Today we’d like to introduce you to Nesha Jackson.
Hi Nesha, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey into filmmaking has been far from conventional, but I’ve learned that many creative paths rarely are. As cliché as it sounds, I’ve always been a writer. Ever since I was young, storytelling has been a huge part of my life. To this day, I still have notebooks from grade school filled with stories, ideas, and characters from my imagination.
That creative side of me stalled a bit when I went to college and pursued my Bachelor’s degree at the Baltimore treasure, Morgan State University. After graduating, I found myself balancing a career in STEM while still longing to nurture my creative side. But in 2020, something shifted. I decided to fully pursue my creativity and see where it could take me. Why not?
Ironically, filmmaking wasn’t where it began. It started with launching an anime and manga podcast that eventually grew into one of the top anime and manga podcasts across multiple platforms and introduced me to my first real creative community. That later led me to become a writer for Urban Sama, a digital media platform focused on anime, gaming, film, and pop culture. It was there that I met filmmaker Janeen “NEEN.” Talbott, whose inspiration and support helped me finally leap into filmmaking.
From there, I began intentionally honing my craft, not just through “YouTube University,” but also through programs like the TV & Film Essentials program at New York University Tisch School of the Arts in partnership with Yellowbrick, IndieWire, and Rolling Stone. I’ve always considered myself a student of the game, constantly learning, studying, and evolving as both an artist and storyteller. Sometimes I’d even pick up a camera myself and experiment visually, though most of those early projects will probably remain safely tucked away in the archives.
That inspiration, combined with my love for anime and genre storytelling, eventually led me to create my debut short film, Word of Oda, an anime-inspired satirical short film that I wrote, directed, and edited alongside an incredible team. I never imagined that one film would go on to receive four awards and one nomination, including an Audience Choice Award, and later premiere in Los Angeles at the Micheaux Film Festival. Looking back now, it’s wild to think I almost skipped the festival run entirely out of fear. I’m incredibly grateful I didn’t.
Now, I’m preparing for my next short film, Scarlet, a dark supernatural story exploring ambition, revenge, and fame. During the time of this interview, our crowdfunding campaign for the film reached 100% funded in just 15 days, something that still feels incredibly surreal. More than anything, I’m grateful for the phenomenal team beside me and every person who believed in the project enough to support it. As an independent filmmaker, that kind of belief and community means everything to me, and I’m excited to get back into the field and bring yet another concept to the screen.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not. Aside from the doubt and imposter syndrome that can come with pursuing any creative endeavor, I was entering filmmaking from a nontraditional background. I didn’t attend film school, and much of my journey was shaped through mentoring, self-teaching, trial and error, and building connections over time. Every step is built on the last.
One of the hardest parts early on was believing in myself enough to pursue filmmaking seriously, especially when my ambitions felt bigger than my experience and resources at the time. Truthfully, that’s something I still struggle with. But where there’s a will, there’s a way, and it’s better to “do it scared” than not at all.
My first crowdfunding campaign for Word of Oda actually fell short of its goal. While people did support the project, it wasn’t enough to produce the original version of the script, and in hindsight, the ask was incredibly ambitious for a first-time filmmaker. Instead of giving up, I reworked the story around the resources we had available, and with the support of loved ones and an incredibly dedicated team, we found a way to bring the film to life anyway.
Beyond funding, there were countless learning curves — assembling a team, casting, directing for the first time, producing, editing, and navigating the insecurities that can come with stepping into something completely new, especially as a leader. I had to get comfortable with discomfort. I’m honestly still finding my voice as a filmmaker, but I’m learning to appreciate the process instead of fearing it.
Looking back now, every obstacle pushed me to grow, trust myself more, and become more resilient as both a filmmaker and a person.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a Baltimore-based filmmaker, podcaster, and one of the founding members of production company Adolla Vision. My work lives in the world of genre storytelling — horror, satire, and stories with supernatural or psychological elements. I’m drawn to morally complex characters and stories that entertain people while also saying something deeper underneath.
Before filmmaking, I built a platform as a podcaster in the anime and manga space, which helped shape my creative voice. Anime, horror, social commentary, pop culture, and my own lived experiences all influence the lens through which I tell stories.
Right now, I’m probably most known for my debut short film, Word of Oda, a satirical film inspired by fandom culture. During its festival run, seeing audiences connect with something so specific to my interests gave me the confidence to fully embrace myself as a filmmaker.
Currently, I’m preparing for production on my next short film, Scarlet, a satirical horror film, that recently secured the seed money needed to move into production, which has honestly been one of the most affirming moments of my creative journey so far.
What I’m most proud of is building work that feels authentic to my interests and perspective. For a long time, I thought I had to separate the things I loved from the kind of filmmaker I wanted to be, but I’ve realized those influences are exactly what make my work feel personal.
I think what sets me apart most is my perspective. I love blending genre storytelling with commentary, emotion, humor, and stylized worlds in a way that feels immersive, entertaining, and emotionally honest.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was an incredibly curious person and constantly explored whatever interested me, even if it was completely random or new to me. I’ve always loved learning and trying different things, so I was definitely a serial hobbyist growing up and honestly still am.
I didn’t have a TV in my room, so I spent a lot of time reading books, writing stories, drawing, and living in my imagination. Storytelling was a huge part of my childhood long before I ever considered myself a filmmaker. I was also really into art and eventually took AP Art in high school because I loved sketching and painting. Visually creating worlds has always come naturally to me in one medium or another.
Even without a TV in my room, I still got my fair share of anime and fantasy media growing up. Sailor Moon, Studio Ghibli films, Inuyasha, Super GALS!, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Twilight were some of my favorites growing up and definitely influenced the kinds of stories, characters, and worlds I’m drawn to now, which is probably why gravitating toward horror, fantasy, and genre filmmaking feels so natural to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.neshaalia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nesha.alia/
