A bit about My work
My work isn’t just work; it is a lifestyle. I have to create, it is who I am. Besides having all these ideas, I am thankfully also very organised and can keep myself grounded. Lots of creatives I work with can be a bit “with the fairies,” and here I am bringing them back to Mother Earth, making sure the idea we are executing makes sense and, most importantly, has an audience. Having an idea is one thing, but knowing how to execute it is another. I guess that is where I come in.
Scipted
Scripted work amazes me. When my sister was little, I loved telling her bedtime stories. Now, having produced a Feature Film 1978, lots of short films, ranging from Drama, Comedy, all the way to thrillers, I can truly call myself a storyteller.
Several of them received strong recognition at film festivals, which is always rewarding feedback.
I am currently developing a crime limited series based on true events, and I must say Crime is perhaps my favourite genre so far.
Non-Scipted
Non-scripted work is probably the hardest work to do. Usually, you have no money and no time, but I would say it is also the most rewarding work. I worked on a dozen micro documentaries, and it is still my preferred storytelling style, raw, true and real. In 2025, I had this incredible opportunity to stay on a few remote islands in the middle of the Pacific for two months and shoot a full-length documentary about fresh water. What a humbling experience – I loved it! Before I went, I created this women’s adventure documentary piece here in Aotearoa, which was also an experience and totally different to some of my other work. I love challenging myself as well as stepping out of my comfort zone. 2026/2027 will be the year when I produce an awareness documentary piece on Brain Cancer. Every project is so different, and every time it’s kind of starting from scratch. Being a creative is never about reaching the top of the mountain, but to keep climbing and enjoying the journey, imagining the top of the mountain. And every time it looks slightly different.
Commercial
Honestly, I can’t count how many campaigns, videos, and creative content pieces I have directed, produced or edited. I have worked with small, medium and large organisations under a variety of different companies like RT Films, Penguin Empire, Beautiful Pictures, Kaboose Media, Clarative Media, Obvious Brand Partners and Paradigm. Each project has its own creative challenges, but the thing I enjoy the most, besides pulling the shoot together or running it, is building a strategy for my clients. I don’t just create for the sake of it. Good content should either inspire or entertain. Figuring out how best to communicate and share their Why brings me the most joy.
In Short ..
I like to translate bold ideas into actionable strategies for film, advertising, and brand storytelling. Collaborating across disciplines, I balance creativity with commercial insight to elevate the project.
List of work
Scripted (most recent)
(completed) – 1978 – Feature Film – Producer
(in development) – Neighbourhood Watch – Series – Producer
(in development) – Nearly Departed – Feature Film – Producer
(completed) – Die Schramms – TV show – Line Producer
(completed) – Little Buddy – Short Film – Producer
(completed) – My Father My Son – Short Film – Producer
(completed) – Ainslie Allen Mama says – Music video – Producer/Director
(completed) – Joker – Short Film – Director
(completed) – Daria – Short Film – Director
Non-Scripted (most recent)
(in development) – Vai – Feature Documentary – Producer/Director
(completed) – Kindred Spirits – Documentary – Producer/Director
(in development) – Brain Cancer Run – Documentary – Producer/Director
(in development) – Emma Morris TEDx – Documentary- Producer/Director
(completed) – Sione’s Story – Micro Documentary – Producer/Director
(completed) – Our Stories – Documentary – Editor
Commercial Companies (I have done Commercial Producing and Directing for, most recently)
Southward Distillery
Tamara Swimwear
Band of Boys clothing
Pepper Raccoon
NEC New Zealand
Playcentre Aotearoa
Sky Stadium
How We Work
Outfox
French TECH
Team Cloud
SuiteFiles
Real Steel
Real Talk
Leadership TreeHouse
Orbit Wellington
WellingtonNZ
Horowhenua
Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce
Hutt City Council
Wellington City Council
TEU
etc.
A bit about Jess Denise 