Twenty years ago, Jaime Andrews wrote a book. Now, she’s releasing it to the world.
Andrews, a local actor, producer and writer, is probably most well-known for her five-year stint on the truTV series “World’s Dumbest,” and recently wrote, produced and starred in the film “Division.” But her most recent endeavor is “The Brink,” a memoir covering Andrews’s formative and tumultuous childhood and teenage years.
In her early years, Andrews struggled with drugs, depression, and was institutionalized before she was 18 years old. “The Brink” covers this difficult time in her life in a frank, empathetic and often funny manner. Andrews hopes that by sharing her own struggles, she can help someone working through similar things now.
Rough Draft spoke with Andrews following a book signing event at The Book Bird in Avondale Estates on Feb. 3. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
How was the event at The Book Bird? What was the reception like?
Jaime Andrews: I was so overwhelmed by the event at Book Bird. First of all, I don’t know if you’ve ever been there – it’s the only independent bookstore in Avondale Estates. It is lovely. It’s such a great place for community. The owner, Brittany Smith, is just delightful and was so welcoming and had the whole spread for all the guests. It was a really diverse, fun group of supportive people. They asked great questions about the book. I read a little bit of the book for people. It was really overwhelming. I’ve done some interviews, but never had people surrounding me, asking me questions from all sides. That was a very new feeling. It was very special.
How was the reading aspect? That’s always something I think would make me really nervous, reading words that I’ve written to a group. How was that for you?
Andrews: I think maybe because I had done the audio book, I felt more comfortable with it. I decided not to read much. I mean, I don’t know how much people want to hear in a scenario like that. So. I just read the opening, because I think it’s a great way to vault people into the book and make them interested for what happens next. I don’t know, I might have gone faster than I normally would’ve [laughs].
I was reading an interview with you where you said that you actually wrote this book a long time ago, but were worried about the impact it might have on your career if you put it out at that time. Can you talk a little bit about the decision to release it now and what led up to making that decision?
Andrews: I don’t know if my fears were unfounded 20 years ago when I didn’t want to put it out there, but I did wind up having a great career. Who knows if it would have got in the way, or enhanced that – there’s no way of knowing. But I had just finished the movie “Division,” and it was in post production. And you know, in post production, everything is out of your hands. You have no control over anything, and I was going crazy. So what can I focus on? I’m like, I’ll dust up my book. Maybe it’s time for that. So I wound up being a person that put out a book and a movie in the same year.
Which is crazy.
Andrews: Yeah, it was a little crazy. I think I’ve maybe oversaturated the market now [laughs]. Too much Jaime!
What was it like returning to the book having had that much space in between writing and putting it out? Did you go back and edit things, or how did that process work?
Andrews: I did a little editing on perspective, because I had this concept when I first wrote it, but I realized in rereading it that it wasn’t perfectly executed. So, I worked really hard on the perspective shift that happens. But [laughs] at the risk of sounding cocky, it was so nice to read again. I hadn’t picked it up in so long, and I’m like – this is funny! I’m really enjoying this. I think people will enjoy it, I think it could help people. So, it felt like an imperative to get it out there. This came out of me for a reason. Might as well throw it to the wolves [laughs].
Well hopefully some of those wolves – you know, reading it, I didn’t go through anything quite as extreme in high school, but there are just certain aspects of a high school experience that I think everyone can pick up on in there. I hope that’s something that can be taken from it.
Andrews: Yeah, me too. One of the best reviews I got, I was so proud of, said, this transcends time and race and social status – everyone can relate to this. Everyone has been through some measure of this. That was nice to hear.
This book – you wrote it 20 years ago, so it only goes up to a certain point. I read somewhere that you’re maybe working on a follow up, or thinking of doing something with the corresponding time?
Andrews: Well, the first book ends basically on a cliffhanger. I’ve had people say, well what happens next? Why don’t you tell us what happens next? I’m like, oh – that’s the next book! I had intended to write the whole story, because it’s been a wild ride, I’m not going to lie. But I had a whole book’s worth before I went to college, so I was like, let’s let this fly. [I] got about 100 pages on the next book, which would – you know, the first one’s “The Brink,” the second one is “Further.” Because at the end of “The Brink,” it seems like maybe I’m going to be okay. I was not. I was not okay. It got worse, before it got better. Even more lessons were learned as I got older.
It’s interesting to go back to that time, and even more vulnerable because I have to share some things I’m not proud of. But once again, I hope they give people perspective on, you know, you never know what someone’s been through that you come across on your day to day. You may think I’m the luckiest duck in the world, but oh look – that duck went through some rough leaks. That metaphor fell apart [laughs].
Close enough. Going through some of your other work, I came across your play “Cookie and the Monster,” which seems to work in tandem with “The Brink” in a lot of ways, with your childhood and your teenage years. From a broader perspective, how do you think growing up the way you did and struggling with what you did shape the way you are as an artist?
Andrews: You’re right, “Cookie and the Monster” is definitely the greatest hits of “The Brink” in a play form. I think going through what I have has given me a lot of empathy. It’s made me a lot more chill than I had been. I think I used to be very anxious, and now anything that comes my way I can deal with because look what I went through, you know? Look what I already overcame. You know, these road bumps don’t upset me too much. But mostly, it’s the empathy. I’m working with at-risk youth now, and it’s been so powerful because I just relate to them, and I can give them hope that no matter what they’re going through now, you can really turn your life around.
I read that you’re planning on possibly turning that play into a graphic novel, is that correct?
