WHAT OR WHO DO YOU FIND INSPIRING?
I live in New York and, as cliché as it may be, this city never ceases to inspire me. Growing up in Paris on a steady American pop culture diet, from movies to music, I feel so fortunate to be here, in New York, a city filled with incredible freedom and energy. And the photo industry also inspires me: the business is constantly evolving, which keeps me on my toes. No two jobs are ever the same. Being a freelancer offers me the opportunity to work one day on a beauty campaign and the next on a shoot with puppies. That endless creativity is what keeps me going.
HOW DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR CREATIVE PROFESSION?
My mom worked in advertising—I feel this is all I’ve ever known! I remember the crazy stories she would tell (art directors rolling in at noon, epic creative arguments, great parties..). Mind you it was the 80s when advertising was a lot more fun! I followed her path and started working as an art buyer at BBDO in Paris and then in New York, and I later became a freelance producer.
WHAT IS THE TOUGHEST THING YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH PROFESSIONALLY?
I had just started as a producer when I got called on a week-long location shoot. What sounded like a dream turned into a nightmare: the client had fired the producer the photographer wanted to work with and I got dumped into this highly volatile situation. I was so green I didn’t understand all the political ramifications, and I was really not prepared to finesse my way around them! The job was incredibly stressful, but I learned a lot on it. And it toughened me up a bit, which you need when you’re a producer!
WHO ARE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL TO YOUR SUCCESS?
I’ll be forever grateful to Andrea Kaye, my boss at BBDO. She accepted me coming as an intern and then hired me. She gave me a chance and the opportunity to live in NY—I cannot thank her enough. I’m also extremely grateful to the people who gave me jobs when I first started as a producer. In my naiveté, I thought going from art buying to producing would be easy, but it was a huge adjustment as the work (and how you handle yourself) is very different. So I appreciate that people took this leap of faith with me.
WHY DO YOU LOVE ADHESIVE?
I can’t remember when I started to go but my first Adhesive was at Sweet & Vicious in Nolita, in their garden. It was refreshing to have a low-key event where you could meet people in a casual way and environment. It’s like going to a bar, except that everyone there is interesting and working in your industry so you know you have something in common right off the bat!
Full Name: Aurelie Jezequel
Profession: Producer
Industry: Print + Video
Website: www.ajproductionsny.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aurelie.jezequel.18
Instagram: https://instagram.com/aurelie_jezequel/
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