We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Zoe Esser. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Zoe below.

Alright, Zoe thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I am lucky to say that I can and am earning a full-time living from my creative work!

Zoe’s Journey: At the age of 12 I stumbled into the film industry. A community program that I was a part of Mayor’s Youth Task Force*, in South Saint Paul Minnesota, was asked by our local broadcasting station, NDC-4 & Townsquare Television, if we wanted to fill some dead air they had with an informational show. In the show we listed a bit about the events we had coming up, hosted local celebrities and guests that hit our theme for that week/month and did silly skits. With the help of the local station employees, we all got to learn how to set up, a studio, how to light a studio, how to run a live broadcast, editing, etc. I LOVED every aspect of it and the rest was history! After a few shows I got connected with a station employee that took me under her wing and showed me even more of the process. I worked under her as a shadow helping where I could on her local projects and coverage she did for the station. I also enrolled in all the stations other production classes that dove into more detail on how to run a live production truck, editing techniques, etc. in doing those classes I got certified by the station to volunteer for their other live programming. When graduation came around, I then applied for college at Minnesota State University Moorhead where I studied Film Production. My Junior year I got to go to, what at the time was considered one the best digital film schools in the world, Lincoln England where MSUM had a sister program. I graduated with a degree in Film Production and a double minor in Communication Studies and Entertainment Industry Business. Moving back home to the Twin Cities I found myself doing any freelance work I could get my hands on and reached out to any film or media related company in the Twin Cities I could find on Google. Only three responded and I got on my first ever set, a music video. From there I met a lot of local contractors that loved my work ethic, organization and problem-solving skills. That initial Production/Post House that hired me onto the music video set continued to hire me and ended up with creating and offering me a role within their company. I worked as an Associate Producer for three years and did freelance gigs as a COVID Compliance Officer, Production Manager/Coordinator and Production Assistant as often as I could between the 9AM-5PM. During my times as an Associate Producer I learned how to bid on projects and run almost every set we had come through our companies doors. This also included taking care of our retainer clients, one being Nicolet Law. After coming to the decision to leave the Production/Post House I continued to reach out and talk to all my fellow contractors and the Marketing Manager at Nicolet Law heard I was looking. The president himself called me and offered me a job on the spot to work for him. Since joining Nicolet Law as their Media Producer, I have been able to continue to pursue my creative work in a very meaningful way. I love what I do every day and am very lucky to be able to be where I am. 

I made my career and dream happen through determination, hard work and being a positive and caring person to my peers. Don’t get me wrong, some days are a lot easier than others and some people are major assholes, but you have to preserver. Sometimes you contact 84 Production/Media Houses and only hear back from three. Sometimes you go to mixers or hop on LinkedIn and chat with so many people you forget what your own name is. Some days on set feel like they will never end. BUT, in the end what really matters is that you not only show up for the job/role you were hired to do but you show up for yourself and don’t give up on that dream. Surround yourself with good people who want to uplift you, or that you want to be like. Get a good pair of shoes for standing on set every day. Carry around some snacks and water and share them with your crew members. Always offer a helping hand and be open to failing. You’re not going to always be perfect but ya just gotta get back up and keep trying till you do it. 

I figured out what I wanted to do at the age of 12, not everyone is that lucky. People will always try to tear you down or tell you it’s impossible, but I hope that I can inspire or teach those around me that those people really don’t know what they are talking about because they aren’t us. When doing my tour at MSUM before accepting their offer, one of my soon to be favorite professors asked me the question: Why do you want to be a filmmaker? My response: To be able to inspire others, inspire others and to maybe even help individuals navigate the daily situations they find themselves in. 

I think growing up knowing what I wanted to do was a big advantage on speeding up the process to get to where I am now, but there are so many more resources, classes, groups, people out there that I wish I would have known about or been able to have joined to get questions answered, hone in my skills earlier, learn what the world of cinema/corporate video/broadcast holds. I’d just say be open minded and look beyond your bubble. That could have helped me sooner I think. Although life has turned out so far. I’m pretty lucky and stumbled into all the right things at the right times. 

*This was a group of local kiddos in varying age groups that planned and hosted events around town throughout the year to help keep peers out of trouble and give back to the community as a whole*

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Zoe Esser, I’m currently 27 years old although my 5’1 height might make you second guess it!

I work for Nicolet Law as a Media Producer, which means I run all their internal video and photography. My work for them usually includes projects along the lines of Attorney Bios, Client Testimonials, TV Commercials, Social Media Videos (Tik Tok, Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Internal Website, Youtube, etc.), Podcasts, Radio and anything else the marketing team may need. 

Prior to this role I was an Associate Producer and Studio Manager for a Production/Post House in Minneapolis MN. In that role I bid on projects for corporations, helped fund local community projects and engagement, ran our social media and rented out our studio space. I also freelance as a Production Manager/Coordinator or Production Assistant in my free time. 

The problems I solve for clients usually meet a creative need to show off a product or speak to a service that has been provided by a company to make a difference in its consumers lives. 

I think what sets me apart from others in my industry is my attention to detail, being one step ahead and just an overall sunny deposition that everything will work out for the best. As a leader on sets it is on you to come in and be a calm and decisive individual. While it is important to make the director and clients’ vision come to life, my sets focus on the crew and their safety above all things. If your crew is happy, the work shows it. 

The main thing I want potential clients/followers/fans to know about me and my work is: I am open to any challenge and it’s all about making a difference. Whether that difference be a crew member’s life or role, your clients’ sales on their products or services, or lessons for your own career, they all matter! Those wins, and positivity, make film sets all that more memorable for everyone involved and keeps people coming back. I want people to know that I am always here to be a resource for them and happy to help make connections wherever I can to help uplift them to where they want to be. A rising tide lifts all ships! 

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the opportunity to help bring other people’s ideas to life, or tell individuals stories so others can relate, process and find guidance. It’s also an opportunity to meet like-minded people that can expand on your talents with their own.

As a producer you aren’t necessarily coming up with the creative ideas, you’re helping guide the path with budgets and resources and hiring just the right people for the client to make the creative the best it can be. Building those teams is the most rewarding mission, especially when the project and crews elaborate on the base of the concept to create something bigger and better than you or the client could ever envision.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Some resources that I wish I knew about growing up/earlier in my career are:

-EDU Film Festival
-Facebook Groups (so many in the twin cities and beyond to help and give free resources)
-Community Programs (Sparked in MLPS, Townsquare Classes, etc)
-Minnesota Women in Film and Television
-MN Film and Television
-Film North
-Catalyst
-Local Contractors – most are willing to sit down and have a cup of coffee to spill their knowledge and lessons

There are more and more resources popping up on the daily! Use Google. Use your local chat channels. Use social media.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @zoe_esser
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/zoeesser- 72753311a

Image Credits

Jake George
Arpan Upadhyaya
McKade Riedman