Meet Jessica Mastro | Storyteller

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

Hi Jessica, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
When you look out the window of a moving car, the world you see is blurred enough to be malleable. All of a sudden, the once rigidly defined universe is only a suggestion. Some of my earliest memories are out car windows. Riding in the back seat of New York City cab, taking suggestions and running with them. I never wanted to get out when I reached my destination. Five more minutes. Please. Before I have to re-enter the unmovable world again. Doodles on a page of notes, embellishments added to the activities of the weekend, crushes concocted over the summer that disappeared on the first day of school. My heart was always with my own personal additions to life. I struggled to connect with anything concrete. I still do. Why did I choose a creative career? I didn’t have a choice.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In the midst of my first professional gig rewriting a feature film, the hardest part about being a writer is validating yourself. I broke my heart a thousand times, sending passages I was really proud of to people who shrugged and said “cool.” Finding a few people who can read your work and share in your excitement is key, especially for the moments when it’s difficult to generate that excitement on your own. As for my own art and what I love about it, the answer is subtly and subtext. I believe there is way too much exposition in today’s stories. Viewers/readers aren’t stupid. They deserve to be trusted to draw their own conclusions about what the characters think and how they feel. Digging for subtext is how audiences hone their empathy skills through story. Inspiring empathy and entertaining are responsibilities of equal importance for a true storyteller.

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 love Stories Books and Cafe in Silverlake/Echo Park, a cute small book store with coffee and out door seating. -Thrifting on Melrose
-Roam the Grove
-Hit LACMA
-Window shop on Rodeo
-Ride the pirate ship on Santa Monica Pier
-Eat Thai food in Thai town
-taco stands

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shout out to my mom, Robin Reinach, another talented writer and the wind at my back since the moment I was born.

Website: poisonfruitproductions@gmail.com

Instagram: jess_mastro

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-mastro-9a26a0172

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCakI4WFCQa8NriikIf_79Q

Image Credits
Jacob Geimer, Jennifer Liu and Jess Mastro