Meet Jennifer Baker | Writer, Producer, & Director

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

Hi Jennifer, what inspires you?
The hardships of life always bring me back to my creative roots: spirituality.

At moments when I feel low, or am burdened with the complexities and moral dilemmas of life, retreating to the beauty of nature gives me perspective and peace. Quiet moments to think, ponder, and reconnect spiritually help remind me of who I am. Taking things slow, remembering my own values, and seeing myself in spiritual perspective gives additional bursts of creative energy. The more in-tune I am spiritually, the more ideas I have. Sometimes the best thing we can do is to slow down and reassess ourselves. In those quiet moments, stories become ever present.

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 artistic interests are three-fold: family, community, and spirituality.

Family has always been a critical part of my life. I grew up having weekly two-hour phone calls with my grandfather, listening to his stories about growing up in a Rusyn immigrant community in Northeast Pennsylvania. Additionally, I had the opportunity to live in Northeast Pennsylvania as a volunteer missionary for 18 months, getting to see the exact areas where my grandparents lived. His experiences gave me a greater appreciation for my family heritage, and the people that made me ME. I have a passion for telling family stories, especially those that promote compassion and togetherness.

But “compassion” and “togetherness” haven’t always come easily. By nature, I’m a person who often feels difficulty fitting in and connecting with others. This has given me feelings of loneliness at varying times in my life. However, feelings of isolation have helped me to understand the value of true and genuine friends. The importance of community and love also became significant to me. In addition to themes of family heritage, I also gravitate towards stories of community.

Lastly, a key ingredient in any story for me is spirituality. Spirituality can take shape in many forms for different people: religion, meditation, nature, higher powers, patterns of thought, or even sense of self. Faith was a large part of my upbringing. For me, connecting with the spiritual helps me to connect with my own creativity. It gives me perspective and power to face the challenges of life.

All in all, my art and “brand” are heavily influenced by family heritage, community, and spirituality. I love telling small-town stories about underdogs who discover their own potential, and the good they can do for others along the way.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’ve been in a long-distance relationship for over two years, and always feel a sense of urgency when I know my partner is coming to the city! There’s so many things to show off! My must-sees include the Getty, LACMA, the Academy Museum (I’m obligated to say that as a film person), The Grove, Griffith Observatory, TCL’s Chinese Theater, and Griffith Park. As mentioned before, I always need my nature, so beautiful beach trips are also in order. My favorite beach is Little Corona in Corona Del Mar in Newport Beach. Regarding food, I would suggest hitting up the most random taco stands you can find. My personal favorites are Angel’s Tijuana Tacos on the intersection of Vineland and Victory. Their tacos al pastor are killer.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am blessed to have a host of supportive people around me, including mentors, professors, and more. One of my heroes is Bryce Randle, who from day one of me moving to Los Angeles has had my back. Bryce’s patient encouragement, continual advice, and enthusiasm for the media industry has kept me afloat and motivated. I’m grateful for his selfless generosity that has lifted my spirits and showed me success is possible in such a competitive field. Thanks to Bryce for his kindness and taking me under his wing.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_jen_a_baker_/

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