Meet Jett Jansen Fernandez | Writer, Director, producer & Stuntman

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jett Jansen Fernandez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jett, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?

I was born and raised in Miami, Florida, to Cuban immigrants who fled communism in the ’80s. My father’s mother worked at a small movie theater in Cuba called El Cine Teatro Aida. She would sneak him in to watch films all the time, and it became a significant part of his life. Later, when I was born in Miami, he shared his love of movies with me, and I grew up on classic cinema. As far back as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to tell stories and work in film. There’s a certain level of satisfaction that comes with knowing what your purpose in life is. I wish more people could experience that.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I’m a writer, director, producer, and stuntman. I’m in the Writers Guild, the Producers Guild, and I’m a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. I’ve worked in the entertainment industry professionally since 2002, but I’ve been involved in theater programs since I was 7 years old. What sets me apart is not just my skill set but also my experience and my commitment to authenticity. In an industry where many people think they know more than you, it’s rewarding to have confidence in what I know, thanks to over 22 years of experience.

I’m incredibly excited to attend the Emmys this year, as I’ve been nominated for Outstanding Stunt Performance for HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones, which is a tremendous honor. Huge thanks to the stunt coordinator on that show, Cory DeMeyers, for making that possible—he’s an incredible talent. I’m also grateful to my scene partners for making me look good. Additionally, I’m excited about my next short film, Blue Evening, which I wrote and directed. It’s an uplifting rags-to-riches story and a commentary on the artwork of Edward Hopper, one of my favorite painters.

I got to where I am today by having a great support system of friends who believe in me. You can’t do this alone—you need a team, and that team needs to believe in you. But getting to this point was not easy. I arrived in LA with 200 bucks and a suitcase, not knowing anyone. I got through it by sticking to it—just keep swimming and make the commitment. What I want the world to know about my story is that I did it the right way. I didn’t screw anyone over, I never faked anything, and I never pursued fame. I just wanted to get better at the art forms I practice and have a good time doing it. You have to enjoy the process, and I’m having a great time.

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?

LA has some of the best museums in the world, in my opinion, as well as some fantastic botanical gardens. LACMA, The Broad, the Getty Museum, and The Huntington Botanical Gardens are must-sees. Definitely try some Korean BBQ in K-town. I’m a big movie nerd, and there’s a group called “The Secret Movie Club” that screens 35mm prints of old movies in different theaters around LA, check that out if you like movies. And remember you can always hop on a boat to Catalina Island for drinks and dinner.

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?

Yeah definitely I would like to give a special shoutout to Sean Hampton and Cory DeMeyers for their constant support and friendship, as well as Chad Bonanno, Liz Steele, Scott Papper and Spike Finnerty for always believing in me.

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

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3839906/bio/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

Image Credits
photos by Chingiz Khan, Anthony Minassain. The black and white photo is a public domain of the theater is the theater my father went to in cuba. Just Fyi.