Jen West makes her directorial debut
A local film director aims to create work that showcases strong female characters while fighting for equality in the entertainment industry.
Jen West’s foray into film wasn’t something she’d dreamed about growing up. In fact, it wasn’t until her early 20s that she knew independent film was even “a thing.”
Fast-forward to now, and the 37-year-old Birmingham, Alabama native is one-half of the Four x Productions film initiative (along with boyfriend James Martin) and has written five short films. She is also currently working on Electric Bleau, her feature-length directorial debut about a biracial punk rock singer in 1980s New Orleans who must destroy a cursed family heirloom before it forces her to repeat the same deadly and heartbreaking cycle as her ancestors. “I started writing [Electric Bleau] two years ago as part of a creative residency with the Cucalorus Film Festival in Wilmington, North Carolina,” West says. “Since then, it's been revised no less than a thousand times and currently is in a pretty solid state. We’re seeking a little over $1 million to make it and plan to film this year in Atlanta, New Orleans, and South Georgia.” All three of the film’s producers are based in Atlanta, and West says they plan to cast a good deal from the city’s pre-existing talent pool.
In addition to her film work, West works as a freelance graphic designer and writer for various clients including Historic Oakland Cemetery, Zoo Atlanta, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She earned her BFA in graphic design from Jacksonville State University, then took two years worth of film courses at the Art Institute of Atlanta. West’s interest in writing began with her blog, The Jen West Quest, which she launched in 2010 to chronicle her weight-loss journey. The blog gained traction and was featured on "The Rachael Ray Show" and "Good Morning America" — now, she mostly uses the platform to discuss film and general life updates.
As for the Electric Bleau: “The ultimate goal is to create a career for myself as a working director,” West says. “I want to make something special that people will remember.” She explains that, while she considers this movie a real stepping stone in her career, the driving force is to be a significant part of the movement that fights for equality in entertainment, adding, “I want to introduce strong female characters that can carry a compelling story all on their own.”
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