Meet Jessica Anderson | Writer & Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Anderson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, as a parent, what have you done for you children that you feel has had the most significant impact?
Believing in myself. Self-doubt, self-sabotage, and questioning our worth are all part of our adult lives, but they begin at a very young age. We see the people we look up to and we learn about their fears, challenges, and sacrifices. Once I had my daughter, I realized the only thing holding me back was my own belief that I didn’t deserve to succeed. The idea that I wasn’t good enough. My hopes and dreams for my daughter were true and genuine, but at the same time I was not affording myself the same faith in my own dreams. In order to be a good mother to my daughter, I had to take a hard look at why I didn’t believe I could do something like write and direct my screenplay. What it boiled down to was fear; the fear of failing. My daughter hates to lose. So do I, but in this moment I have an opportunity to show her that confronting fear and the risk of failure is how we learn and grow.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My thirst for creative expression has been a part of my journey from a young age. I’ve found that I like to dive right into a path or project with my full heart. I’ve been knocked down, rejected, embarrassed, and taken advantage of. I’ve spent years of time and effort heading in one direction only to quit because I felt I needed to pursue something “safe”.

Throughout my entire life, I’ve doubted my ability and the worth of my creative expression. I’ve since learned that your art or talent comes down to your heartfelt truth that you want to share with the world. In order to fully express this creative vision, you have to develop the skills. This takes time and patience. I’ve learned to trust the process and to be more gentle with myself. I have also made sure to surround myself with amazing and supportive people who also understand this creative journey.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We’d start with a brief stop by Trails Cafe in Griffith Park for some coffee and pie, then follow the path up to the Observatory and back down near the Greek Theatre. Another day, we would load up the car with beach gear and snacks and head to El Matador Beach in Malibu. Maybe we’d spend an afternoon at the Getty absorbing art and sun, then head downtown and stuff our faces at Grand Central Market. I’d also want to visit the Lost Bookstore in Montrose and stroll through the stunning landscapes at Huntington Botanical Gardens.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The support from my husband Eric is why I’ve been able to find my voice as an artist. He has given me the space to explore and learn. I’m also grateful for the Sundance Collab program. They offer online courses for writing, directing, and producing while bringing together a community of creatives from all over the world. In my first course, I was gifted the friendship of a small group of creatives with whom I have formed a writers group. These relationships helped build my confidence as an artist and have kept me pushing forward. If it wasn’t for them, I would not have gotten this far.

Website: www.mamalovesto.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jessicawasgross

Other: www.instagram.com/arlene_film