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

Hi Jessica, thanks for joining us today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

I think about this all the time! I am constantly talking about how nice it was to have a “regular life” before I found the entertainment industry. I got to grow up in a small, Southern town. I got to have a “normal” childhood with “normal” problems. I went off and had a “normal” college experience. I had the best life possible. Once I graduated (shout out to UNCW-woo!) and entered those lost years that all of us have where I had no idea what I wanted to do in my life, I stumbled into an acting class. Another shout out to a place that I am forever grateful for and wouldn’t be here without – ACTOR’S ARSENAL (love you, Allie & Ron)! The decision to sign up for this class catapulted me into my dream career. It started a chain of events that I believe happened for a reason. One decision led to another which led to another which got me here. So, sometimes I wish I knew at 18 that I wanted this life, but then I remind myself that I never would be exactly here without the journey that I took. I’m thankful for it because I love everyone I’ve met along the way and how it shaped me into the person I am today.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I do all the things. I wear all the hats. I am a writer, a producer, (sometimes) an actor, and most importantly, a creator. I work at a small, science-based, development production company and I co-own The Annex Acting Studio with my partner, Frank Krueger. I think it’s important to understand all aspects of the entertainment industry to better operate within the department you are working at the time. In this business the hats are always changing, so it’s good to have as much knowledge as you can at all times.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Resilience apparently means “the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.” I don’t think anything thickens your skin or builds a solid foundation like independent producing. I’ve done my share of this, but my first deep dive was back in 2015 when I co-created the web series “The Struggle is Real” with my friends, Meredith Jackson & Katelyn Farrugia. We formed Neapolitan Productions together and created this series from the ground up. We wrote, produced, and all acted in this project after completing a successful Kickstarter campaign with the help of our amazing friends, family, and followers. Having to do every job is unbelievably challenging. You are the first and last people on set, you are responsible for every piece of paperwork, you are the first line of defense creatively, and you have to make sure everyone’s money is well spent. Anyone who has done indie producing knows that the hardest and worst part of the whole thing is asking people for money. Kickstarter is a wonderful platform that allows creatives to make their dreams come true. We are forever grateful to all our donors for helping us achieve this goal (hopefully they are proud!). Along with our dear friends, Joe Covas & Brannigan Carter, we were able to distribute our series to Amazon Prime… in case anyone wants to check it out! :)

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

This is a no brainer – getting a finished product. Having something to show for all your blood, sweat, & (many, many) tears is what it’s all about. Being able to point to something and say “I made that” means everything.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @jessicalheath @tsirwebseries @theannexas @annexprods

Image Credits
Meredith Jackson, Janet Adamson, Frank Krueger