Student Snapshot – Jordan Tomasello
Jordan Tomasello
BFA Class of 2025
Introduce yourself briefly and tell me a little bit about your background. Are you an MFA or BFA?
Hi! My name is Jordan Tomasello and I’m a directing specialist in the BFA program raised in Tampa, Florida. I got my start in film as a science nerd, of all things, when I received a camera for winning a science fair in second grade.
Who is your favorite Filmmaker and What is your favorite movie?
My favorite filmmaker is an animator and director named Victoria Vincent. She makes twisted, emotional 2D animations that never fail to put a wrench in my gut. My favorite film changes once a year or so, but right now it is “Frances Ha.” I love its careful framing and dynamic characters.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently working on many things, but my proudest is my thesis film, “What Ever Happened to Emille Flitting.” It is a feminine drama about a detective who’s a cat, on the hunt for a bird who can’t fly. In addition to that, I am editing a documentary for Stitch, one of FSU’s fashion clubs!
What does your typical day look like?
I wake up every morning to my alarm (my sweet little kitty cat begging for food) and more often than not my next step is to go to film school! I love to see my friends and learn how to better our craft together. If I’m not at school, you can find me at local music shows, art galleries, or at First Friday. I love how much exposure to the arts there is in Tallahassee!
What has been the best part of film school so far?
I know everyone says it, but truly the best part has been the people I’ve met. I’ve learned so much about myself, others, and the world around me through the ways my classmates and faculty look at life, create art, and work together. There is so much left to learn, but I’m so proud of how much I have grown alongside everyone in our past two years here!
Which faculty member has made the greatest impression on you and how?
What a tough question. I’m partial to all the faculty whom I’ve had the pleasure of working with and learning from, but I’d say Jonathan Stone is the person I tend to go to when I have a question or just need to get something off my chest. He’s kind, level-headed, and a great person to go to if I ever feel out of balance. He’s taught me so much about managing one’s life in this career path and I always appreciate our chats on the fifth floor.
What do you think someone applying to the program should know about the FSU Film School?
I think about this often in the context of what I’d tell my younger self, the one who wanted to go to FSU Film since their freshman year in high school. I’d tell them, to be excited! It will be lots of fun and lots of hard work, and you will finally get to eat, sleep, and breathe your favorite thing in the entire world. Be excited to learn as an artist, to grow as a person, and to make incredible friends.
Favorite Film School Moment?
Oh, how do I even pick… I think my favorite moment, or series of moments, was the process of getting a location for my friend Max’s F3, which I produced. We had several things fall through on us and it was getting to be quite stressful, with no location three days before the shoot date– which was Superbowl Sunday, by the way. It felt impossible until we knocked on the kindest man’s door. He sat us down in the living room, which had incredible red plush carpeting, and finally gave us the yes that we had been searching for. He ended up being so accommodating and interesting, and was a great person to spend two days with! At the end of our shoot, he sat with us and thanked the crew for showing him what it meant to work with FSU Film, something he’d never done before. It was so rewarding and I always smile looking back on that time.
It’s late, you’re at the Film School working on something you need to finish before tomorrow: where are you and who are you with?
I’m probably just in the lobby, laptop plugged into the apple box table. I’m alone because that’s how I work best, but I smile and welcome a break to chit-chat with anyone who comes in!