A bit
about
Me
I am a creative producer and strategist, guiding films and brands from concept to completion. I am a creative, but I am also a business person. I believe good storytelling should make you feel something – or learn something – and, just as importantly, deliver real value.
Let me share a bit about me with you.
A bit about
My Story
Yes, my accent sounds different, to say the least. No, I am not from South Africa. I learned English from an Irish Girl in Australia. I am from Germany, and I live in New Zealand. I always wanted to make films since I was 12 years old. I have worked in Theatre as a prop maker, I have acted and enjoyed my time studying film in Perth WA.
Lots of what I know comes from the incredible people I have met along the way.
One time, I met a Chinese man at an airport. He watched me trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle. Then we spoke about Art, Theatre and stories. At the end of our brief conversation, we parted. One year later, on my birthday, I received a gift. It was a scarf from this gentleman. A scarf that showed a very famous Chinese story and a note. “Trust your path”, and that is what I do.
I have lived in 3 different countries, have travelled to remote places and captured stories that inspired me. I am a creative. And clearly bad at small talk.
A bit about
my Professional Journey
I started in Pre-Production working for Australian Advertising companies, but once I moved to New Zealand, I had to learn how to edit. It was my only chance of securing a full-time job in the industry. Is it unusual for a Producer to come from an editing background? Maybe. In the end, I became an award-nominated editor before pursuing a full-time producing career.
It’s what makes me a better Producer.
I see post-production not as a stage for fixing problems, but as a space for refining and elevating the story. A great editor is Gold; never underestimate the magic a great editor can bring to your project. It might even save it.
When you work for smaller companies, sometimes you need to wear many hats. So I learned how to shoot, fly a drone and how to compose meaningful shots. I barely pick up a camera nowadays, but I know my way around it and can keep up with technical jargon. It helps a lot with budgeting, reviewing the work of other Camera Operators or Cinematographers to pick the right person for a job. In the end, the camera is just a tool; picking a creative who knows how to use it well is what matters.
A bit about Jess Denise 