Jessica Kelley is an award-winning documentary Director & Producer, a foster care parent, mother of two, dog owner, & fierce defender of the Oxford comma.
Raised on the banks of the Ohio River, this Midwest Liz Lemon began her 14 years of filmmaking experience in her hometown but soon traveled across the world to Beijing, China where she studied for her Master's degree in International Media.
From there, she yearned for bagels and Billy Joel so she became a New Yorker where she became a 2x Emmy-nominated director developing over 50 short films and 4 digital series for Newsday.
In 2019 she was one of the first video producers in the United States chosen for the Facebook Video Accelerator Program and was awarded a Peabody for her work on the film Long Island Divided.
If you can’t find her on set, check the beach, she’s most likely there snacking on salt & vinegar chips.
5
continents traveled
3
regional spelling bee championships
4
states called home
30+
listened to
the search for everything album
mission
to create cross-platform content that tells female-forward stories bringing to life different perspectives which spur new conversations, ultimately bringing women together - both onscreen and off
values
as a woman who has held leadership & management positions in the corporate world, I recognize the importance of (especially marginalized) employees having an advocate present to support them, to avoid surprises of coercion & pressure often found in the power dynamics inside an office (or on a set)
emotional intelligence & empathy are the backbone of impactful storytelling
be committed to making purpose-driven decisions that can be seen in action at every level of enterprise
non-violent communication, conflict resolution, sensitivity toward others, & a sense of humor on set are non-negotiable
always submit a creative brief with detailed clarity, communication, & strategy which destroys any opportunity for future misunderstandings & creates efficiency and accountability in future stages
promise chocolate but then bring chocolate & a bottle of wine
ALWAYS OVER DELIVER.
goals
in the next year - build upon community to include and empower more BIPOC creatives in future projects
add at least 10 scripted productions -preferably comedy or drama - to the portfolio in the next 5 years
over the next decade - build that direct audience who follow and love the content; be able to promise companies that i'm going to bring the loyal audience and help drive them to their platform
...also hoping to afford a nugget ice maker one day
specialties
setting visual styles & tone then maintaining that format in accordance to network needs
leading with decisive,
forward-thinking strategy for multipile story producers & editors on multiple episodes, characters & storylines
establishing the production & post schedule then providing constructive & motivating notes to department heads
dream projects
intimate documentary that examines mental illness in the world's most inventive comedians
inspiration:
"Love, Gilda"
"Katy Perry: Part of Me"
"Cracked Up: The Darrell Hammond Story"
a film that explores the complexities of the lawful and genetic rights of motherhood inside the foster care system
inspiration:
"Little Fires Everywhere"
"The Light Between Oceans"
"Lion"
a deeply personal look at a musician's creative process on the road, on stage, & at home as they write, record, & attempt to control their image
inspiration:
"The World's a Little Blurry"
"The Long Pond Studio Sessions"
"Five Foot Two"
an improv travel show that attempts to tackle uncomfortable topics between cultures while providing abbreviated history lessons for context
inspiration:
"Conan Without Borders"
"Down to Earth with Zac Efron"
"Somebody Feed Phil"
anything to do with animals, particularly rescued wildlife
inspiration:
"Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures"
“Gardeners of Eden”
"The Biggest Little Farm"
a cinematic docuseries that brings you the most dramatic natural history stories from a fresh female perspective
inspiration:
"History of Swear Words"
"30 for 30"
"The Crown"
"Hamilton"
dream partnerships
hello sunshine
jigsaw productions
30 for 30
paper kite productions
pixar
complex
umm...did we just become best friends?
If you love quoting Seinfeld, riding roller coasters, or performing a 90s pop concert in the car...we're gonna get along just fine.
*Bonus points if you can help her find her phone
(she's always losing it)