Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesse Gebryel.

Hi Jesse, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a child, I spent a lot of time with my mother, who was an artist and writer. My father was a pilot and highly technical in addition to being a photographer, so I absorbed technical aptitude and artistic inclinations through him as well. I was always predisposed to art, loved stories and was an avid reader. I could always place myself in the world of a story and feel completely enveloped and consumed by it. This led to writing stories, drawing, and above all playing— imagining scenarios and pretending to be in them with friends at a young age, very innocently. Video games were around but for whatever reason, they were on the periphery and not a central focus of play. That forced me to rely on my imagination to create situations and given circumstances, which further developed a capacity and inclination to tell stories. Later, in high school, I picked up my grandfather’s old Super 8mm camera and started to make films with my friends, inspired by all the films I was watching. This led to me pursuing filmmaking and theatre in college, which I loved. Learning all the technical aspects of filmmaking and the craft of acting, directing was immensely gratifying and important. But it was all for naught without the story and imagination to drive the need.

In college, I was cast in an actor-created theatre piece, a story based on the lives of eight acting students, which was a magnificent exploration. During rehearsals for this piece, we had to essence down our central focus and goal for the purposes of molding our experiences into a story. I was able to essence mine down to “communicating my vision to people.” I still believe that’s a central challenge— getting the beauty and perspective from my imagination out onto the page and communicating it externally to an audience.

Even though I knew what I wanted to pursue, there were diversions in my path, and I’ve found that to tell stories with depth, with personal meaning and emotion, one has to experience life. While making films and writing stories, I worked in the advertising industry, where I learned from some very talented creative directors and producers. Then there was a period where I was a freelance producer, which eventually led to a position as a branded content executive producer and creative director in the tech industry. That was a wonderful experience because I was able to travel the world and meet people I never would have met otherwise.

All this fed into the raw material for stories and imagination. Some would see it as a roundabout route to get to where I am now, but one has to realize— I wouldn’t be the same person without that life path and therefore would not be telling the same stories. I’m grateful for having lived what one might consider multiple lives, and having the material to feed my imagination.

Lately, I’ve begun to think of myself as an explorer of different topics and themes— jumping into a story and subject, saturating myself in it and making discoveries, then finding another. Some are very personal, others are broader and more genre-based, yet also personal in their own way. But the topics are rich and varied, based on what seem to be eclectic interests.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Certainly not! Time is a big one— finding the time to tell all the stories circling in my head is quite a challenge.

Of course, there were other, deeper challenges along the way; moments when I was depressed, feeling economic uncertainty, and filled with stress/anxiety, or all three. There are always times when you feel you may not make it. But you have to get back up. During the financial crisis, I found myself feeling very alone, living paycheck to paycheck, but that uncertain time led to some of the most creative, productive times of my life and much better economic footing. You can’t feel all the highs without some lows, and I’ve found that to be true in life.

Also, while accompanying first my mother, then my father on their journeys with cancer, I’ve discovered that overthinking, anxiety, and fear can easily become enemies of day-to-day life.

Anxiety can be a benefit, but only in that it causes you to take action, which is something left over from our ancestors. It’s a necessary tool for survival but not to be overdone. To stay in the moment, “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway” (a great book by Susan Jeffers, Ph.D.) and find the joy and gratitude in each moment are such essential goals. All while moving forward, even if just a little bit each day.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Finding unique, interesting, and vibrant moments is something I aspire to in filmmaking and writing, so I’m always happy when I feel like I’ve achieved that. When developing stories, embarking on a process of discovery and weaving together different thematic threads and topics can help obtain that distinct quality for the overall piece. I also aspire to what you might call a high-concept minimalism; with content, less is sometimes more. If the concept is strong and communicated clearly, you often don’t need to overcomplicate it.

Of course, balancing the creative needs of our work with kindness, respect, collaboration, and also with the key attribute of fun is important, so I always strive for that. We take our art, craft, or business so seriously sometimes that we forget life is supposed to be fun. Remember all the old movies where the first thing they do during a business meeting is to offer the other person a drink? You don’t necessarily have to do it with alcohol, but take the time to learn about people when you work with them and try to do it with joy. Get to know the other person and get curious about who they are, their struggles, battles, their passions, and interests and where they come from. It may seem basic, but it can be easily overlooked in today’s fast-paced society. It will make whatever project or endeavor you’re working on go a lot smoother and will, most importantly, build a lasting relationship, regardless of outcome.

What are your plans for the future?
Honestly, there are so many ideas that pop into my head, it can be overwhelming. I have a huge creative appetite. There are short stories, a novel, and always more screenplays I would love to write. There’s a streaming series pilot I’m collaborating on with the comedian, Chris Tos, that I’m thrilled about and a rather complex short film I look forward to finishing this fall. But in general, I’ve always loved the Steve Jobs anecdote about putting the iPad aside because the iPhone was more important, and that’s how I end up prioritizing these things. You have to learn how to say “no,” or “not right now” to some of your ideas so the most essential ones can flourish. And I can usually feel which is most significant to me. So first things first— one project, one step at a time.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessegebryel/