Rising Stars: Meet Jessi Spickard of Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessi Spickard.

Hi Jessi, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I actually got quite lucky when the pandemic hit. Not in the sense that I was getting weekly payouts and able to save towards my future, or anything like that. I was very much part of the group of people that still had to show up for work every week. I mean lucky in the way that there was an exodus out of LA during this time so anyone who was crazy enough to try to make any form of collaborative art was working with a very small selection of people… and I was one of the few that was able to stay.

During this time I got cast in my first ever short film, shot on 35mm directed by Thom Kuo. It was a Spielberg-esque film about an eager, young, alien enthusiast who discovers a mysterious woman in the woods suffering from memory loss, titled ‘TRAVELER’S FUGUE’ It is one life accomplishment I am very proud of and has turned into one of the biggest catalysts for my life.

This film allowed me to cultivate a close-knit working relationship with Thom, someone who is constantly championing filmmaking on film and filmmakers who choose film as their medium. He hosted workshops out of his apartment, teaching the next generation of creatives how to work with analog technology and gave them access to such resources so they could apply their knowledge. He would then post short films on the internet that these workshop students shot. These films all starred the students who were learning to load, thread and operate cameras. I couldn’t help but feel jealous that they got screentime and I did not. So, I offered my services. I would help him market, manage, communicate and produce these workshops so long as I got to be in front of the camera.

This ultimately worked out for the both of us. Thom got to focus on teaching and I got to build my reel. I also would pay attention during these workshops and learned all about the cameras. For about 30 weeks straight, every Saturday I was essentially in film school and eventually, if someone had a question and Thom was busy, I was able to answer. It was quite a successful endeavor and people who grew up in the digital age of cinema really enjoyed what we were doing. After our Saturday classes we would invite the students to hang out at an ASCF meeting at The Cigar Lounge in Sherman Oaks. That’s where we would debrief and listen to people share their filmmaking war stories.

A sense of community was being cultivated through these workshops and at this cigar bar in the valley. A community known as the American Society of Cigars and Film. It’s mission? To educate and celebrate filmmakers who shoot on film. It was born a couple years before my involvement and from my perspective, felt like the group of outcasts who are much cooler than they let on. I wanted to part of that world but I couldn’t hold conversation about movies, I didn’t know anything about photography or cameras and I didn’t want to be a director. I simply wanted to be an observer and assisting Thom was my clearest way to this group.

Eventually, as time passed and drew nearer to their annual Film Festival, I had found a place amongst the group and began to “speak their language”. I started to watch more movies, I was curious and asked questions to any person who was willing to talk to me and spoiler alert: most people are actually dying to be listened to. I felt like I had found a community I belonged to and I wanted to be an active participant in their biggest night of celebration. So I came on as a producer to the film festival, just to see if I could do it. It was one of the toughest things I had ever done at the time and now I’ve gone on to produce two more festivals. Each year the ASCF continues to grow, more people my age are making films on film and I’m happy to uplift my community and feel like I play a part in that.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Nothing good comes easy and when you manage a small nonprofit that has it’s roots planted in an industry built on nepotism, gatekeeping and cost-cutting in the name of art, of course you’re going to face struggles along the way. It can be difficult to remain an inspirational voice for people who feel slighted or scammed by their career path. Sometimes your own internal voice will question why you do any of this and is there even a light at the end of the tunnel? Short answer, yes. You just have to be patient, diligent, and unwavering in your belief in self.

There have been many times and I’m sure there will be many more where I definitely feel like throwing in the towel. Often times, even as I look at all the brilliant people surrounding me, I still feel like I’m all alone and no one can truly help me. That’s a thought I’m actively working through — asking for help and giving things enough space for someone to come in and do just that.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a filmmaker and actress. But if I had to pick just one, I would simply be an actress. I don’t think you can be just one thing anymore, though. *Sigh* Gone are the good ole days. No, but truly I’ve been pursuing acting since I was a child. I’ve been in acting classes since I was 13. I did theatre in high school, I even studied “Higher Level” theatre (I am a failed IB student. Turns out HL theatre is actually the easiest way to NOT get your IB diploma). I moved to LA for proximity to the industry and perhaps finally unlock the secrets to breaking out. Turns out, no one actually wants to tell you how to do it. Or maybe they do, and no one is really listening. I feel like most people kind of just want an Ozempic style solution for becoming successful in the film industry. Unfortunately, the only true way to do it is get up and get to work. If you want to be an actor, you have to start acting and I don’t mean only inside your acting class gym (while that’s still a better alternative to doing absolutely nothing), I mean truly writing something you feel like you’d be good for, finding a camera, and getting your friends to help you make it.

I’m very fortunate that I found myself part of a club of cinematographers and directors… and I’d like to think that was all very calculated, but it was more that certain decisions lead me there but I didn’t go into it like “In order to make my dreams a reality, I will only befriend people who will advance my career!” God, I wish I had that level of foresight. I went into all of this trying to feel less alone and find a place where I felt like I fit in. The rest follows. I am also very fortunate that the only camera gear I have access to are motion picture film cameras, so if ever I were to take my own advice and cast myself as the lead in a film, the path of least resistance actually is the path paved of celluloid.

I think spending the past 3 years in proximity to passionate filmmakers has molded me into a director, producing a film festival has inspired me to make things for myself, and my confidence has evolved enough to the point where acting has become as easy as breathing. This past summer I wrote, directed and starred in a 35mm short film called “Krush’n It” and it has become my biggest achievement that I can’t wait to share with the world.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Make things because you feel inspired and if you need a little inspiration or a community in LA, join us at the ASCF.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ascfclub.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/jesswizrd
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessiwizrd

Image Credits
Kyle Nolan, Abe Recio, Regina Velasco, Lisset Mendoza