Julia FG Smith
Creative Content Producer / Project Manager
Los Angeles, CA
www.juliafgsmith.com
LinkedIn
instagram @honeyortar / @salt.aire
Pinterest
Q What do you do?
“I’m a seasoned creative content producer, project manager and operations specialist.”
I’ve produced in film, print, digital and podcast formats across many sectors: non-profit, corporate, venture and start-up. My focuses have included beauty, wellness, fashion, textile, craft, music and education.
I excel at producing socially impactful projects from concept ideation to execution, including pre-production, on-site and remote production ensuring COVID-19 safety compliance and post production. I have been in charge of managing budgets, contracts, timelines and workflows of all stakeholders; research and sourcing; casting and team building; talent wrangling, booking and management; location scouting and booking; catering; mood-boards and decks; review and feedback rounds; insurance, talent releases and legal compliance; supporting creative collateral and copywriting; asset management and organization; communication between all departments and stakeholders; and process evaluation and improvements.
Smashbox Cosmetics, Image by Bee Gutierrez
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
My first job after graduating from Colorado College was as a buyer for bedding, pillows, curtains, hardware, lighting and wall decor at Anthropologie. It was my absolute dream job at the time. I finally was thrust into the creative world I had dreamt of for years, but after only 8 months I found myself completely unfulfilled. I was working around the clock for very little pay, and there was so much bureaucracy that prevented me from actually being creative. It was also during the time when Obama was running his incredibly inspiring and historic Presidential campaign which invigorated me outside of work, and left me feeling lost and empty at work. Young and naive, instead of thinking this particular job just wasn’t the right fit for me, I decided to pursue a new career path in nonprofits.
For the next 8 years, I worked in nonprofit social service operations, fundraising and program development. I worked in three nonprofits in Philadelphia and New York, starting as a Program Assistant and ending as a Director of Program Operations overseeing 15 supportive housing residences for youth who had aged out of the foster care system, families, veterans and individuals struggling with mental illness and/or living with HIV/AIDS. It was important, tangible work and I was proud of it, but it also left me wanting more creatively. I had exhausted all of the opportunities within my roles to take on projects that allowed me to express my aesthetic vision and apply my creativity. For example, I oversaw social impact interior design initiatives; the build out, outfitting and move of our administrative headquarters; and the rebranding and overhaul of our website. It wasn’t enough, and I sought adventure and a new career that would combine my operations expertise with my creative and visual talent.
Long story short, in 2016, I joined Border&Fall, a 360 creative agency in Bangalore, India working at the intersection of fashion and craft to shift global perceptions of ‘Made in India’. I worked with them to project manage and produce from ideation to execution The Sari Series, a non-profit digital anthology of India's regional sari drapes through 89 short films, free and accessible online and showcased around the world including on Google Arts & Culture and in The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)’s 2017-18 exhibit, ‘Items: Is Fashion Modern?'. I also managed social media creative direction for Border&Fall and two of our agency clients - one in textiles and one in handcrafted jewelry.
I’d finally found a career path that I found both fulfilling and invigorating: creative content production and project management with a social impact focus. However, after living and working for 2.5 years in India, I started looking for similar jobs in Los Angeles and found it was incredibly hard to break into America’s established and competitive creative production industry. After an entire year of searching, I finally landed a job as a Producer in the Global Creative Operations department at Smashbox Cosmetics, an Estee Lauder company, where I stayed for the next 1.5 years. While working for a corporate, revenue-driven beauty company with a different aesthetic than my own was not exactly what I was looking for, it proved to be an incredible opportunity, stepping stone and educational experience, and I honed my production skills, made lifelong friends and started to build a creative community in LA.
After being laid off from Smashbox in January 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I found myself newly interested in pursuing freelance opportunities that would allow me pursue different projects on my own terms and schedule. I landed an incredible contract job at Parallel, as the lead producer for This Little Light, a music education podcast hosted by Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Proceeds of the podcast benefit the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, a non-profit music school in Los Angeles that Flea founded in 2001. On the podcast, Flea invites musical guests from all genres - ranging from legends like Patti Smith to rising stars like Cynthia Erivo - to talk about how they fell in love with music. The podcast launched on March 30, 2023 and new episodes drop every Thursday through June. In addition to producing the podcast with Parallel, I also worked as a project manager for them, incubating a clean beauty brand with celebrity sisters until a founding CEO was hired.
