Influential Woman · Author Producer
Jessica Mei Gershen
Book Author, Meibelle Productions
Glendale, CA
Her Story
About Jessica
Jessica Mei Gershen is a Weeble and if you don't know what that means then you're younger than she is and you should go ask Jeeves. And if you don't know who Jeeves is then you're even younger and you should go ask your mom, dad, or any other elder in your life. Just please don't ask ChatGPT. Jessica is an author, field producer, script supervisor, and screenwriter in the entertainment industry. She's a queer single mother to an adult daughter, and they share their small home in LA like their own personal Grey Gardens. She holds a BA from San Francisco State University and attended Rochester Institute of Technology for photography. Jessica works as a field producer on the unscripted series History's Greatest Mysteries, where she works on set with talent and crew to develop story arcs for each episode. She's also in the process of publishing her first memoir. The first short she wrote, directed, and produced on zero budget won Best Performances award at the LGBTQ Toronto Film Festival., and her animated feature screenplay won Best Unproduced Screenplay in the Los Angeles Animation Festival. When not on set, Jessica is also a certified postpartum doula and newborn care specialist. She attributes her resilience and drive to personal challenges overcome through a commitment to honesty, ethics, and maintaining a positive outlook. She also loves her dog, Billy Idol, who should probably take credit for sustaining her positive attitude.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jessica
01What do you attribute your success to?
Interestingly, I attribute my resilience to my mother, and that's half the battle when working in this industry. My mother and I had a rough relationship in my younger years, the reason I felt so insecure and made many poor decisions, but it also ended up inspiring an undeniable inner strength. My experiences, relationships, and traumas made me who I am, and I'm able to feel genuinely grateful for all of it now.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is to speak up and don't let anybody tell you what you should be doing. You are powerful, you are strong, you are intelligent, and you are super driven, and don't let anybody get in that way.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be very clear and honest with yourself. Look at yourself and recognize your attributes, what you want out of your life, what you're grateful for. Then don't take no for an answer, and just keep going. Really truly believe. If you have a fire, if you have a voice inside of you that tells you that you want to do something, do it, and don't let anybody tell you different. Your individuality is your power.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field is breaking through doors. Agencies, studios, publishing houses... There's a lot of gatekeeping in this industry, it can be very discouraging. Also the obvious dangers of AI, uncontrolled capitalism, and a shrinking film industry in LA. But I'll never stop creating no matter what, and with that will be a continued effort to connect, network, and share.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
A positive outlook is of ultimate importance because it's so easy to get drowned out by the negativity. It's recognizing that things are hard but also there's something to make you feel joyful. Also honesty, especially with yourself, ethics, being a good person, wanting to work hard and inspire others to do the same.
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