Name: Jesse Collins
Profession: Television Producer and CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment
Age: 44
One word that describes you: Focused
For over a decade, Entertainment industry veteran and Image® Award winner Jesse Collins has played an integral role in producing many of television’s most memorable moments in music entertainment. Prior to launching his own company Jesse Collins Entertainment in 2012, Collins was Executive Producer and Executive Vice President of Cossette Productions where he has produced ground-breaking, award-winning television programming including the BET Awards, BET Honors, UNCF’s An Evening of Stars®, and the BET Hip Hop Awards.
Leaving his imprint on the highest levels of entertainment production, Collins is a Consulting Producer for the GRAMMY® Awards, has been chosen to produce the 2015 Soul Train Awards, and is executive producer of BET’s hit TV series, The Real Husbands of Hollywood starring Kevin Hart.
Having worked with a myriad of icons including Will Smith, Chris Rock, Jay Z, Rihanna, Kanye West, Mariah Carey and Prince, Collins is just getting started. Jesse Collins Entertainment, a full service film and television production company based in Hollywood, CA on the Paramount Studios lot is where the magic begins.
Watching Donnie Simpson charismatically woo the crowd, and Arsenio Hall famously fist pump his audience drew Collins to the entertainment and television media platform. But there were a few stops along his journey to tinseltown that helped shape who he is today. “I have always had high pressure jobs that involve quick decisions,” Collins tells BE Modern Man. “As a long time radio DJ you have to have the next song ready and know what you are
going to say.” TV was no different, as he began shooting shows and developing script. “I was a TV writer and had to be able to come up with jokes while we were shooting the show—so I had to be fast,” says Collins.” “But the highest pressure job I had was waiting tables at Chili’s! You don’t know pressure until a hungry family doesn’t get their fajitas on time. All of these things have taught me how to maximize time and remain calm no matter what.”Read more on page 2…
Recognized within the industry, and receiving numerous awards, Collins greatest personal achievement is his strong family, and professionally continuing to be able to create meaningful content.
In a highly competitive landscape Collins is able to separate himself and emerge as a leader by consistently delivering high quality work. “It’s all about building relationships, and you have to be known as someone who delivers on your promises,” Collins tells BE Modern Man
.Transitioning from radio to screenwriting was one of Collins most challenging moments. “I was unemployed and didn’t really know what I wanted to do other than “make it”,” says Collins. Chasing every opportunity that came his way eventually got him noticed. “Faizon Love convinced Robert Townsend to give me a shot as a writer on the TV show The Parent Hood and that was my big break.”
Armed with ambition, passion and the belief that you must get out and earn your success, Collins hopes to inspire young people to strive to be the best at whatever they choose to be in life.
Inspiring young people and the masses is exactly what Collins has set out to do. “Being a BE Modern Man means the work that we are doing at Jesse Collins Entertainment is being recognized to have a certain quality,” says Collins. “It says we are creating moments that are impacting the culture in a positive way and that is always our goal. We always want to show excellence in an entertaining way.”
The BlackEnterprise.com team congratulates Jesse Collins for building a multicultural company with people from all walks of life who work together to create great content that often highlights African American achievement. Stay up to date with Collins and his television programming on Instagram, Facebook, and the web.
It’s our normal to be extraordinary. Follow @blackenterprise and join the BE Modern Man conversation using #BEModernMan.