JACKEY NAYMEN JONES - Pop Culture Icon

Hi, I'm Tammy Gross, the Scriptprenuer. Welcome to Reel Life Stories where difference makers come to share their Hollywood worthy transformation stories. I love interviewing people who faced a mountain, overcome it the hard way, and figured out a solution to help the rest of us conquer that same mountain. Because when we share our stories, we change lives.

All right, so I have a very special guest today. Her name is Jackey Naymen Jones. She is a pop culture icon, and you're going to understand why in just a minute, but to start, I'll just tell you that she's an artist, and an author and filmmaker, she began her artistic journey as a six year old child actress playing the role of Debbie in this amazing film, and I'll let her make you understand what amazing really means called manos. And it's about the Hands of Fate, Fate happens. This is this is stuff that she is is heavily involved in since she started at six years old. And she's a remarkable person. So I just want to say thank you for being here. And welcome, Jackey.

Oh thanks, Tammy Really glad to be here talking to you.

It's been really fun getting to know you and getting to know more about the whole Manos story and, and how it's taking or taken on its own life. And so what I want to do is just get you to help us understand, you know, you in some people might be like, who is Jackey Naymen Jones? I'm not. I've never heard of her. And she's supposed to be this icon. Well, well, if you've been to film school, you just might have seen her before and didn't know it. And so I'm gonna let her tell the story. But Jackie, I want you to just kind of take us back to the beginning and bring us through how this all happened. Yeah,

I grew up in El Paso, Texas in the 60s. And my dad was part of the community theater there. And it was a very strong it still is El Paso has a very strong cultural arts group of people. And so my dad always played the lead role in in some pretty good plays. And in 1966, he was in a play that he actually won Best Actor of the Year award. And for 1966, he played Henry the fourth. And one of the other actors in the play had written a script. And he wanted to make a movie, and nobody was making movies in 1966, and El Paso. So this guy how Warren wanted to make a movie, because he, he wanted to bring the film industry to the southwest because of the beauty and the weather and everything. And he wanted to be known as the guy who did that. That was his ultimate goal. So anyway, he invited my dad played the lead role and the movies called monos the hands of feet, and became famous in 1993 27 years later, because of Mystery Science Theater 3000. But way back in 1966, how I chose my dad, not just because he could play the role of the master the lead role, but they needed a child and my dad had happened to have one I was six years old, and they needed a vicious looking dog play the Masters dog and we just happen to have a doberman. Anything but vicious. I mean, the dotson's in our house was way snappier than Shawn could the Doberman and my mother was a teacher but she was very talented seamstress. And so she made the costume she made the Masters robe and the wives dresses, and even my little Debbie's dress, which was disappointing because it literally came out of my closet because she made all my clothes. And

because your whole family ended up being involved in this thing, you know, yeah, family thing. It wasn't his project to start, but it became. That's cool.

Exactly. Yeah. I said to me, it was like a family film, you know. So my dad was also a very good artist who specialized in hands, by the way, and that's kind of how the title came to be because A lot of my dad's sculpture was in it. He painted the master and dog painting. He made the Torgo. Staff. Yeah, see, here's a replica, I made. I was there when my dad made all this stuff. And I'm an artist, too. I. So I read the Torgo staff. So he did all the props in our family did the props, costumes, pretty much the look of the film, even my great grandmother's beds, bread was on the bed. But so we filmed this in the summer of 1966. And it happens so quickly that the actors, we never got a chance to see it ahead of time. And how was kind of dictator on set? You know, nobody really knew. I mean, they all knew that it wasn't going to be very good. But we so how a lot of the one of the things he was best known to say was, don't worry about it. We'll fix it in post. Let's move on. Let's just move on. Yeah. And so we filmed in the summer, and then the premiere was in November. And he made a big deal. And he was a sales, you know, so he borrowed the lights from the local car dealership, he found a red carpet, he hired one limousine that circled the block and picked up the cast and crew who are waiting in the alley behind the theater, and dropped us off in front. I mean, the women were wearing this is 9066 gowns and opera gloves. The van and tuxedos is a big deal. And then we all went in the theater and sat down expectantly, and then the movie started. And I mean, that audience was riff in it. 27 years before Mr. Science Theater did, you could hear the murmurs in the giggles and the know, automation. But we in essence, we were trapped in the theater. And you know, the main actor couldn't get up and walk out. So the theater canceled the rest of the run. And the film just disappeared. You know, the, the local entertainment writers very kindly just let it basically die. There was only one one real article about it. He wrote massaged to death and local film, I think was the title. But But I grew up having these memories of the best summer of my life. You know, those were the good years. You know, I love my dad, I loved hanging out with them. I loved the theater, his art. So it encompass those wonderful things. And I held on to the memories. And once I got out of high school in 77, before, internet, you know, and all that started making phone calls and trying to find the film. And I couldn't find it anywhere. So I gave up. Yeah, done. So now I'm like 30 I'm married and have a young son and my dad gives me a call. When afternoon and Nighty night experiences. You'll never believe what I just saw on television. It was on Comedy Central. This Mystery Science Theater had found this public domain film and put it on. And it became an instant kit that's won their fan favorite award several times it's known, it's been known as the worst movie ever made.

