Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jess Mastro. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jess, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you’ve thought about whether to sign with an agent or manager?

When I first came out to LA, one of my first goals (like many of us, I’m sure) was to get an agent. My plan: speak to every professional appearing person I encountered over the age of 35 and tell them I was a screenwriter. Even saying it was scary at the time, because it still felt a little like a title I was claiming prematurely. Anyway. I met a very nice man in the building of my hot tub. He worked at Harry Winston – Jewelry. Not exactly entertainment, but certainly professional. He was kind enough to invite me to his birthday party, which I was terrified to attend considering he was twice my age and quadruple my experience in the professional world – but my rule – must take all opportunities to speak to professionals over the age of 35 – required I go. So I went. It turned out there was actually an agent at that party. Gersh. His name was Carlos. I pulled myself together and did my “I’m a writer pitch” for him. But I was nervous and I didn’t go as smoothly as usual. I think he asked me if I had ever put anything on youtube and I was so shocked by the suggestion I acted as if I was unfamiliar with the platform, which is absolutely ridiculous. But after a moment of awkward silence, I readdressed the youtube suggestion, though we were long past the topic, and said something like “I really want to present my ideas in long form. And on the big screen. I think they deserve that real kind of attention. Or at least I hope so – that’s what I’m going for.” He gave me a strange look, but I think he appreciated the sentiment, and we went our separate ways. But I wasn’t about to give up that easily. I stayed at the party. For hours. Much longer than I usually am willing to as an introvert. Speaking to as many of Carlos’s friends as I could, trying to be as charming as possible while also expressing my hopeful wish for the night – for Carlos to read one of my scripts. Now, I don’t know if Carlos had a change of heart, or one of my conversation partners from throughout the night convinced him to give me a shot, but he turned to me, handed me his card and said “Good luck.” I was ecstatic. In fact, I was so ecstatic that my hands were shaking violently, and half way home I realized I didn’t have his card anymore. PANIC. I ran back to the party. I slipped in unnoticed. I got on my hands and knees behind the kitchen counter and searched the floor. I found his card on the kitchen tiles under the charcuterie. And ran out without anyone knowing I had returned. And the rest is history.

Jess, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a screenwriter who uses high-concept genre films as visual and visceral metaphors for the human experience. I love transforming personal demons into literal horrors, where monsters wear familiar faces. My goal is always to combine intricate and authentic character development with complex, twisting plots– exploring complex issues like broken family dynamics and childhood trauma through genre.

My sci-fi thriller “Invisible House,” produced by Chris and Roberta Hanley, pre-sold to Lionsgate, and my psychological thriller-monster-horror “Can I Come In?” is currently casting, co-produced and financed by 369 Productions. I’m repped at Gersh and Echo Lake Entertainment.

I’m also a producer, producing my own projects as well as raising financing for other projects like Captivated starring Al Pacino and Kristallnacht starring Clive Owen. One of the projects we worked on, The Dutchman starring Andre Holland, just premiered at South By.

I’m head of development at Cinelaunch, a fin-tech company streamlining film packaging and development. I love reading as many scripts as I can, offering notes when needed. Our CEO likes to call me the last minute script savior, which is one of my favorite roles.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I think many filmmakers have had the experience of going on a lot of general meetings that go no where. I’ve seen both sides of the spectrum, the people who act really excited about what your working on but never follow through, and the ones who seem like they don’t want to be on the call at all. It can get exhausting and discouraging. I let myself get excited for them anyway. Not necessarily because I think the meeting is going to change my life right then and there, but because you never know what meaning that meeting will take on in the future. I remember one general that I was SO excited for. He was half of a producing duo that produced my favorite horror franchise, one that inspired me to start writing horror in the first place. He made it pretty clear that he didn’t have much to offer me other than advice, and I wanted to write a clever follow up email that said (in subtext, of course), “I understand you don’t want to take a risk on me, I will get there anyway, thank you for your honesty.” So I sent an email that simply said “I’ll see you on the other side.” I think he liked it because he sent a meme in return of somebody squinting into the distance.

I’ve come to use the phrase “see you on the other side” as my motto for generals. It takes the pressure off, and it allows me to be excited for them, it’s more like collecting people who will be rooting for you when you cross the finish line as opposed to expecting them to carry you there. Three years after that meeting, I’m not working on two projects with the OTHER half of the producing duo. And I do get some more joy out of that collaboration than I would have had I never had that first general. It’s a small thing, and the general didn’t lead to this opportunity, I got it a completely different way, but it helps me appreciate it more. It’s a nod to that version of me three years ago, “we’re doing the thing. Thanks for not giving up.”

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Revenge on my middle school bullies? Haha. Just kidding. Kind of. Though I am excited for the day some of the naysayers see my name in the credits of their favorite film. I don’t know. I wish I could tell you I wanted to make the world a better place. That I had some specific mission with my writing. And I do try to give that some thought when I write. But the truth is I just love telling stories. And I selfishly want other people to love the stories I make up. It’s a fun puzzle trying to figure out how to make that happen, although it can also be daunting and terrifying. When I was young, and lonely, and lost, it was always characters in fiction that made me feel found. I want to be a part of that process.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jessmastro.com
• Instagram: @Jess_Mastro
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-mastro-9a26a0172/
• Other: https://cinelaunch.io

Image Credits

John Sutton for head shot