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

Hi Jesse, why did you pursue a creative career?
Because I got fired from every job I ever had and I’m a felon for trafficking weed to pay off my student loan debts. And it’s the only thing that’s still magic to me since I was a child.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Just work hard and be kind never lose sight of your vision. Always practice your craft, don’t have an ego be open to criticism and take it with a smile. And celebrate your achievements. Live in the moment, but practice for the future.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I like to roll around without an itinerary, see where the day night takes you. You never know who you’ll meet or what comes up.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wanted to make movies , but I didn’t know how to go about doing it, because I never went to school. So I read a book by the late great William Goldman. Called “The Adventures Of Screen Trade ” and I wrote my first screen play which was a feature I made for 8 grand and a pair of high top Adidas sneakers and the second screen play I wrote I won the LA screenplay competition and it started from there. Taking photographs and making art prepared me and keeps me sharp for the career I want as a director. It also being a writer that helps me visualize things as a whole.

Instagram: Nordicjones

Image Credits
Jean claude van damme, Madison Taylor, Marie Alexander,  Hans Zimmer

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.