That's quite the distinction you got there. It's still

in the top five. It's taught in film schools is everything not to do in filmmaking? So I've just, you know, as it's grown, I really enjoyed it. Because since then, in later years, there were there were some, some problems in the family. You know, like, my dad's wife didn't want us to spend time together. And for some reason, if it was monos related, she would allow it, maybe she thought it was going to lead to something. I have no idea. But so I made up every opportunity. You know, it's like I invited my dad into interviews. I produced a film on those returns. But since then, besides the things I've done, it's turned into this incredible group of people. You know, Mystery Science Theater fans are, they're intelligent, they're creative. They're nerdy, they're, there's so much fun. I mean, I couldn't belong to a better family. They're my people, you know, and I just enjoy it so much going to conventions. And but I mean, so many things like there's four stage productions that have been created. Three, wow. is called monos, the rock opera of fate and it was in Chicago, I believe. There's coloring books, video games, trading cards, cards, cosplays course. I mean, I pictures all the time of people, you know, going as Torgo or the master, you know, those are their favorite cosplays Oh, there's monoester hands have felt puppet theater out of Seattle. Um, then several films. Like I said, I, I produced mono street turns with some other friends. And we like, we got my dad, who was still living to be the master again. And we found the woman who played my mother from the original, Diane. And we brought her out from Chicago, and she played my mom again. And I mean, it's like, I found people and anybody who's living in you to talk to even though most of them are gone now. You know, I six I, you know, what, 50 something years ago? Yeah. But luckily, I wrote a book, growing up with monos Hands of Fate, how I was the child star of the worst movie ever made and lived to tell the story. And hear this right here.

There you go. And we'll make sure that we put a link into the show notes for that, because I know that you've got that at the Etsy store under Jackie's models, right. Yeah, and autographed copies. Yeah. And Jackey is spelled J AC ke y, if somebody's like, they just gotta go for it right now. It's Jackie's monos on the Etsy store, but we'll make sure that we get that in there. But yeah, so you are still doing things. And there are more things that are coming. And I'm still and you have this family, this this film family around you. But you know, one thing that you said that really struck me, and and I know you've told me this before, but it really it this time, it really hit me that, you know, one of the reasons that you were doing this, I mean, I'm sure there's lots of myriad myriad reasons, but one of the reasons was, so you could just stay close to your dad because you have limited access to him. And that is just, to me, that's like, that's the heart of your story. Is this is all a love letter to your dad to everything that you're doing and maybe cry. Yes. Oh, but it is right. I mean, that's what makes this so special for you. But also, for those of us who are hearing your story, it's like, wow, that that gives it a depth. You know, it's just the fun part and everything, but there's there's something, you know, real and, and, and emotional behind it. And so, I think that what you're doing is just a great tribute to what your dad was a part of, to what Oh, yeah.

