Jessica Toscano
Jessica Toscano
Filmmaker / Art Director
Echo Park, Los Angeles, CA
www.jessicatoscano.com
instagram @jessmam
twitter @jessmam
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I am a interdisciplinary artist and filmmaker working in an array of visual mediums to tell stories, entertain and create social awareness to the issues that matter today.”
Approaching every project with a impeccable eye for detail and an intense drive to make shit happen.
I am also the founder and creative director at Organdí, a creative studio for creatives. Building beautiful Squarespace websites and producing rad visual content of all kinds.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
I moved to LA when I was 17. I attended art school for a few years until curiosity and an intense desire to explore called, and I answered. A big part of me had no idea what life had in mind, but I knew it wasn’t what I was learning in school and at such an expensive cost. Maybe it was the wrong school, or maybe it was my calling. With an intense drive to learn about filmmaking, I began to gather small “pick your brain” opportunities in film, all while working several insane and odd jobs. I entered the world of marketing, record labels and start ups, until I found my way back to film in 2014. I’ve been freelancing as a creative and filmmaker since.
FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR FIELD, WHAT DO THEY USUALLY LACK?
Knowing your worth as artist/creative and negotiating rates. This took me years to learn (the hard way lol) but having a business mindset to ones creative work is imperative. As creative freelancers, we ourselves are businesses-- how we make a living, how we grow in our fields, and how we approach new collaborations and jobs.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
I am currently in post-production on my first writer/director project called ALICE, an experimental short film about a Alice, a young woman who is forced to encounter her deepest fears on an eerie Sunday morning. I am also writing and developing a couple of projects with my producer and writing partner Geenah Krisht.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
My personal website and my upcoming short are both a pretty great representation of my overall aesthetic and personal style. That being said, it definitely shifts and morphs all the time-- I can be bold and colorful one day and minimal and muted the next. It all also depends on the project and whatever the story is that we're trying to tell.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
Filmmaking: All aspects of it. Recently, I've really enjoyed collaborating with my writing partner, it's opened up a whole new creative outlet that feels very honest and pure. Directing was a dream and would love to just keep doing that come 2018.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
Being a team of one and tacking so much at a time.
Needless to say I feel immensely blessed to just be a creative, working and a human breathing.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
Right now it would be a blessing from the heavens if I could have someone help me organize all my hard drives and help with my social media. I have so much content I’ve gathered throughout the years that I would love to file it properly.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
Be kind to yourself and it’s okay to slow down.
It’s not all been smooth sailing, I’ve crashed a few times before. I used to feel like I was running out of time and I had to go faster, farther - make up for how young I was and how much I wanted to achieve.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
Oh, I would love to talk to an expert in meditation and mindfulness.
I have a pretty good yoga/meditation practice and I approach my work with a lot of mindfulness, and I like to be grounded. But whenever things get to intense in my life… I tend to lose it very fast and then it’s an enormous climb up hill from that. I would love to take more time to learn about this and get better at it.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
1. Filmmaking: I want to make weird/beautiful experimental art films. Any creative weirdos - get at me!
3. Art Direction for film, photography or print.
2. Visual Content: I would love to connect with creative brands that need dope branded content and are looking to collaborate and get weird.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
My ideal collaborator is someone who is excited to think outside the box. I am a big believer in collaboration, communication and exploring together. Also important, is someone who is not flaky, and has strong communication skills. Sticks to deadlines.
WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE, RETAINER, OR SALARY RANGE?
Hourly rate across the board is $125/hr. Websites for creatives start at $1600.
Producing/Directing rates and branded content are negotiable/vary per project, budget and timeline.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Email me at jess@organdi.co
Let’s grab coffee, lunch, dinner… drinks.
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
By living life; in love and close to my family and friends.
This member profile was originally published in December 2017.