Today we’d like to introduce you to Jillian Ezra.
Jillian, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
In 2011, I was living in New York and I had just started working at Bridgewater, the largest hedge fund in the world. After graduating with an honors degree in economics from NYU, by most measures, I had just landed my dream job. I was at a high-impact company founded by a passionate entrepreneur, I was learning a lot about finance, working with geniuses, and making more money than I could have imagined after starting out my career during the global financial crisis and interning in public relations at Cartier for $7.25/hour. But the truth was…I wasn’t happy.
I have a very analytical and business-minded brain, but I have always been creative and I’ve always loved storytelling. Perhaps that’s a result of growing up in Los Angeles, the entertainment capital of the world. I started experimenting with film on the weekends filming families I knew, and I’d create these wonderful Day-in-the-Life Videos that they absolutely loved. I even filmed an Italian immigrant-turned-college-professor’s life story and edited it into a one-hour documentary.
Unlike being at work, I loved every moment of it. I realized I had found my passion: telling stories through filmmaking. Instead of wasting any more time doing something I had given a few years of my life, I decided to take a chance on myself.
I moved back to Los Angeles and started a video production company called Ezra Productions. At first, it was just me and a camera. I taught myself everything from shooting to lighting to sound to post-production. It was a rough road, but with the support of family, friends, and mentors, I persisted. I started out making marketing videos for companies, and as my work got better and I became more established, I was able to start hiring freelancers to help increase the production value of the videos for my clients.
The business has evolved over time, and I’ve had a blast growing it. Ezra Productions has grown into a creative agency with offices in Los Angeles and New York that specializes in video production and now offers web development and design, graphic design, and photography. For me, the draw is creating amazing content to help companies tell important stories that help achieve financial growth. I love being able to use both sides of my brain and ultimately help businesses achieve their goals. We work with all kinds of brands, but I’m particularly motivated by working with purpose- and mission-driven brands, as social impact work has always been important to me.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have certainly been struggles along the way! The first thing I had to do was learn all aspects of production, even those I didn’t have an interest in. I went on YouTube, subscribed to online courses, and asked salespeople at stores like B and H how to operate the equipment I was buying.
It was hard work, but now I can evaluate and direct people better than I could have if I hadn’t already been in their shoes.
Then of course there is everything else that comes with starting and growing a company—learning about payroll, contracts, billing, accounting, etc.
Please tell us about Ezra Productions.
Ezra Productions is a creative agency with offices in LA and NY that provides creative services such as video production, graphic design, photography, and web design and development to forward-thinking, purpose-driven brands. From concept to delivery, we create visually stunning, emotionally compelling digital content that inspires, entertains, and converts.
We are known for our high-touch approach, which helps drive the growth of visionary, purpose-driven brands across the globe. We combine a strong business sense with strong creative to ensure that our clients achieve their goals.
As a woman-owned business, we make it our priority to empower other women, minorities, and young people to thrive in the production industry.
What were you like growing up?
I was the model child. Just kidding. My mom tells me I was always very independent, a perfectionist, charismatic even at 2, and that despite the fact that I wasn’t outgoing, people wanted to be my friend. I was very interested in fashion but I couldn’t draw, so I assumed I wasn’t creative. I loved music though. I started playing the violin at 3, the piano at 4, and played the clarinet, trumpet, drums, and guitar for one-year stints. I also sang and acted in musical theater productions.
I was always entrepreneurial. From lemonade stands and garage sales, to buying and selling beanie babies, to selling the most magazines at our school’s magazine drive. I always had that entrepreneurial bug in me.
Contact Info:
- Address: 8560 Sunset Blvd., Penthouse, West Hollywood, CA 90069
- Website: https://ezraproductions.com/
- Phone: 4242592004
- Email: [email protected]
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