And he has so much fun with it, too. Yeah, you know, it's such a great sense of humor. He's such a sweet, gentle man. And, you know, people ask me, how can you know, how does it feel to have people ridicule this movie or say it's the worst movie I said, if it weren't for Mystery Science Theater, it would have disappeared forever, for one miracle. And, and it's not my fault. I was six years old. Possibility. But my dad had the same attitude because he was in it, but he had no control over any okay. And he won Best Actor The Year award festivals theater at least three times. So

that is so cool. I mean, there's so many lessons to learn, I can see why, you know, different film schools might might see this as an opportunity to take some lessons from it. And I mean, not just everything not to do, but also the way that you can kind of save a failing project. I mean, you've turned a failure into success. I mean, you this is like the epitome of taking a failure and turning it into that's what's really kind of a metaphor for what we do in life. Right? That I mean, our successes do come out of failures. And what you're, what you're doing now, I'm just so impressed by, by the attitude of it and everything to be a part of something and and, and to just go all in and

match So many talented people through this journey. And you know, I now I've titled it the monos bursts. Because there's a new story, a new novel just came out. Another guy, he just wrote a rota animation show he's working on in Spanish, mono already, you know, and in, there's all these projects that I've been invited to participate in. And through that I've met so many talented people that led to monos returns, and then a brand right, I check that you can see the teaser trailer on YouTube, the monos Chronicles,

adult Chronicles. I love it. I didn't know about that.

Yeah. And it's the monos verse because it's like, people take take this skeletal storyline of monos, which people admit it's, it's a pretty good idea. That's the basic storyline, concept wise, yeah, make it their own, you know, and so monos returns is my character 50 something years later. But imagine that Debbie had stayed with the valley Lodge, and the master and his big ring wives have been raised by them. How would she turn out? And so in that case, I'm now the master, and I'm pretty pissy, because it's women that are always it's like, I don't have any use for them. It's just, yeah, no, I'm not happy. And and then we did the monos Chronicles, which is a whole different storyline. It's me that imagine if I had escaped, but I've had to live in hiding for life. And so now I've I decided that I'm hunting monsters and evil, and I'm stomping out bad things in the world, because I that's my way of retribution that was doing good.

Wow. I think this is so great. You know, we've come to the end of our time, unfortunately. But I don't want to fully cut this off. But what I want to do is just encourage everybody to just look into this. And so some of what we're talking about might not make sense until you actually have a chance to, to read about it. I mean, the book definitely clears clears things up, gives you some insights, gives you some stories behind the story. And, and so I definitely highly recommend that you get the book, but also just get into this mottos verse.

Yeah. And if you're,

if you're on your creative side,

yes. And if you're on Facebook, Jackie naman Jones fan page. There's so interactive. People are sharing things I've never seen, you know, like pinball machines and

such. Oh, my gosh, that is so cool. Oh, wow. So there is like a whole universe behind this. But, you know, we're at the end of the time. So what I want to do is just, you know, I just ask people this question, and I think I know the answer, but I'm really curious to know how you'll answer. And that is, if money were not an issue, how would you live out your legacy?

Pretty much the same way I'm doing right now. Because most of the things I do, don't pay, you know, self employed artists I have in my whole life. And so I'm used to scrimping and saving, you know, I mean, I'm used to live in Thai. And then doing when I have a bonus, I'll do something that steps me forward, but rather, the way I live and I couldn't imagine a more wonderful thing to do with my life.

That is one of the best answers I've ever heard. And before I before we say goodbye, I just want to see is there any last word that you have for anybody?

Oh, fine. Just find your balance. I had some health issues this year that really woke me up and, and I tend to overload myself. And as this monos thing takes off even more, you know, more opportunities. So find your balance. Always take time for yourself. Find some time to breathe.

I love that. I'm a Libra. So yeah, I find it's always like that they think that you got to do love it. Thank you so much. I know that people are going to be getting that book and hopefully there'll be getting in contact with you and he knows there might be some more creative collaborations.

There are so many other things please check out the because I'm also doing online painting classes Mystery Science Theater painting, and I'm Oh, anyway, you just gotta go.

We'll put that we'll get all that information in there. I want to make sure that people can can can take advantage of that. That's awesome. Thank you so much, Jackey. This has been great.

Thanks, Tammy.