Daily Inspiration: Meet Jess Dang

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jess Dang. 

Hi Jess, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hi! Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share my story. I’m Jess Dang and I’m a Film & Creative Director based in sunny Los Angeles, California. I grew up in a town north of the 118 freeway (the Valley) called Granada Hills and I’m primarily adding this as a detail because for those who don’t know, Granada Hills has legit hiking trails! 

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always found myself drawn to the subject of art from a young age – shoutout to my mom who made this creative path possible by believing in me and investing a lot of money in art programs. I often joke with my mom that if I wasn’t a creative person, I don’t know what I would be doing with my life. Because nothing else really makes me feel like my true self. 

I got my BFA in Communication Design (aka graphic design) from Parsons School of Design in New York City. Moving to NYC when I was 18 was a thrill but also reminded me of how competitive the landscape was going to be. At Parsons, I convinced myself after taking a publication design class that I wanted to work in editorial, so I wrote a lot of bad cover letters and was fortunate to intern and spend some time at Harper’s Bazaar, Teen Vogue, and Seventeen Magazine. But I learned rather quickly that the world of editorial wasn’t for me. I became more interested in brand building and understanding how to introduce visual languages in order to create unity across mediums. 

Shortly after, I got opportunities to work with Target and MTV and found myself more eager to learn about advertising, which led to my first real gig at McCann Erickson as an Art Director. At McCann, I was exposed to working with a copywriter and was in a position to creatively contribute to campaigns for Intel, Verizon, and Ad Council. I had no real knowledge of film or video production at the time but became fascinated with seeing how commercial productions would come together and every person had a specialized skill. It opened up my eyes and it was for sure an aha moment where I knew that I wanted to learn about filmmaking in a serious setting. So, I applied to USC’s School of Cinematic Arts MFA Film and Television Production program, and to my surprise, was accepted. 

At USC, I focused on studying the craft of directing and producing – these two disciplines were unfamiliar, and I wrestled with how I wasn’t sure of how my accumulated skills would come together but I think I always carried the intention of merging my love for design with film. At USC, I made a few short films, while learning about the various phases of development, production, and post-production. 

Today, I’m currently a Creative Director at Audible, focused on growing their international arm, particularly Audible Canada’s content slate; and simultaneously overseeing my own entity – Long Lunch Break, a studio that sits at the intersection of design and film. I am in a place in my life where I’m more confident about the stories I want to tell, the people I’m interested in working with, values that are non-negotiable, and the social impact I believe creativity has. As an Asian American female, I am committed to amplifying Asian voices and centering underrepresented communities in my body of work. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My path has not been a smooth road, no. Not at all. I hope I don’t sound like I’m complaining because I am very grateful. I want to be realistic though by saying that being a full-time creative person is not linear and there are many avenues of risks involved – on a personal and professional level. 

Some struggles I’ve encountered are: finding financial stability in a landscape of hills and valleys, juggling projects with little or no budget, and giving into the pressure of saying yes to projects that I’m not passionate about out of feeling obligated. Thankfully, I think all the struggles taught me lessons because now I have better boundaries around how I respond to the things that I can’t control, and it is a privilege to say no to projects that don’t align with my values. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in two disciplines: film and design. 

In film, I am focused on writing and directing. I recently wrote and directed Surrender, a short film starring Andrea Bang from Kim’s Convenience and Keiko Agena from Gilmore Girls. Surrender is the story of a young Asian female – a recovering compulsive gambler that relapses after 100 days of abstinence. The film attempts to confront and dismantle the harmful media image of the Asian female stereotype – docile, quiet, invisible – leading to discrimination and conversations about gender roles in society linked to racism and sexism. Surrender premiered at The Directors Guild of America as part of LA Asian Pacific Film Festival’s 38th edition in the spring of 2022 and is currently traveling through the film festival circuit with upcoming screenings ahead 

In design, I specialize and am known for my work regarding brand identity – what is a brand’s visual DNA and how does it translate across various mediums? A brand is not just its logo but how it extends much more beyond that like how a customer feels, which brings about conversations of loyalty. I have to remember that each brand has a story to tell and there’s room for crafting narratives where brands can feel human, too. 

Most people would say that my work is bright, playful while bringing some level of subliminal joy and discussion. I hope to set myself apart from others by continuing to listen and prioritize the needs of those I work with – I want to do so many things and need to remain as intentional as possible. I am proud to be able to make a living by being creative every single day – thank you to all my clients and collaborators that have trusted me throughout the years. 

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Yes. I encourage every person to carry a disposable camera when traveling. It brings about the best/most surprising souvenirs. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.longlunchbreak.com
• Instagram: jessdangxo
• Twitter: hijessdang