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

Jazzie , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

To be successful in a career you have to align yourself with what you truly want. Many fall into the trap of making someone else’s dream a reality and sacrificing their own. Make mistakes early and learn from them fast. I remember my very first gig as a Production Assistant. I sat my awesome bosses down and told them I got a gig that I could not pass up and they graciously gave me a personal day during my work week. The job was a local mattress commercial. I was with the Director and DP and we flew out to Pennsylvania on a personal plane and I totally tanked. I was too timid to take initiative and had to be told what to do, and I remember coming home feeling so discouraged knowing I could have done better. But here is the key, failure is there to teach you. Learn and keep moving.

If you want to be successful invest in yourself. No one can see the vision that you have, because there is, and will only ever be, one you. So whatever you want to be a part of, or create, learn from others who have been there and apply it. I was trying to make it on my own with no mentor or direction and I found myself going in circles. I decided to pay for a module-based course that was $400 a month and I used a credit card to pay for it. I didn’t even finish the course and I was already on set making money! Taking risks and believing that you can do it is part of it, but putting in the work is everything.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Jazzie Dash, a 1st AD corgi mama who loves Jesus. My family and I were born and raised in Waco Texas.

I was on a mission to get into the film industry, but it was a huge enigma. “You gotta know somebody,” they said. “No, you have to be somebody.” After attending film school, I had fundamental knowledge of how to make a film but no clear idea on how to get on set. For me it was a process. I took a job working full-time at an audio-visual company, it was a great job, and the people were lovely. But there was one problem, I wasn’t living my dream. So, I did the scariest thing I have ever done, I held myself tight, eyes closed, and took that first step off the cliff I call freelance in 2017. I tried what film school taught me which is to immerse yourself into the community. I joined Women in Film, and attended many film festivals which led to a few jobs and then dead ends. It wasn’t until I invested in myself that I found my groove of working my way up from Production Assistant to the 1st Assistant Director I am today. Every journey is unique to the individual and mine was not linear. During my come-up I had to conquer not having a vehicle for two years, being displaced at times, relying on the goodness of friends and strangers just to get through, but I never allowed myself to quit my dream. I wanted to make movies, and that is exactly was I was going to do.

1st AD’s breakdown a script, create a schedule, and see that schedule through during filming while keeping everyone safe and on task. We are the point of contact with every department, communicating real time pivots while also being 12 steps ahead. AD’s feel the pressure of the clock because our job is to get all of our shots complete before we start costing production money, while also giving the creatives time to make their art. It is the ultimate balancing act. I’ve learned from some of the best AD’s and developed my role from trial and error. In the beginning, I was militant and came across forceful. As I grew in confidence, I understood that creating an atmosphere on set is just as important as time management. My art is managing people, I have dealt with some of the most difficult and eccentric personalities to the kindest folks you will ever meet. Expect to find quirks and intricacies working with artists that you wouldn’t otherwise find.

What I am most proud of is my style, every AD has one. I create an air of respect and trust. I give the crew their space to create while being firm yet approachable. There is a time to play and have fun, and a time to get serious. Even if I know all bases are covered, I still expect the unexpected because you can plan until your blue in the face, but something outside of your control will always prevail. I like to create flow, move in a flexible way and invite others to do the same. I’ve been told I am very good at what I do, but as long as I can be of service and my team is happy at the end of the day, that’s what I care about. We’re making movies, not sending people to space.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Film crews are the most-hard working people you will ever meet. We prep for days and, when it’s go time, a normal work day for us is 12 hours plus, just to wake up at the crack of dawn to commute to set to do it all over again. What is most rewarding for me is getting that beautiful shot; where the light is just right, the performance pierces your heart, and everyone is so locked in that no one can avert their attention. Telling stories is my passion, and the reward of a job well-done is what I strive to achieve.

To give an example, I was working on a particularly difficult job out in the wilderness, almost 3 weeks into a production. It was our last shot, everyone was tired and we had 5 minutes left on the card; quickly losing golden hour light. It was a 180° shot coordinating actors on horseback. The long, strenuous, journey came down to a final shot attempt just before we lost our window. Everyone came together for that one moment and, somehow, we managed to create the most beautiful shot imaginable. The celebration and relief of cast and crew that erupted when we watched the playback was a beautiful experience that reminded me of why the stress was worth it.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

The film industry is very lucrative, productions want the best people to make sure that the capital invested turn a profit, and hiring crew is not cheap. In my experience, word of mouth has played a major factor in a number of my job searches, and with that in mind, building a strong reputation was an absolute must. What helped me was putting myself in the Producers and Unit Production Managers shoes and asking myself, if I was hiring for this project who would I want? What qualities are they pursuing? Someone who anticipates, who takes direction and ownership of a task. Someone who accepts criticism and correction and then chooses to improve. Someone who communicates well in collaboration. Someone who isn’t arrogant and can learn from anyone and understands that the learning never stops. I have made efforts to embody each of these qualities at every opportunity.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jazziedeseree/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083325997838
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jazziedeseree/

Image Credits

Miranda Flores
Jon Birondo