Andrews: Sammie, talk about road bumps! I hired an artist to do what they do – like a pitch deck. So it’s like 10 pages of the book, and you send that to publishers like, would you be interested in this? The artist I hired, it took them a year to do 10 pages. So, I finally had to be like, I can’t pitch this, because I couldn’t be like, here – the actual book will take 20 years! [Laughs] So I had to pick myself up and dust myself off from that, and engage a new artist. That’s kind of overwhelming. I have a lot of other things that I’m focused on now. But when I did the play, a lot of people were like, this is a graphic novel. You should get that done. I do see it, I do see it. I would love to see it [laughs].
It’s tough to hit road bumps like that.
Andrews: Yeah, and then you’re dependent on other people.
For sure. You mentioned just now that you work with at-risk youth. When did you start doing that?
Andrews: I tried to do it in Los Angeles, and it was very frustrating. I’m like, don’t you want me to help? Hello? But this group, StandUp For Kids here in Atlanta, is so on it. They were so welcoming, and that’s been about a year [that] I’ve been talking to them. There’s a lot of training that’s involved. I just started with this lovely young woman just a few months ago, and it just brings me such joy to say that we get along really well. I was scared. I didn’t know if someone was going to be like, who are you? But no, we get along like we’re lost siblings. It’s so great.
That’s awesome. I would be scared – sometimes teenagers freak me out, so I’d be scared.
Andrews: Same! Especially because what I went through, I’m like – you were terrifying! I know I was terrifying. What are you going to be? But she’s smart and driven. She’s a badass.
That’s very cool. Speaking of being a badass, you started your own production company, jaimation. When did you do that and what was the impetus behind doing that?
Andrews: I had to do that for shooting “Division.” There needed to be a corporate entity, and now it’s just become an umbrella corporation for any artistic endeavor I have. My acting work goes through the corporation. It’s just a way to level up and be accountable. It excites me for partnerships going forward. I really could see, you know, before the movie – jaimation. Imagine Entertainment. Let’s put those together. Killer Films!
Speaking of “Division,” I’d love to hear a bit about your experience working on that. You also seem to have a lot going on with this book, and “Division” coming out recently. What other projects do you have coming up? A two-part question, there.
Andrews: Okay. [Laughs] Let’s see if I can keep them in order. “Division” was an incredible experience. I was inspired to write it by being in the pandemic and the tension in the world before the 2020 election. It was also inspired by my move here to Atlanta. Most of my stuff is inspired by my life, generally.
My friend was pushing me for a part in this. I’m like, actually, there is a part in this. He’s like, I know this director, Jason Winn, who’s a great local director, works all the time. He loved it. So, we kind of had an option – we can shoot this in two months, or I’m booked and we have to wait a year. We’re like, let’s just do it! Because it was so important, considering how timely it was, that it get done right away. The reception for it has been incredible. Unfortunately, there was a problem with the distributor. So keep an eye on themoviedivision.com, because it’s not on any platforms right now.
How do you see that moving forward? If there’s a problem with the distributor, how do you work through that?
Andrews: Well, they’ve told me – apparently the distributor has a distributor? I didn’t know that. So it was the sub-distributor that had a problem. It was in Variety. They told me they’re working on getting it back up, and they’ll put mine up first, because they like me – they told that to everybody, but I’ll take it.
I hope my next project is something I wrote that is not based on my life. It’s a movie called “Hardcore,” and it’s actually based on a true crime story from a kid I went to high school with. He perpetrated the most heinous crime. I can’t believe it’s never been on “Dateline” or a podcast or something. It is so shocking, and I thought it would make a great movie. I was really inspired to write it. Feedback has been great. Everyone’s saying I could sell it. I don’t know if I want to sell it! I want to work on it. I want to be a part of making it happen, because that’s just my happy place.
That’s interesting that you bring that up. Do you struggle with that a lot, as far as the dilemma to take something on yourself or to sell it? That’s something I’m not super familiar with in that world.
Andrews: Well, with “Division” I knew I could go through the usual circles, which takes years and years, and then the movie would be a time capsule. It wouldn’t be as viscerally important to this moment. But with this movie, it doesn’t have a timestamp, so I feel like I can wait, and maybe make it a bigger production. Because on “Division,” I wrote it to be shot small. It mostly takes place right here [gestures to space around her, laughs]. So that was easy to shoot on our own with lots of help from local filmmakers. Jason [Winn] teaches directing, so he had this wealth of students that just came on to work with us for, you know, less than they’re worth. I’m so forever grateful for that. But yeah, I think I’d like to level up. I think it’s time. I got that one under my belt.
I read that you used to have a column in Backstage giving advice to younger actors. Do you have any advice for younger actors, or writers or whatever it might be, looking to make it today?
Andrews: Well, for any artist, I would say, read as much as you can about it. You know, read the books by [acting teacher Sanford] Meisner, read “On Writing” by Stephen King. Read “Save the Cat.” There are all these books that tell you how to do what you want to do, and the more you read, the more you’ll know. And train, do as much training as you can. You just can’t take it for granted. You have to work really hard in order to get anywhere in this business, or these businesses. The artistic life is a difficult one. That’s another thing I would say, is to be prepared for rejection, because that’s going to be most of your life [laughs].
Yeah, you have to have a little bit of a thick skin, I guess.
Andrews: Oh, yeah. But also, you have to have a thin skin to be vulnerable enough to purvey these arts. It’s a really fine line to walk.