Conversations with Todd Jackson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Todd Jackson

Hi Todd, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
This is going to sound like a resume, but I guess, my story started the moment I watched Jurassic Park as a kid and said, “Yeah. This is what I wanna do.” Since then, I never took my eye off that dream and now it seems that I’ve just about stumbled onto it.

That said, my journey as a filmmaker has taken many forms along the way and that’s something I truly believe made me a stronger artist today. I experimented with several different forms of expressing myself until I found what lit me up – photography, writing, dancing, video editing, acting – and I think that gave me an incredibly unique perspective.

Growing up drawing comic books and playing with toys longer than socially accepted, I became a master of storytelling before I even knew I was telling stories. And then learning my extraordinary work ethic from my mom and dad, I excelled in everything from retail management to banking to the tech startup world. And I seem to have mastered effective relationship-building and sales while fostering an entrepreneurial mindset in the process.

I graduated from San Diego State University with a B.S. in Television, Film & Screenwriting as a first-generation college grad.
Then in 2015, I started a video production company where I gained experience in every step of filmmaking while producing/directing/editing several documentary & narrative films. Oh, happy 10 years too, I guess.

A super shy kid, but a naturally talented entertainer, I also gained a bit of a following on YouTube by examining 90s kid shows from his childhood and interviewing their creators. Now a full-time actor & filmmaker, my next venture involves launching a brand new streaming platform called QuickFlick TV.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t think any road has necessarily been “smooth,” and I kind of feel like that’s the point. I always wanted my journey to be like Michael B. Jordan’s, Harrison Ford’s, or even Issa Rae’s, but then I realized how important my own personal struggles were. I could NEVER mirror their journey, nor would I want to.

I look back on all the challenges and struggles I’ve encountered and see how each one of them shaped me into the person I am today. I needed that. The other day I was reviewing a financial proposal and somehow understood what I was reading – only to remember I spent nearly two years working in the banking industry. Making the least amount of money I’ve ever made at a job by the way – ironic. Anyway, that was a very challenging period of my life I can look back on and be genuinely grateful for.

I don’t feel like I completely answered that question, but that’s the answer I’m going with. Someone will get something from that.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I feel like I mentioned a lot of this in previous questions so I’ll just tell you more about my next venture – the whole streaming service thing. I recently partnered with a really awesome dude with loads of entertainment experience to help him launch this new platform.

I’ve been in the independent filmmaking world for quite some time now. When I was in college, there was another category after the “TV and Film” part – it was New Media. This new streaming platform, QuickFlick TV is made for that New Media category – indie web shows to be specific. The short-form web series market has no home. QuickFlick TV intends on being that as a Netflix meets YouTube and Facebook sort of vibe. We like to call it a Social-Video-On-Demand platform.

It’s essentially a place where indie web series creators and viewers can collaborate to make new, original shows but with 10-15 minute long episodes. Not totally in that Netflix range, but certainly not at that Tubi level either. In that sweet spot in between.

Anyway, the platform is launching this year and I’m super excited about it. There were a lot of ups and downs in 2024, but just like I mentioned about those necessary challenges and struggles, I feel like those ups and downs were necessary for this platform to release successfully this year.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Absolutely! One of my favorite apps is ScreenZen. It has a timer that locks certain apps after using them for a predetermined amount of time. So if I start doom scrolling on TikTok or Instagram, it’ll automatically lock the app after 5 minutes. It really limits the amount of time I spend time on my phone “killing time” so I can turn that focus toward something a bit more mentally stimulating. Like my plants.

Books-wise, I tend to listen to random chapters of Notes to an Actor by Ron Marasco to stay sharp between roles. I always get something a little different each time, so I kind of just cycle through whatever topic I feel like listening to. This book in particular also gets me to practice thinking outside of the box, keeping my mind constantly working toward new & different ways of seeing things.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.vimeo.com/alezandr
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/todd.alexx
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-a-jackson/
• Youtube: www. youtube.com/toddfoolery

Image Credits
Travis Tanner