Spotlight On: Jesse Quinones (Filmmaking & Directing Tutor)

At MetFilm School, our students are taught by working professionals across the screen industries, a fact that we’re extremely proud of, and something that is constantly reaffirming our connections with industry.

In this new ‘Spotlight On’ series, we’ll be highlighting the achievements of our tutors, and finding out what they‘ve learnt from teaching the next generation of filmmakers, all starting with our wonderful Directing & Filmmaking Tutor, Jesse Quinones.

Jesse is a Writer/Director with credits on Waterloo Road and Inside No. 9, and at the end of 2023, his script, PENTESTER, was selected for the annual Black List, which aims to shine a light on extraordinary screenwriting across the industry…

First off, can you share a little about what you’ve been up to in the industry recently?

The last couple years have been really blessed for me in the industry. In 2022, I landed my first TV directing work, firstly as lead director on the reboot of Waterloo Road. I’ve done season 11, 12, and I’m about to wrap on lead directing for season 15. Additionally, I directed an episode of Inside No. 9, which was great fun!

On the writing side, I sold a spec script called Heist of Benin to Apple TV, which has David Oyelowo on board, and then a follow up spec script called PENTESTER landed on the 2023 Black List, which has been really exciting.

How did it feel, to have PENTESTER recognised amongst your peers by the Black List?

Getting selected was incredible exciting. It’s a really small list of scripts, so to have that validation from the industry is huge.

I also want to give a big shout out to my agent, Dave Alexander at Gersh, for putting it forward!

And you mentioned Heist of Benin with Apple TV – how do you find working on a project as both Writer and Executive Producer?

Heist of Benin is my first studio experience, so I’ve definitely been learning loads from the team.

For me, it’s all about storytelling. Whether I’m writing on a project, directing, producing, or executive producing… it’s all about bringing the story to life.

I’m definitely more passionate about writing and directing, but ultimately, I feel every project has different wants and needs – anything that I can do to bring it to the finish line, I’ll do it.

In 2007, you founded Woolfcub Productions. What have you learnt about yourself as a filmmaker through running this company?

I’ve learned that it’s a tough ‘ole industry that we’re in! I graduated from university in 2007, and it wasn’t until 2022 that I was a full-time filmmaker, meaning I didn’t need a side gig. That’s a long time.

But I love it, and I wouldn’t want to do anything else with my life. I’ve really pushed all my chips into this basket.

When I talk to younger filmmakers or students, though, I always try to be honest: it’s an amazing way to make a living, but it can be very hard.

Watch Jesse’s 2023 Director’s Mood Reel!

And alongside all of your work in the industry, what made you decide to tutor?

To be honest, I started tutoring initially out of necessity. I had gotten divorced, I needed to make a living, and filmmaking wasn’t cutting it.

But I very quickly realised that tutoring is incredible rewarding. My main passion for it is connecting with that next generation of filmmakers – but it’s also a great place to collaborate.

I’ve worked with a number of my former students, with them serving a variety of roles on my projects, from Storyboard Artists, to Script Editors, Lookbook designers, Sizzle Reel Editors… and plenty more.

How do you think your role as a tutor has influenced your career? Have your students taught YOU anything?

Educating future filmmakers has been incredibly rewarding, both in terms of finding collaborators, and also exploring new techniques. A lot of the directing techniques that I use to this day, I trialled while teaching. It’s just a great way to be creatively free, while still within a structure.

And finally, what would be your number one piece of advice for students interested in filmmaking?

Gosh, don’t know if I have one piece of advice! I suppose it would be to not give up. There’s a lot of rejection and a lot of obstacles, no doubt about it. But stick with it.

Also, make sure you understand genre. Feature films in particular, having a sense of what genres do what in the market place – that’s huge! Understand your ‘comps’ (comparables), read the trades, see what’s trending, and if you can, visit film markets!

• Jesse Quinones tutors at our London campus on our Filmmaking & Directing courses.
• You can learn more about what Jesse has been up to on The Black List, as well as through his company, Woolfcub Productions.