Meet Jessica Coro | Video Editor/Filmmaker

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

Hi Jessica, why did you pursue a creative career?
For as long as I can remember, I have been drawn to anything creative. I started drawing and painting at a very young age. I loved music, which led me to learn how to play instruments—specifically the piano, guitar, and bass. I also loved arts and crafts and even learned how to make jewelry in high school. There were so many things that called to me, and I loved creating.

When I started editing videos for fun to pass the time, my sister saw my potential and asked if I would be interested in filmmaking. I had never really thought about it, so she suggested I take a vacation course. That experience made me fall in love with filmmaking, especially when they taught us editing. I loved it so much that I could see myself doing it for the rest of my life, and that’s what led me to pursue filmmaking.

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.
I was born and raised in Guatemala. I came to LA to pursue a dream, to become an editor. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Filmmaking from the New York Film Academy in 2019, which deepened my love for all aspects of film. Even though I consider myself an editor, I love getting my hands dirty on set. I have worked as a director, assistant director, script supervisor, grip, and assistant camera.

One of my biggest challenges was COVID. With everything coming to a halt, I had to pause my dreams and take another path. I decided to expand my horizons and went back to school for Business Administration at Cal Poly Pomona. When things started returning to normal, I discovered that the school had a job opening for a student assistant in their video production department, MediaVision. I was so excited to see an opportunity like that and applied immediately. It turned out to be one of the best jobs I’ve ever had.

Even though I wasn’t making movies, the experience opened my eyes to the beauty of creating content. I realized that it wasn’t so different; it was still treated creatively, had purpose and narrative, and made me see that I didn’t need to be in Hollywood to create something meaningful. After that, I decided to return to filmmaking and strengthen my skill set. I went back to the New York Film Academy to pursue a Master’s degree, where I discovered a passion for various roles on set, including production design. Along the way, I made great friends who are just as passionate about film as I am. Together, we created a film for the 48-Hour Film Festival called DEiCIDE. Even though we didn’t win, we learned a lot about filmmaking and each other. I had the pleasure of directing and editing that film, which not only helped me improve as a director for my thesis film but also opened doors for me to edit my friends’ films as well.

One thing I want the world to know about me is that I love to learn. We discover new things every day, and I enjoy implementing what I’ve learned into my work by trying new approaches whether it be in my field or exploring new paths.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Apart from taking them to most of LA’s landmarks—Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Boulevard, Santa Monica, and Disneyland—I would also show them some fun spots around me.

For breakfast, I would take them to Bea Bea’s or Café de Olla in Burbank. Both different styles but great food, and the coffee at Café de Olla is amazing! For coffee, I would also take them to a Coffee Commissary, which is really good.

Now, for a fun hangout, I’d take them to the Scum and Villainy Cantina on Hollywood Boulevard, their blue milk drink is the best! I’d also bring them to downtown Burbank for a nice walk, and if they wanted to watch a movie, AMC 16 would be the place to go.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The person that deserves the most credit in my story is my older sister, Zeida. She is the one that saw the potential in me and pushed me to be better. Thanks to her, I am where I am and I thank God everyday for giving an amazing sister that wants me to succeed and reach my potential. So this shoutout is dedicated to her.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessc124?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-coro-46955570/

Image Credits
Uma Poonguzhaali
Oliver Guo
Nidhi Ajeesh