On the side, I also produced print and digital campaigns for Vegamour, a vegan and cruelty-free hair growth product company, where my old colleague from Smashbox is now the Creative Director.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I think my non-linear background in both creative and non-profit fields, plus my experience working at a creative agency in India, makes me interesting and unique as a candidate. I love change and taking risks, and I’m extremely detail-oriented, versatile, resourceful, reliable and hands-on. I bring an elevated eye for design to all my projects and am truly equal parts left- and right-brained.
Q What are you working on right now?
Having successfully launched the This Little Light podcast at the end of March 2023, I’m now unemployed and on the hunt again for new creative production and project management opportunities.
Q What’s your style?
I think my overall portfolio, but particularly The Sari Series and This Little Light, represent my perspective. I also think my personal photography, Instagram design handle and Pinterest (which receives over two million organic, unique impressions each month) showcase my aesthetic and taste. I’ve always had an eye for beauty and details, and love color, pattern and texture.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
I’m primarily a creative content producer and project manager, but my love for art direction goes back to my childhood. I would absolutely love the opportunity to art direct a campaign, photo shoot or project - especially in the fashion, architecture or interior design space.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
The job search in a struggling economy! Last year I was turning down gigs, and this year I feel like I’m begging for them. But it will work out, it always does.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Scour the internet for jobs I can apply for!
Smashbox Cosmetics, Image by Paul Recalde
This Little Light, Image by Gabriella Lamb
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I recently read a Passerby interview with Olivia Villanti of Chava Studio, who I met recently on a trip to Mexico City with my mom. On reconciling with her love of fashion, she said, “I always felt embarrassed because I thought you couldn’t be a thoughtful, smart person and still care about aesthetics.” This is exactly how I’ve always felt and wish I could tell my younger self it’s absolutely not true.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
Producing a large on-location shoot. Most of my productions have been in-studio, with a few exceptions, and I'd love to master on-location projects.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I'm looking for new creative production, project management, operations and/or equivalent opportunities. I'm open to both freelance and full-time. I'm always on the hunt for and most excited by producing long-term, socially impactful projects like The Sari Series and This Little Light, but I'm also open to producing shoots and shorter-term projects, and would love to get more involved in the textile, fashion, interior design and architecture worlds which have always been close to my heart.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
Basically what I said above! My ideal job would be producing a long-term socially impactful project, aligned with both my values and aesthetic, where there is a mutual respect and trust between me and the client/employer. I thrive when there’s transparency, a balance of independent and collaborative responsibilities and when I have the freedom to lead and be experimental, resourceful and opinionated. Working with kind, thoughtful people who have a sense of humor hugely helps too! I’ve always loved textiles and design, and would love to produce projects in the fashion, interior design and architecture spaces.
Q What is your rate?
My freelance hourly rate typically starts between $125-$150/hour depending on the scope of work. Similarly, my day rate for up to 10 hours typically starts from $1250-$1500/day. For long-term projects, I’m more than happy to negotiate more cost-efficient project fees.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Always excited to meet new people and learn about new projects! Emailing me at juliafgsmith@gmail.com is the best way to reach me. As many details as you can provide about the opportunity including the budget, scope, objectives, timeline and team is greatly helpful!
The Sari Series, Image by Rid Burman
Q Who is a creative you admire?
Jordan Levinson is an incredible art and video director, designer and editor who I had the pleasure of working collaboratively with at Smashbox Cosmetics. Now a full time freelancer, she is extremely efficient, tasteful, thoughtful, friendly and fun and has her finger on the pulse of the ever evolving creative landscape.
figurescreative.party
@jordan___figurescreative
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Seeking beauty wherever I go.
This member profile was originally published in April 2023