Jessica Jessica Interview: Jessica Hinkson and Jessica Greco
“It’s okay to be coming of age in our late 30s, 40s, and onwards — because we are always coming of age.”
Last year we had the extreme pleasure of seeing a short called Jessica Jessica at the incredible Breakthroughs Film Festival (a film festival devoted to emerging female-identified filmmakers? yes please!). We also got to interview director Jasper Savage.
In the interview she mentioned that Jessica Jessica was destined to become a web series and fast forward a year, plus many film festivals and awards, and creators Jessica Hinkson and Jessica Greco are pitching Jessica Jessica as a web series for IPF funding. (The Independent Film Fund has a few funding programs, like web series, and give creators a chance to pitch their trailers to IPF and the online community.)
Read our interview with Hinkson and Greco below but first watch their IPF trailer and if you feel so inclined, comment, like, and share!
Jessica Hinkson is an actress/writer/producer. She’s a graduate of The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre and T. Schreiber Studios. In 2015 Jessica received a Best Actress nomination at Chicago Horror Film Festival for her role as Natalie Flint in the film Point of View and in 2016 Jessica produced and starred in the The Floaters, for which she was awarded Best Actress (Platinum Award) at the LA Shorts Awards. At the moment, a film that Jessica wrote, Joey, is in pre-production with Film Coop.
Jessica Greco (Actor, Producer, Writer) has enjoyed a career as an in demand actor in Canada for 20+ years, focusing on film and television. Keeping busy behind the camera, Jessica produced 2016’s award winning web series That’s My DJ Season 2 and wrote, starred and executive produced Jessica Jessica in 2017. You can also find her flexing her comedic muscles as both a writer and performer in the Canadian Comedy Awardnominated sketch troupe, Dame Judy Dench.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got involved with filmmaking.
We met in the 90s while attending The Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City. Two young Canadians out conquering the world where anything was possible, and it was.
Jessica Hinkson: After theatre school I started producing theatre and remember seeing an interview with Tilda Swinton where she said, ‘Now more than ever, as artists we need to create our own stories.’ It stuck with me. It inspired me. I think it was tattooed to my soul.
Jessica Greco: I have been a working actor in film and television for over 20 years. My first day on a television set was my 16th birthday. I took advantage of that opportunity and would ask a lot of questions on set, I made a point to try and learn about every department. But it wasn’t until I started doing sketch comedy 6 years ago that I really started producing and writing.
Tell us about Jessica Jessica. Where did the idea come from?
Jessica Jessica came to fruition through brunches, long talks, sharing our embarrassing stories, and being able to hold each other in the balance of our friendship. Whether it was through listening, reassuring, or laughing about the absurdity that life is sometimes. Laughter is medicine. And friends that are family are soul food, which is why we wanted to highlight female friendship. To also acknowledge that it’s okay to be coming of age in our late 30s, 40s, and onwards—because we are always coming of age.
We had the opportunity to see Jessica Jessica as a short film at Breakthroughs Film Festival last year and loved it! Did you always know you wanted it to eventually be a web series?
We always knew that Jessica Jessica was more than a short film, we just weren’t sure exactly what that more was…until we did.
What in particular attracts you to the web series storytelling format?
The web series format suited the serial narrative we wanted to pursue. It’s easy and accessible from almost anywhere, at any time. And it allows us to maintain our creative vision for the show. It’s like making a series of dope short films in which we tackle hard subjects, and find the humour in them so the audience is laughing at us and themselves. #toorelatable
Can you tell us about some/all of the other amazing women who worked on this project?
We dreamed a team, and that dream came true!
Executive Producer, Lauren Grant of Clique Pictures. Her mission is to focus on working with female creative talent both in front and behind the camera. She is currently in production on the feature film Sugar Daddy starring Kelly McCormack and Colm Feore. Known for Wet Bum, Picture Day, Traceable, and Metamorphosis.
Executive Producer, Ashleigh Rains of C’mon Mort Productions. Her mission: to tell great stories. She is in post-production for feature Canadian Strain starring Jessica Salguiero and Natalie Brown. Known for A Scratch in My Soul, Tomorrow’s Shadows, and Flung.
Tell us about why you are a feminist and why it’s important to your filmmaking. Who are your favourite women working in the film industry?
JH: I am a woman and I feel it is my given right to identify as a feminist for that reason. Women have been oppressed socially and politically for centuries, and although we have made great strides, we have a long way to go. Storytelling allows my authentic voice to be exercised based on my projected life journey, which empowers not only me, but others. The power lies in the vulnerability of taking that risk. Some of my favourite women in the industry are Jill Soloway, the ladies of Baroness Von Sketch, Sandra Oh, Amy Poehler, Brit Marling, Michelle Obama.
JG: I’m a feminist because I believe that everyone deserves equal rights. I was in the work force at a young age and had to learn to advocate for myself in predominately male spaces. So it is my great joy to be part of productions that put women at the head of their departments or the top of the call sheet. I too am a big fan for the Baroness Von Sketch Cast, also Issa Rae, Mindy Kaling, Natasha Lyonne, Ingrid Veninger, Ellen Page, Tina Fey… there’s so many talented ladies.
What’s the best advice about filmmaking you’ve ever received?
JH: The best advice about filmmaking that I’ve ever received was from one of my dance teachers. She said, “Spitfire, like Martha Graham did, keep all of your rejection letters. They are what will make you stronger, and eventually those ‘no’s will evolve in to ‘yes’.”
JG: Here’s a gem: “It’s a play, not a drag” as in, this is a wonderful job, try to enjoy it.
What are you working on now/next?
JH: Along with all things Jessica Jessica… Joey, a short film about one woman’s irreverent odyssey on her wedding day. I wrote as well as co-directed the film with Laura Nordin. I’ve also co-authored a book with friend Alex Appel, Love Your Yoni. It’s the one, two on how to navigate your way around your vagina. Interactive, yet you’ll LOL all the way through. It’s time to take the shame out of the name.
JG: You can see me right now on Netflix or CBC Gem’s in the new family hit, Northern Rescue staring Billy Baldwin & Michelle Nolden. The forth coming HBO show Jett, it’s top secret and I can’t say anything about. The film Tammy’s Always Dying directed by Amy Jo Johnson staring Felicity Huffman, which is in post production. And I continue to write and perform with my Canadian Comedy Award nominated sketch troupe Dame Judy Dench across North America.
You were just given a yacht. What would you name it?
JH: Gabby.
JG: Overcompensating
If you could hold any Guinness World Record, what would it be?
JH: The most influential Philanthropist.
JG: The longest received massage.
Finally, recommend one #MUFFApproved** film for our blog readers!a
JH: Private Life written and directed by Tamara Jenkins, starring Kathryn Hahn.
JG: Tank Girl, staring Lori Petty and Naomi Watson directed by Rachel Talalay.
Keep up to date with Jessica Jessica: Website | Twitter | Instagram
Follow Jessica Hinkson and Jessica Greco on Twitter.
