Jess Hartley

My name is Jess Hartley and I am a producer, artist, and photographer. In my time as a student of Contemporary Media Practice at the University of Westminster, I have acquired skills in a wide range of disciplines such as photography (digital and film), videography, coding (HTML and JavaScript), production design, exhibition design, and more.In my time as a creative practitioner, I have discovered a passion for producing. As someone who is organised and works well in a leadership role, I have found producing on most of my University projects to be an extremely enjoyable experience and I aspire to continue in this field as I enter into the creative industry.I have an eye for the aesthetic and creative aspects of a production whilst still being able to view it from a logical and organisational perspective. In the past, I have managed budgets, conducted location scouts, organised casting calls, created call sheets and itineraries, and navigated issues that have arisen during productions.I am currently seeking an internship or entry-level role as an assistant producer or researcher in order to gain professional experience and expand my knowledge and portfolio.Based in London.

Ongoing
Human Infinite is an installation work combining sculpture, 3D game design, and projection to explore the theme of mankind's drive to transcend our humanity and reach divinity and how we use technology to aid in this pursuit.
This is an individual project which is will be completed in May 2025 and exhibited in June 2025.

• Project Blog (Up to Dec 2024)

2024
DigitalMirror:VirtualStranger is an installation project made in collaboration with James Paddick and Rigels Prenci. The project uses a range of physical and digital media and explores the idea of technology changing the way perceive ourselves.
For this project, I put together a website which was used to promote our exhibition as welling as allowing an extra level of interactivity within the exhibition itself. Visitors were invited to comment on the site, anonymously letting out their thoughts and/or feelings.

• Digital_Mirror Forum Website

• Project Blog

2023
Personal Space is an inastallation project created in collaboration with El Gonsalves and Iga Kubik. The project uses the University dormitories to explore how people fill their individual space with aspects of their personality. The project features a taped area on the floor which is in the exact size of the university dorm room, on which is written testimonies of what 'Safe Space' means to the individual. Hanging from the ceiling are pictures of people's room and, on the other side, one object which they selected to show. A computer to the side watches the spaces and, using a program made in Max8, detects movement and finds which picture the viewer is stood next to. A projector sat on a bedside table taken from my dorm room projects a stereoscopic GIF of the owner of the corresponding room.
For this project, I set up a survey to gather data, co-ordinated subjects for photography and interviews, and set up the interactive element using Max8.

2023
Catastrophe is a short 360° film adapting the play of the same name by Samuel Beckett. The aim of this production was to create a modern take on the classic play, illustrating how its themes of censorship and voicelessness are still ever-present in our society. The film was intended to be viewed with the use of a virtual reality headset or VR glasses in order to place the viewer in the role of the Protagonist.
The film was made in collaboration with Amber Jane Halsey and Marcell Demetrovics. My role in the production was co-producer and co-production designer. I was responsible for scouting and confirming location, budgeting, casting and liaising with the actors, co-ordinating licensing of the script, creating risk assessments and release forms, and overseeing the edit.

All Rights Reserved by Curtis Brown

2022
For Grief is a short poetic-style documentary film exploring the stages of grief and recovery through visuals and imagery.
My role in this production was as producer. I was responsible for production paperwork, casting, locations, managing logistics, and ensuring all crew members fulfilled their role.

2021
Ruby was a film set to be made in 2021 however, due to Covid-19 lockdowns, it was shelved and only pre-production was completed. We produced the attached video as a pitch intended to be placed on Kickstarter to fund the project.
I was originally set to be Sound Designer on this film, however, due to our producer being unable to fulfil the role, I took over these duties as well. This involved co-ordinating all crew members and ensuring work was completed on schedule, as well as collaborating with Aaron Bruce, the writer/director, to develop the story.

2023
Bright Future is a design project which creates fictional advertising and political campaign posters that combine film photos with AI generated captions. The aim of the project was to illustrate the humanity and physical nature of the real world (using analogue photography) as we move towards a digital-focused future.

2022
Eyes On You. is a collection of photos taken on black and white film which aim to emulate the cold observation of security cameras which follow us all the time in our current world.

• Photobook