Jennifer Greco

Unaffiliated

What was your first professionally directed work and when was it?
My first professionally directed work was my short film Esmeralda. We shot it internationally in 2022 and had the opportunity to work with well-known Colombian actors. Even though this was my first film, this was a story that deserved to be made as big and powerful as possible so we went for it. The film has been selected as a semifinalist to Flicker’s & Miami Short Film Festival. It also won Best North American Short Film at the Female Eye Film Festival and was recently official selection to Evolution Mallorca Int Film Festival, and Catalina Film Festival, among others.

How did you get into directing?
From a young age, my leadership skills were well developed so I used to come up with creative games, put together teams, and lead them. I grew up in Colombia, and my dream was to study film, but none of the colleges in my city had the program, and my parents didn’t have the resources to pay for it. I studied hard and won multiple scholarships that brought me to the U.S. This gave me the opportunity to get into NYU and the industry. I always wanted to direct, so I started practicing with my school projects. There are so many stories that I carry with me, and I look forward to sharing them with the world.

What is your most recent project?
I am currently working on developing a documentary about a skateboarder from Inglewood who uses his skateboard as a way to escape from the violence, drugs and chaos he grew up in all the way to becoming a pro. This story seeks to highlight the underrepresented communities, and encourage them to fight for their dreams.

What is the best part of being a director?
The best part is coming up with an idea and collaborating with other creatives to bring it to life. It’s a very fascinating process.

What is the worst part of being a director?
Nothing really. Of course, there are always moments when making a film becomes challenging, but it’s part of the process, and being a problem solver and steering the wheel when things aren’t working is part of our craft.

What is your current career focus: commercials and branded content, television, movies? Do you plan to specialize in a particular genre–comedy, drama, visual effects, etc.?
My current career focus is documentary, and narrative. However, I also work in the commercial, and live stream space. I believe it’s important to be well rounded with experience, and learn multiple skills. I want to specialize in stories that raise awareness and showcases more diversity on the screens.

Have you a mentor and if so, who is that person (or persons) and what has been the lesson learned from that mentoring which resonates with you?
I’ve had multiple mentors throughout my life in different areas, my mother, Chip Seidler, Jesus Rios, Alrick Brown, Madeline Donegan and their mentorship has helped me to push through any obstacles that have come my way and move forward in my career in which I am grateful for.

Who is your favorite director and why?
My favorite director is Greta Gerwig not only because of her incredible work as a director but also because most of her films explore female identity and challenge the idea of gender roles in the film industry. These days, we can’t simply think of moviemaking as it used to be, a world of men. Instead, this new wave of filmmakers is committed to help transform the industry for our future generations by creating more opportunities for diverse backgrounds and genders. As an emerging filmmaker, I dream of diversity across all genres where there are no limitations of race, class, or equity and where we instead focus on the art, and the magic of movie-making. With Greta Gerwig’s making history at the box office as a female director, I see a bright future ahead of us, a promising one for our young filmmakers and future generations ahead that I am excited for.

What is your favorite movie? Your favorite television/online program? Your favorite commercial or branded content?
My favorite movie is Nomadland by Chloé Zhao, TV series The Queen’s Gambit, and commercial “One Day We Won’t Need This Day” by Nike.

Tell us about your background (i.e., where did you grow up? Past jobs?)
I was born and raised in Colombia. I moved to the US at 19 in search of new opportunities and to fulfill my dream of working in the film industry. I graduated from NYU’s Tisch recently which was my dream school. My Latin roots are my biggest inspirations for storytelling. I love stories that center on social-cultural awareness and women’s empowerment.

My experience working in the industry range from Showtime, Fox, PRG, London Alley, and Gro Creative. I have coordinated the Brandi Carlile IMAX live stream, the Ralph Lauren Spring Fashion Show 2023, Candy Crush Commercial featuring Saweetie and the Jonas Brothers. Most recently, I produced the Sueños Music Festival, one of the biggest Latin music festivals in the US. I am currently working on developing two documentaries.

Have you had occasion to bring your storytelling/directorial talent to bear in the Metaverse, tapping into the potential of AR, VR, AI, NFTs and/or experiential fare? If so, tell us about that work and what lessons you have taken away from the experience?
I haven’t had the chance yet, but I am interested in it and would love to explore that world in the future.

Contact

• Jennifer Greco, Website: , Email: jennifergreco08@gmail.com, Website: esmeraldafilm.com