Meet Jasia Ka

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasia Ka.

Hi Jasia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Thanks for having me! I’m an Emmy and Telly award-winning writer and director best known for my atmospheric music videos, darkly comedic narratives, and character-driven commercials and documentaries – and always turning the lens towards rebels and dreamers. No matter the genre of the project, my goal is to immerse audiences in emotive journeys, blending raw realism with vibrant fantasy and centering female and queer perspectives. I grew up in Philly and went on to study English and Theater & Dance at Amherst College. After that I moved to London to pursue an MA at Met Film School and I directed the supernatural coming-of-age film TYGER, TYGER, starring Shannon Hayes (Ted Lasso, Bushwitches).

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Filmmaking is never a smooth road. You’ve heard all the struggles before- fundraising, making a living while being an artist, working after work, finding the confidence in the first place to be a filmmaker, family thinking you’re weird or crazy, neglecting friends, neglecting yourself, production nightmares, etc. My main hack is to know all of what I just listed but also consistently forget about it. To maintain a system of belief that this is a tricky road, convoluted and meandering – but not an impossible one, and it’s certainly full of so much joy and adventure on the way. If you get bogged down in the massiveness of it all and the many steps that you have to take to make your dreams happen, it can be paralyzing. When I feel that paralysis encroaching, often it’s a conversation with a friend, or dancing it out, or brainstorming some sketch ideas for fun that re-ignites and loosens something up in my mind, and I can take another step forward. And every one of those steps adds up to the big picture.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I got my start by directing documentaries, branded content and music videos. My documentary GHOST | Bruk Up Evolution on BRIC-TV centered on the incredible Bed Stuy-based dancer, Ghost and won the Emmy Award in New York Entertainment Program Feature. Another documentary I directed, DOCUMENTACIÓN, chronicling Venezuelan photographer Mariangela Serrano’s journey, was nominated for an Emmy Award in New York Arts Program. I directed the Inc. Magazine docuseries WOMEN WHO LEAD, which won the Silver Telly Award for Web Series and INSIDE CHANGE for Sounds True, which won two Silver Anthem Awards, as well as digital series for Conde Nast, such as the Barbie x Architectural Digest on-set tour hosted by Margot Robbie. My music videos for artists like Madison McFerrin, TOTH, Pollyanna and Vial have premiered on Paper Magazine, New York Times, and Pitchfork.

My first love has always been narrative world-building, specifically getting more multidimensional female-driven stories on screen. Recently I’ve been shooting a ton of scripted narrative projects and I’m so excited to do more. I directed the TV pilot for my new original series GIRLS AREN’T FUNNY, a dramedy about women stand up comedians, starring Amamah Sardar, along with Zubi Ahmed (Rami), Caleb Eberhardt (Betty) and Sadhana Singhal (Never Have I Ever), executive produced by BRIC-TV, with additional funding awarded by the New York Foundation of the Arts/Made in NY Media Fund.

I’ve also created/directed BUSHWITCHES, a dark comedy supernatural series about witches living in Bushwick, starring Nell Amari (Shakespeare Downtown) and Shannon Hayes (Ted Lasso). With another all-star team, I directed the short eco-dystopian romantic comedy CARBON DATING starring Caroline Klidonas (Monster) and Matt Ippolito (White Hot).  I recently signed with Zero Gravity Management for Film/TV representation, working with managers Elissa Friedman and Eric Williams. Moving forward, I’m focused on getting my television pilots ordered to series and directing more episodic television and commercials.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I like that LA is a city of real cinematic possibilities. I dislike car culture.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jasiafilm.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasiaka/

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasia-kaulbach-91299b7a/

• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7107540/