainly as just like this rookie, you know, coming into this space, um, and seeing, seeing the love and the energy that you put into your interviews and, um, you know, the content that you put out. Like I was, I'm so happy when they told me that.

18:24Jemmason: Hanging out with you guys for like a short, really, really short amount of time. Um, so, um, no plans apart from, you know, if you wanna jump on and watch Black Snow, um, and binge watch it too, cuz it all comes out, which is so amazing. Um, on New Year's Day. Um, and. Yeah, it's just, it's been an absolute incredible experience so far.

18:47Jemmason: Um, and it's just the beginning. So, um, I'm really looking forward to sharing this, this journey and this experience with the rest of the South Sea Islander community and the wider as showing community and the world. Like, let's, let's just take it into national fem, like, why not?

19:03KT: Well, your screening, you, you went and screened it, uh, in the UK did you And Sundance. Now all three media as.

19:10Jemmason: Yeah.

19:11KT: Your socials aren't just for looks. I know

19:16Jemmason: Yeah, like we just kind of did that one on the Lolo. Hey, like let's just, let's just fly over to London and go screen it with a whole bunch of people from all different countries. Like it. Yeah, it's insane. Um, I'm still trying to get a grips on it cause obviously this hasn't been my first. This has been my first project, um, acting and, and in this, the film world.

19:39Jemmason: So I'm just kind of this massive, like sponge at the moment trying to, trying to take it all in. And, um, I'll be reaching out to you on your DMs just to like holler at me for some, some tips and hints and stuff, so, yeah.

19:51KT: Absolutely. Well, we're, we're gonna be rookies for times to come so we can hit it up together. Thank you so much.

19:57Oti: Thank you. It's been a pleasure.

19:59Jemmason: Appreciate you guys. And so, Thank you.