Jackie Jacqueline Jackson, founder of Ideatethat and recently appointed film commissioner of Jamaica, is the epitomy of the dynamism and creativity that characterise the unique traits of being Jamaican as she sets the stage for what is shaping up to be a trailblazing career in the entertainment space.

Jackson, the eldest daughter to parents Austin Jackson, a contractor, and musician; and Gloria Jackson, a choir singer, was born and raised in the community of Knockpatrick in Mandeville, Manchester, and spent much of her formative years in the church. She attended the deCarteret College, where she took part in cheerleading, cadets, choir, voice training, drama club, and the youth club at her church. She entered her first pageant, placing just shy of the crown at the Miss dC competition while she was still in second form.

On the insistence of her parents to be in a space where she could focus more on her education, she transferred to the Hampton School where although she struggled with the initial adjustment, she continued to excel in academics as well as in extracurriculars.

In 2003, while still in fifth form she won the Miss Universe Jamaica Middlesex title but was unsuccessful in her bid to capture the Miss Universe Jamaica crown. She never returned to pageantry but instead, chose to complete sixth form at the Glenmuir High School in May Pen, Clarendon, before shocking her family with her choice to pursue journalism at CARIMAC instead of attending law school.

She graduated from CARIMAC at the top of her class and got her first experience working in film as a production assistant for the Digicel Fame and Fortune show on TVJ and then as a production assistant at Reggae Sumfest.

“My early years working in television production in Jamaica were instrumental in providing me with hands-on experience and a solid foundation in the film and television industry. These experiences continue to shape my professional journey and have left an indelible mark on my career in media production,” said Jackson.

She then spent the next few years working as a producer of TVJ’s Smile Jamaica and for other feature programmes, before she migrated to New York to complete her Master of Arts in Media Arts, with a specialisation in film at the Long Island University in Brooklyn.

She spent her 10-year tenure in New York working in production at BET’s 106 & Park and then with a company called ‘Story Culture’ in Manhattan. Her experiences there helped set the foundation for what would eventually become her own company.

“My experience studying and working in film, video, and television production in New York has been transformative. It has equipped me with a broad skill set, a diverse perspective, and a network of industry connections that continue to shape my career in the media arts,” Jackson told Our Today.

After she left Story Culture in 2018, she began entertaining the idea of returning to Jamaica and began working as a media consultant for the Ministry of National Security. During her time there, she was responsible for the strategic messaging for the ministry and oversaw the ‘Liv Gud’ campaign, as well as developed and launched the ‘Project ROC’ campaign.

She made the decision to start her own media business, Ideatethat in 2020 but was forced to slow down due to the pandemic.

“COVID was one of the most transformative periods of my life, it made me slow down and zone into who I am and what I want to be,” said Jackson.

Since the pandemic, Ideatethat has completed two seasons of its thought-provoking Psychology Of series and currently preparing to release its third season. Jackson has released an adult colouring book called I am that I am and is now an adjunct lecture of film at The University of the West Indies, Mona.

Jackson tags the role of film commissioner as the next step on the trajectory of her life. She said, “I’ve been in this space since I was a child and in this role, I see how I can promote Jamaica on a wider scale, I am bullish on Jamaica and I believe in the creative industries.”