Meet Jillian Wilson | Filmmaker
We had the good fortune of connecting with Jillian Wilson and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Jillian, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Risk taking is definitely a major factor of working in the film and entertainment industry. The greatest stories of all time never would have been told without risk! With that being said, it can be hard to make that first leap. I’m a big believer in plans and thinking through all the risks before I start something, but I can’t account for everything.
One of the biggest risks I took was moving to a new state in order to pursue a career in film! I’m originally from Montgomery County, Maryland (just outside of DC), so there’s a lot of news and sports, but no real film industry. I moved to Savannah in 2018 for film school without knowing a lot about Georgia or the film history. While it was definitely scary at first, I love being in an area with such an appreciation for film. I stayed here through COVID and the strikes to continue going after my career.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always been a visual and movement-oriented person, so filmmaking is such a great outlet to creatively express myself. I also really enjoy problem solving and coming up with new ways to get things done. One time, I was a dolly grip on a student film. We were trying to get an overhead shot using the Dana Dolly system and we needed to figure out a way to safely mount the camera. I suggested flipping the baseplate on the dolly so all of the regular pieces could be used, just upside down. It turned out to be a really great shot. Trial-and-error, taking creative (yet safe) risks, having fun with it, those led me where I am today!
My ultimate goal with film is to bring some of the joy and simplicity back into it. So many movies nowadays are dark, dramatic, intense, action-packed spectacles and I find myself wanting more bright, simple, realistic stories. I think, with all the advances in technology (although they are pretty cool) and how any idea can be brought to life, film has sort of lost its original charm as a way of telling stories. I actually considered quitting film and becoming a teacher a couple years back due to the chaotic state of the industry. I got overwhelmed by the thought of how everything seemed to be moving towards grand-scale projects with huge budgets. Nowadays, I’m exploring ideas for commercials and continuing in short films so I can focus on the parts of filmmaking I enjoy!
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.
Oh, I enjoy planning trips! We’d start off by going to breakfast at Clary’s, it has such a great, old-school atmosphere. Then, I’d take the to the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. The Cathedral has been a place I go to for peace, plus it has some absolutely beautiful art and architecture that can be inspiring. Another day, we’d go to the Jepson Center and look at more art- I will always be a museum kid at heart-followed by lunch at Tequlia’s Town Mexican Restaurant. There would definitely be a day spent at Forsyth Park. I like people-watching and making up whole lives for complete strangers; sometimes, I’ll even write them down as film ideas. My Savannah friends and I go there for picnics every week in the warmer seasons.
I’d bring them to Gallery Espresso, which is a super cute coffee shop that looks like an antique living room. I love watching people play chess because there’s so much concentration and internal strategy on their faces. That would be followed by a highly necessary visit to E. Shavers Bookstore. If it’s warm enough, we’d go out to Tybee Island and watch the sunset (I have my own spot I like that’s not on the main beach). The sunsets here are gorgeous, I always miss them. Savannah’s truly an old and nature-filled city and I find those places the most interesting parts, they all have great potential for storytelling.
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?
This may be a given, but my parents! My dad ran a wedding videography business for a little while, which is how I first got introduced to filmmaking. I used to watch him edit the videos in our basement and accompany him to our local rental house after school for equipment pickups. I got the creative, visual storytelling side of things from my mom, who works at an art museum. We’d sit in front of the paintings when I was a kid and talk about the people in them, the composition and lighting, sometimes I’d make up little stories. It’s definitely thanks to both of them I became interested in film!
Website: https://www.jillianwilsonfilms.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillianwilsonfilms/
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