Jesse Werkman
Jesse is a writer/director from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and graduate student at USC’s MFA Film Production program. Making movies since the age of 13, Jesse’s passion lies with intimate character-driven storytelling, exploring how individuals navigate the challenges of our societal and political structures. This is highlighted by Jesse’s past work, tackling topics such as gun violence, anxiety and mental health, and grief and loss. During his time at USC, Jesse wrote and directed multiple short films, including USC's capstone television series, TOP VOICES, and his USC Thesis short film, PERRENIALS. In July 2025, Jesse was awarded USC's Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Screenwriting grant for his television pilot script, SEVEN MILES DOWN, the story of the first man to visit the deepest point on Earth, the Challenger Deep. In addition to writing/directing, Jesse has a strong passion for the intersection of story and technology through virtual production. He has worked extensively on USC’s LED volume stage and is currently working as a producer on both of USC’s Entertainment Technology Center grant-awarded short films for Spring/Summer 2025.