Meet Jessica Martins | Manager and Founder of Hero Artists / Producer and Partner at Hero Entertainment Partners

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

Hi Jessica, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking

Taking risks has been a part of who I am since I could walk. It has shaped the person I have become and it will forever shape the person I continue to grow to be. Being raised as a Martins…certainly came with the innate tendency to take risks. First generation Canadian-born, from a family of Portuguese immigrants who risked everything they had to come to Canada…not even knowing where they were going or if they were going to survive if they got on that boat.  If they hadn’t taken the risk, I certainly wouldn’t be here today, that’s for sure. There is a deep-rooted fabric of “nothing is impossible” that is embedded in the Martins’ DNA. Taking risks however, have come with the price of heart-ache, failure, incredible stress and disappointment, but that comes with the territory. I have followed my intuition, my heart, mind and spirit and I am confident that no matter what path of “risk” taken, that it will eventually lead me to the right path because I trust myself to make the best of the situation and pivot where I need to. I took my first biggest risk at the age of 18 when I decided to not pursue the traditional career, despite being at the top of my class. I followed my heart, without really even understanding why I was doing it.  I just knew I loved it.  It just pulled me, called me, and I could not ignore it. My calling has always been to help people, that I know.  The complete joy and thrill I would feel to make a call and change someone’s life…now that was addictive.  The miracle it takes to create, produce a project from beginning to end…was unlike anything else I had ever experienced, despite how excruciating it could be at times. Now, I could look back at some of the risks, people and projects I have invested my time, resources and heart into and be angry that “they” let me down, “they” lied, “they” stripped me of everything I had worked for…but what is that going to do? Each one of those experiences, moments of complete self – hatred because I failed…I have learned so much from them: learned to respect myself, trust myself, but most importantly, they have revealed who I am when I am in crisis mode. After all, it is those moments that truly shed light on the person you are, who you want to be, and who you don’t want to be. How I have processed, understood and learned from those “failed risks” years later have all circled back around and have been rewarding in the most incredible way. If I had never taken those risks and “failed” – I would have never met incredible people who have changed my life forever. Instead of being bitter, hating everyone, getting out of the industry because it chewed me up and spit me out, I decided to build relationships with those people, which has continued to lead me to new paths and doors.

I have certainly learned a lot… but the risks I take and the bets I make, are in the people that inspire me… and in myself. I know no other way.

What should our readers know about your business?

We are a company of Heroes.

Behind the camera, in front of the camera, clients, colleagues, friends and supporters- each and everyone of us are and strive to be heroes in our daily lives. We are a group of misfits, underdogs, and those who persistently show up for life, no matter where it leads us. We have scars, wounds, trauma, criticism, rejection, heartache and loss. Yet, throughout all of this…we never give up. I think that’s what sets us apart. How much we care and how we communicate.

I am proud of what we have all collectively built over the years and how strong we have continued to be. These last few years throughout the pandemic were very difficult for our industry, in profit margins of 10-15%, minus taxes, etc. We powered through, pivoted how we operate and work together and turned out to be an incredibly important transformation for not only our company, but for ourselves personally and our heroes as a whole. It became our highest, and most successful years yet- and continue to be- growing over 150% year to year. Our clients have benefited, and in turn, we have also been able to have a healthier work-life balance, with the ability to expand into areas we never thought possible.

Since 2013, we have been putting resources into the production and IP side of our company, to be able to create more opportunities for our clients. Understanding that Canada is a service led industry with very few opportunities for leading, series regular and more challenging roles, we have been able to strategically support our clients in producing their IPs, or other US and international IPs to be able to expand the opportunities for our Canadian clients. During the pandemic, we also expanded into the US to be able to transition our clients to the US market without the risk of them getting lost.

This year already we have finished principal photography on Verona, which is a three film franchise in which three of our “heroes” have been cast (will soon be announced), are in pre production on the Oscar Award Winning Jim Sheridan’s next film which will be produced this year, and we are finally releasing Spinning Gold theatrically on March 31st- this month! To have overcome these last 10 years of struggle, determination, and to be at this moment is not only rewarding but it is something we all should be proud of.

Without the support of my team, my producing partners, our heroes and colleagues we could not be here or have gotten this far.

To say this year has already been and will be a momentous one….is quite an understatement.

Founder of Hero Artists and partner at Hero Entertainment Partners, Jessica has been an entrepreneur and executive for 15 years. Executive producer of Eone’s FORSAKEN (Donald Sutherland, Kiefer Sutherland, Demi Moore), the Netflix Original KISS & CRY, and Roadside Attractions / Lionsgate, THE LAST FULL MEASURE (starring 8 Academy Award actors including Christopher Plummer and Samuel L Jackson), Ms. Martins is the lead producer on the musical biopic SPINNING GOLD which is being released theatrically March 31 2023. Her current slate includes TRADER and ROOM (both in Post), and just completed principal photography on VERONA starring Rebel Wilson, Clara Rugaard, Jamie Ward, Derek Jacobi, Jason Isaacs and Rupert Everett, to name a few. Next up is NORTH STAR directed by Oscar-nominee Jim Sheridan currently in pre-production. Ms. Martins sits on the advisory board of TILTIFY, a live streaming charity fundraising platform in partnership with Twitch and Tik Tok. She is a member of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, Women in Film and Television (both Toronto and New York Chapter), the EIC, and the Women’s Executive Network (WXN).

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

For me, Venice Beach never gets old or too tourist-y….. or finding some of the hidden gems of Malibu. One of my fave things to do is indulge in lobster off the PCH – Malibu Seafood Patio!

Pain Quotidien was my go-to place to work and meet while in WH!

When I was younger, before I opened Hero, my brother and his family lived there as he was doing his residence in Reseda/Tarzana area. I have to say I loved it there. Oddly, it felt familiar to me.

The Camarillo Outlets….I spent WAY too much there. I had never seen anything like it before.

I haven’t been back since before the pandemic, but I will be in March for the Spinning Gold premiere- if you have any recommendations please do let me know!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

Well… where do I begin?

The journey of my career would not have begun, or have lasted this long with the ENTIRE team at Hero Artists, specially Breann Thordarson and Jessica Brown. They are truly incredibly strong, powerful women who have continued to inspire me throughout the years.

Our talent, our artists….every single one of you…from the past, to the present, and in the future….you have each and will all impact my life and teach me new things every day. Even if it comes with heartbreak….rejection and criticism, your strength helps me keep doing what I love to do.

But….it wouldn’t be without my producing partner and best friend Timothy Scott Bogart, who has been my ride or die through the most challenging, difficult and tremendously life changing moments. Your talent, your heart, your mind and your infectious spirit has and will forever inspire me to be the best person I can be and to keep on trying everyday no matter how difficult it is. I have gotten to know myself, my talent and zest for life and passion for what I do, and want to do….and I would have never have known if it weren’t for you. Thank you.

And ofcourse, I cannot forget my family- my mother, my father, my brother and his family and my uncles, cousins and grandparents who have accepted me and supported my journey throughout. The crazy-big-portuguese-family has filled me with the wit, the knowledge and the empathy that I embody in everything I do. Love you all.

Website: https://linktr.ee/thejessicamartins

Instagram: @thejessicamartins

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicamartins/