We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Zoë Anne Kessler a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Zoë Anne, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.” – Helen Keller
When I think about my life as an artist, omniscient optimism has defined my path.
A Catholic, a Capricorn, and a candid writer all wrapped into one, I am stubbornly spiritual. I regulate the rules of my real-life religion, and in that realm, everything happens for a reason. In fact, I have come to believe that everything happens for my benefit – even the painful things.
When I was 17, I got into Harvard early and told myself, “I want to be a screenwriter.” Sitting in front of the t.v. with my mom, I declared this is be my mission despite the fact that there had never been an artist in the family. In order to become the screenwriter I am today, I see now that there were millions of lessons I had to learn so that I could have something substantial to say. A happy life may be the goal for many, but it certainly wouldn’t make for a film!
The first thing that I ever remember identifying myself as was an exceptional athlete. I am blessed to come from a family where both sides of my family are extremely athletic, and so it was all the more disappointing when at age 13 I tore my ACL and had to undergo orthopedic surgery. At the time – devastating. Looking back now – imperative. It was during the 2 year injury that I taught myself to play the guitar.
In college, it was my painful social anxiety that led me to avoid parties and instead spend night after night honing my musical skills by performing at the local Starbucks, which ultimately lead me to write my first song, “Hey Nick.” (Yes, about a guy named…Nick).
After graduating, it was my first love (alas, a handsome law student) that led to my first two albums, and ultimately my first film, “Tribeca,” a musical set to my 40 original songs.
Learning how to overcome illness (I got the best of you, Lyme Disease!) and set personal boundaries inspired my second film, the biopic “Doctor Chekhov.”
And finally, learning to believe in myself amongst the doubters encouraged me to write my third film, “Fifty French Dates.”
I am now sure that I have guardian angels – both here on Earth and in heaven.
If everyday was meant to happen, how can we find meaning from every moment?
If every pain was meant to pass, how can we move on at last?
But if every love was meant to linger, how can we lounge in its light… even just a little bit longer?
This is why I write. This is why I’m optimistic.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I have just launched my film production company, Crimson Pictures, in order to tell Romances with wholesome, honest love.
Although cinema of late has been bombarded by a slew of drugs, weed, cursing, and addiction, my films express the traditional values that matter so much to me: family, loyalty, honesty, and commitment. The characters have clear, challenging goals that force them to change both inside and out. While they are always grounded, moral people, they must learn to stand up for themselves into to fulfill their true potential. Especially after writing my first biopic, it became critical to me to make sure that whoever I write about is someone I consider to be morally admirable – through and through.
I am now embarking on writing my next film – a secret, can’t share yet – and have an idea for my first novel, though one story at a time. 🙂
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Songwriting, historical analysis, and dedication.
I consider songwriting to be one of the most difficult art forms. In its totality, one must know how to play at least one instrument, to write lyrics, and to sing – all of which take up to 10 years to develop a decent standard. It is a skill that has changed my entire world as music has a unique capacity to impact humans immediately. Live performance also requires an artist to tap into pure and raw emotion every time, thereby transporting us to another realm. It is one of the greatest blessings in my life that I am a singer-songwriter.
Historical analysis is the second skill set that has most greatly impacted me. At its core, historical analysis requires honest evaluation of events and facts that have sometimes been studied for centuries, and to then come up with original theses as to how the events occurred. I was a History major in Undergrad and this intensive focus pushed me to train my brain to always search for original ideas and theories – the backbone of my storytelling today.
Dedication is the final skill that has been most important in my journey. When I was first pursuing music, I attended a conference in L.A. where one speaker wisely said, “Be hungry, not thirsty.” How I interpreted this was that one must always stay excited about art, but not pursue it out of desperation. This message ties back to how I approach my protagonists as I have an unbreakable bond with them that says they must always have impeccable character.
My journey in art is focused on making the world a better and more beautiful place to the best of my ability. It is not only about selling films or making money. That is a shortsighted goal. The real mission, which will prove itself invaluable, is to help deliver the messages that I have been taught along the way to help contribute to making American society a better place – one film at a time.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
With several films under my belt and a production company to support them, I am excited to get started with a great agent who is “hungry, not thirsty.” I have never been more excited about selling my films than I am today!
Following last year’s writer’s strike, there is a great need for more content. Simultaneously, studios are looking for female writers. Lastly, with my ability to write an entire film in as little as one month, I am extremely excited for what the future has in store! After studying at Columbia and honing my screenwriting skills, I say I became “fluent” in the form, and am grateful for wherever this journey will take me!
For any agents or those who wish to connect me with one, the best way to get in touch is through my work email: [email protected].
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.zoeannekessler.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeannekessler/
Image Credits
Danielle Torres
Mona Chu
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