A Chat With Jessica Hubert: Executive Producer Of OWN’s Heart & Hustle
Jessica Hubert is an Emmy-award winning television producer. She’s worked on projects such as Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, Bravo’s hit series Summer House, The Real Housewives of New York, and OWN’s Iyanla: Fix My Life. She is now an Executive Producer of OWN reality TV show, Heart & Hustle, which premiered on Aug. 2nd.
Her Agenda caught up with Jessica to discuss misconceptions about reality television shows, how she approached past roles, and what’s next for her. Jessica also shares her advice for aspiring media workers and producers. She also touches on the things she didn’t understand at first when she first began as a production assistant.
Her Agenda: What initially drew you to TV production, and was there a moment when you knew that this was where you wanted to be?
Jessica Hubert: What drew me was I honestly always wanted to create media, and always loved entertainment and telling stories, but I didn’t understand the structure of what it took. I would be in school and try to send… a videographer [to record projects], like ‘Okay, go follow this person or go to this.’ But, I didn’t really have the structure until I got a job in reality television to understand how to communicate with your director, how to communicate with an audio person and talent, and what it takes to really make something, to tell a story and make it happen.
And after my first show, which was New Jersey Housewives, I was a PA [Production Assistant], and I really got a chance to see what that structure was like. Then the rest is history. I’ve been doing this for 11 years now.
Her Agenda: I know you said that there’s a lot that you didn’t understand at first. As a producer, what’s something that viewers don’t realize about the behind the scenes work of creating a show?
Jessica Hubert: For unscripted, one [thing] is that it’s not scripted. A lot of people think, ‘is this reality?’ And absolutely yes. We’ll have cast members pretty much meet, and you’ll see a beginning, middle and end, so that the audience knows what happened. That’s a producer’s job. But, the stories are real. The stories come from the cast members and what’s going on in their actual lives. We don’t make that part.
Her Agenda: So, in all the shows that you’ve worked on the stories feel culturally resonant. What do you think makes a series feel not only entertaining, but culturally relevant and resonate with people?
Jessica Hubert: I think that for me in particular, I’m very picky about the shows that I do work on, and it is important for me to make sure that [shows are] culturally relevant. We’re telling stories of people of color that aren’t just the same thing. You know, showing fighting or disagreements and things like that.
If you do have a disagreement, then what’s a mature way to go ahead and handle that? How do you break down or understand someone’s trauma and see these people tell their stories? Because there’s so many of us that aren’t used to doing that. Culturally, we’re not used to going to therapy, talking about our issues, problem solving, seeing healthy relationships, or talking through what it’s like to go through one that you’ve been in. So, it’s important for me to continue to work on shows that do that for us.
Her Agenda: How do you approach leadership as a producer? When do you know it’s time to pivot? How do you know how to build teams and manage a team?
Jessica Hubert: I’ve been fortunate enough to work with show runners and produce on shows that know how to build great teams. And I think that what makes a good team is that the energy, the vibe that people come in, because it has a tendency to rub off on crew members, rub off on your talent, and pretty much affect the dynamic on the whole like you want to work with, people that you gel with, get along with, and be a team player.
Her Agenda: What advice would you give to young black women who want to break into TV, or, more specifically, a role in producing?
Jessica Hubert: I think that closed mouths don’t get fed. I think that it’s hard to break in if you don’t let people know what you want to do. I think that there are various avenues that you can do that. I have a lot of people, surprisingly, reach out to me through my IMDb and they’ll email me there or LinkedIn, and they’ll reach out to me there. I think that you go after what you want and you don’t make any excuses, and if you don’t tell anyone what you want to do, then they won’t know. Like, if you’re on set and you’re a PA at this point, and then be the best PA, that there is. Be reliable. Be communicative. But also let that person know, once you build a bond with people on set, which avenue you want to go to, because you’ll be surprised. Make connections with the people who are in charge. That’s my number one advice, actually. Talk to the people and be helpful to the people who make the decisions.
Her Agenda: So, you’ve just stepped into the role of an executive producer. The series is debuting soon. What can you share that excites you about this next chapter?
Jessica Hubert: Oh, my goodness, for this next chapter, it’s literally a full circle moment for me, because. Because I’m producing a show that means a lot to me when it comes to this particular show and cast, it covers the different archetypes within the black woman. You know, you have different stories that are individual stories and so different, but interpersonal stories as well that connect, that will connect with anyone you know.
