Today we’d like to introduce you to Jess Weber.
Hi Jess, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My sophomore year in high school, I signed up for a media arts class on the hunt for an easy A. My sister told me it was a blowoff class but I soon realized this was not a class I wanted to miss. I threw myself into all aspects of production; in front of the camera reading the morning announcements, behind the camera running the teleprompter, producing “commercials” for the homecoming dance and finally found love in the magic of editing. I took that class as often as my counselor would allow for the next three years.
When it came time for college, I knew I wanted to be a film editor but was intimidated by the cost. I opted to do my first year at community college and found an internship at a post-production company downtown Chicago. I was a shy, quiet intern surrounded by some of the most creative, outgoing and passionate people I’ve ever met, three days a week. I learned a lot and it solidified my decision to go to film school. I went on to study film at Columbia College Chicago. I worked 30hrs a week as a waitress while in school and took on another internship. This time at a sports marketing/television company. I logged dailies and was mentored by incredibly talented editors and producers. Once the internship ended, I was hired on for freelance editing while I finished my last semester of college.
I eventually began looking for a more permanent position and reconnected with the post house I interned with earlier in my studies, 11 Dollar Bill. I got hired on as Client Services Manager and Assistant Editor. I wasn’t as quiet or shy this time around and six months later, I was promoted to a full-time editor and got the opportunity to work on a new tv show, Garage Squad. By the third season, I was the Senior Editor on the show and was starting to build a commercial reel. 11 Dollar Bill expanded and opened a second office in Boulder, CO and I was flying there every few months to edit with new clients. My editing career really ramped up after that. I started finding my identity in comedy and creative editing.
In 2017 I moved to Los Angeles for a change in scenery and new opportunities. I continue to work for 11 Dollar Bill, travel around the country, or more recently remotely, to edit with creatives and am incredibly proud of this latest season of Garage Squad. Leading a team of talented Chicago editors remotely from LA had its challenges but we quickly found our groove. While most of my work revolves around advertising, you can find me editing short films, comedy sketches and other sorts of media on nights and weekends.
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?
It hasn’t exactly been all smooth sailing. There are ups and downs in everything, right? But you know, being a woman hasn’t always been the most, hmm, what’s the appropriate word here, it hasn’t always made things easy. It’s really hard to find your voice at age 23, or age 25, or sh*t, even age 31, in a room full of established industry creatives and directors. It’s incredibly difficult to own my craft and far too easy to be a button pusher. In my ten year editing career, I’ve really had to trust myself and my expertise because it’s easy to be overcome with self-doubt and insecurity in this industry.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a two time ADDY award winner, one time D&AD Pencil Award Winner, a thin mint cookie eater and a Midwest Emmy Nominee who excels in tickling funny bones and pulling at heartstrings in the edit bay. I’ve had the pleasure of working with really fun brands like Kraft Mac and Cheese, Comcast XFinity, Finish Line and Patron. I am most proud of the work I get to do with the MotorTrend Network show, Garage Squad. Together my team and I push the boundaries at MotorTrend and tell deep, compelling stories sprinkled with humor, not seen anywhere else on their show lineup. I think what sets me apart from others is my willingness to challenge the unknown and elevate stories through new perspective.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was always a pretty social kid! I come from a loud, outgoing Irish family. I’m the middle youngest in a family of four kids and we all ended up in a creative field. My older sister is a hairstylist, my older brother a graphic designer, and my youngest brother a sound engineer. My Mom put me on a soccer team when I was seven and I ended up just doing cartwheels in the goal, so from there on, I was put in dance class and was always performing on a stage or at competitions. I just loved to entertain. I worked from the age of 12 as the neighborhood babysitter and landed in the restaurant industry at age 16. My siblings and I actually once all worked at the same brewery together. It became a huge part of my life and got me through high school and college. My parents drilled a strong work ethic into us at a young age simply because they could not afford to support all four of us in the ways I’m sure they would have liked. I think because of that, I don’t settle for mediocrity and work hard to make every edit the absolute best it can be. Even if that means staying up until 2am with a cold brew by my side.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected] and [email protected]
- Website: www.jebbawebba.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jebbawebba/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jess.weber.jebbawebba/
- Other: https://vimeo.com/jebbawebba
