JTZ
JESSA TIANA ZARUBICA
Director + Writer + Producer
Biography
At her high school graduation, three words were used to describe Zarubica: “Passion. Passion. Passion.”
Years later, nothing’s changed—except the scale. Zarubica is a fiercely imaginative and colorful award winning writer-director-producer whose stories pulse with explosive energy, action, unconventional heroes, and the gritty magic buried in everyday life. She moves effortlessly across genres—action, thrillers, coming of age YA —and across mediums, from features and television to commercials and promos all with her signature blend of heart, humor, and fun!
A dyslexic kid who never expected to become a writer, Zarubica sold her first script at 17, launched her own production company at 19, and directed her debut feature film during a global pandemic—completely remotely. Her approach has always been unconventional, seamlessly blending creativity and storytelling with marketing strategy and A-Z hands on production skills. Zarubica’s super power is bringing her indie routes to juggernaut studios catering to dynamic stories while seamlessly fitting them to different mediums, platforms and budgets.
After a decade of writing, directing, and producing, she joined pocket.watch as a senior producer in 2017, where she showman and oversaw billion-view digital series and directed pilots and shows for Amazon, Hulu, and Roku. She also directed and produced a series of commercials and promos for WWE, Simon & Schuster, Mattel and more. Her most notable tv project: Challenge Squad: Adventure Series, an action-packed kids’ show led by two kick ass girls and backed by a mostly female crew— changed the trajectory of her career and thrust her into the world of action filmmaking.
When the world shut down in 2020, she didn’t. Zarubica wrote and remotely directed the action rom-com Six Feet Apart (Hollywood Reporter), sold her action-thriller short Monsters to ABE where she is attached to write and direct the feature (Deadline) and was hired by GoMedia to write and direct Spitfire an action dramady with Malcom McDowell attached. With her current focus on action filmmaking, Jessa most recently directed Grump (2025) now in development with her dream production company.
Off set, you’ll find her devouring Romantasy Novels (yes, I have read them all), mentoring rising female filmmakers, and losing the daily battle to keep Clementine—her table-surfing rescue beagle—out of the snacks.
DETAILED RESUME
DIRECTOR - WRITER - PRODUCER
TV & DIGITAL SERIES:
The Big Score (TV series, 2022 - Present) director on Disney Channel, Playground (directed the digital / vertical unit) for Hulu & Bron TV with Misty Tosh & Dave Caplin (Monkey & Long Legs) producing, Bounce with Ryan Pilot (2019)- director, producer with Albie Hect (Nickelodean) showrunning for pocket.watch, Witch Of The Wild West (2025) director, producer, produced by Somethin’ Extra Entertainment, Challenge Squah Mish Mash (2017-2020) - director, writer, producer for Roku & Hulu produced by pocket.watch, Captain Sparklez Mish Mash (2019) - director, writer, producer for Roku & Hulu produced by pocket.watch. Orange is the New Black and Sexy (2013) Co-Showrunner, produced by Black & Sexy films, Pop Up (2014) Co-Showrunner, creator, producer. Shay Mitchell: Chapters (2016 -2017) produced, directed, wrote starring Shay Mitchell (Pretty Little Liars) which aired on Full Screen and was produced by Kids At Play (Variety, deadline, Hollywood Reporter etc). Snoop Dogg & Outstanding Foods (digital Series) director and writer. Wags To Riches (digital series for Million Stories) writer, executive producer, and director for episode 112. Booth Camp with Lisa Walker (digital series for Schwarzkopf) writer, director, and Showrunner. Be-U-tiful with Dr. Dugar (unscripted TV Show) Executive Producer and Creator. Genesis Butler Interstitials (digital series) writer and director. Daniella Monet (digital series) writer, director and showrunner. Purchase or Pass (Season 1) - director, showrunner, writer for Jelly Smack. Faceplant (Season 2) executive producer and writer for Millionstories.
FEATURE FILMS:
Six Feet Apart (2023) - screenplay writer, director and producer (featured in Hollywood Reporter). Caged (2021) producer, produced with Panic House Films and released in 2021 (deadline / hollywood Reporter). I am Not Ashamed (2018) - associate producer, released in theaters nation wide. Lockjaw (2025) screenplay writer, attached to direct in development. Edendale (2024) screenplay writer, attached to direct in development with Micheal Ventura. Balls Out (2023) screenplay writer in development with Control Content, Spitfire (2022) screenplay writer and attached to director, in development with GO Media with Malcom McDowell attached. When I Die Take My Panties (2022) screenplay writer in development with We’re There Films. Just Wrong (2022) screenplay writer in development with Cathy Garber. Gigi & The Phoenix (2021) screenwriter and attached to direct in development with We’re There Films. Wolf-ish (2020) screenplay writer and attached to direct, sold to ABE in development. A Perfect Line (2019) screenwriter, optioned by Big Bubble Entertainment.
SHORT FILMS:
Mother Trucker (2023) writer, director, producer (won best independent short at LA Film Festival), Donny (2022) writer, director, producer, Monsters (2019) lead to the sale of Wolf-is to ABE. Grump (2025) director, producer and written by Will Simmons (Internal Affairs, Sleepy Hallow) and produced by Somethin’ Extra Entertainment lead to development
COMMERCIALS & PROMOS:
Promo for Disney Channel- director, Kinder Beauty Digital Campaign (commercial) director and writer. Veggie Grill (series of commercials) writer and director. Nowadays (commercial) writer and director. Razor (commercial) creative producer. Baby Center (series of commercials) creative producer. Moth and Flame Campaign (PSA) - creative producer. WWE campaign series with pocket.watch - director and producer, Mattel series of promos for Toys from 2017-2019 for pocket.watch (too many to list) - director and producer, Target promo for pocket.watch (2019) - director and producer. Powder room promo (2024) - producer for Vijat Mohindra. Subnation & Fred Seagal Filmed Podcasts with Paris Hilton, Meghan Trainor, The Existentialbro etc.
POCKET.WATCH (2017- 2019)
SENIOR PRODUCER / SHOWRUNNER
One of the first 15 hires; helped build the production wing of the multi-platform company from the ground up.
Directed, produced, and wrote original shows across digital, social, and streaming platforms (Amazon, Hulu, Roku). Oversaw over 800+ digital videos in one year, earning 40M+ views, including Challenge Squad and Captain Sparklez Mishmash (now streaming). Directed pilots like Bounce With Ryan. Led brand collaborations with WWE, Mattel, Target, and more—from ideation to delivery ofter directing and producing (see above). Managed talent, production schedules, budgets, and analytics to drive audience growth. Partnered with top creators: Ryan’s Toy Review (1B monthly views), Captain Sparklez (10M subs), EvanTubeHD, Bethany Mota, Amymarie Gaertner, and Chad Wildclay.
PRODIGIUM (2014-2016)
CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER
Developed a slate of original films, TV Shows, New Media Content & Commercials for major production companies & brands. Cultivated the creative / development department with organized and effective implementation of creative strategies and effective goals. Helped produce, develop, and create multiple teams for projects across multiple platforms.
FREELANCE 1st AD:
Commercials and promos for Disney, Radio Disney, ABC, Riot Games, NBC including Super Bowl spots, NYE promos with Miley Cyrus and Pete Davidson and more. Music videos for artists like Anna Akana, Jordyn Jones, KSI (produced & 1st AD’d Wake Up Call), Jenna Raine, Kylie Cantrall, Asher Angel, Forever In Your Mind, Rick Ross, Lil Baby, s-x, and many more.
