- Born
- Birth nameJessy Ann Melowicz
- Nicknames
- J Mel
- Jess
- Ms. Jess
- Jessy Melowicz Barbour was born on September 3, 1971 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. She is an assistant director and producer, known for Mousehunt (1997), Prey (1998) and 9-1-1 (2018). She has been married to Scot Barbour since July 2002. They have one child.
- SpouseScot Barbour(July 2002 - present) (filed for divorce, 1 child)
- Works primarily on projects and tv series that have plots and core storylines involving social and criminal justice themes and that spotlight real civil rights issues women and people of color continue to face in America.
- Joined the Directors Guild of America in 1998. From production to development she has since worked with many multi-award winning producers, directors, writers and actors on original dramatic episodic television series on nearly every network and studio. Most recently Viola Davis, John Singleton, LL Cool J and Thomas Schlamme.
Personally credits Adam Sandler and college friends Geoff Johns, Geoff Murillo and Matt Gren for for having inspired her interests in working in Hollywood, persuading her to leave her law enforcement and military career trajectory while at Michigan State University. She's since been able to combine the love of the two worlds with her work on episodic dramas including 'John Singleton's Snowfall (2017), NCIS: Los Angeles (2009), NYPD Blue (1993), How to Get Away with Murder (2014), Bones (2005), Justice (2006), Buddy Faro (1998), Boston Legal (2004), having collaborated with with award winning actor/activist Esai Morales on such crime and legal series as "NCIS: Los Angeles" (2018) (CBS), "How to Get Away with Murder" (2016) (ABC), "Criminal Minds" (2013) (CBS), "Fairly Legal" (2011) (USA), "Vanished" (2006) (Fox) and "NYPD Blue" (1993) (ABC), and very early in her career working as one of the only female crew members on one of the last episodes of Columbo (1971) written and directed by the late great Patrick McGoohan. - Received a B.A. in Criminal Justice and membership into the Phi Beta Kappa Society from Michigan State University. Studied Comparative Criminology at the University of New South Wales in Australia and University of Cambridge in the UK. Since its founding in 1776, the Phi Beta Kappa Society has inducted 17 U.S. Presidents, 40 U.S. Supreme Court Justices, and more than 130 Nobel Laureates into its membership.
- Is a decorated veteran, having served as Federal Law Enforcement Petty Officer and in Search and Rescue in the U.S. Coast Guard and USCG Reserves during Operation Desert Shield Desert Storm and having also provided protective security detail for Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. As one of the youngest and only female members in all her units, Ms. Melowicz was awarded the Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and Pistol Marksmanship Medals. Secretary of Transportation Federico Peña under then President Bill Clinton, awarded the Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Achievement Medal to her unit, presented by Admiral Robert E. Kramek, Commandant of the Coast Guard. During the time period issued, it was the highest Coast Guard unit award that could be awarded.
While a senior in college, Jessy worked on the Michigan State Police Task Force investigating the Michigan Militia's involvement in the Oklahoma City Bombing of April 1995. President Bill Clinton acknowledged their service after his May 1995 commencement address at Michigan State University. - Has two (2) sons, one named after Carl Sagan an American astronomer, cosmologist, astrophysicist, astrobiologist, teacher, author, screenwriter and scientist.
- Volunteers at several non-profits and community activism organizations focused on domestic violence, veterans, inequality, environmentalism, children, youth and inequality awareness and education. She is a supporter of Manifest Works, a Hollywood organization geared toward de-marginalizing formerly incarcerated participants by giving them tools for success in film and television, along with artist/activist Xiuhtezcatl Martinez and Earth Guardians that helps empower young people by providing them with leadership opportunities and tools to bring their innovative solutions to the worlds's most pressing issues. Jessy is also a contributor to Inside Out Writers, a non profit organization started in 1996 to help reduce the recidivism crisis by providing a range of evolving services to meet the needs of youths and adults impacted by the criminal justice systems.
- [on working one of Peter Falk's last episodes of Columbo] It was surreal like stepping back into a time machine, as my Grandpa and I would watch the series when I was little having always loved those 70's TV shows with a cast of cameos. I was one of the only women on the crew and definitely the youngest. I loved every minute of it. I learned so much about old Hollywood (and cigars) especially from Patrick McGoohan who took me under his wing. He loved complex detective and spy characters who showed their brains before their gun, where there's a blurred line between good and evil. Not only did he write and direct that episode but he also played the villain with such fervency, a true legend.
- [on diversity in Hollywood in 2016] It's still a major major issue lacking both behind and in front of the camera, yet we're at a boom time in Hollywood where wonderful and inspirational creatives are not only writing and casting from global-minded reflective perspectives, but staffing their above and below the line crews in such a way that has never been seen before. I'm thinking of the likes of Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers Ava DuVernay, Joey Soloway, Mindy Kaling and up and comers Misha Green and Issa Rae just to name a few. They're not only stars in their own right, but artists who have worked so hard individually yet understand the benefits of the team approach. Creating collaborative content that not only reaches and reflects but has proven to be highly profitable. A positive ripple effect has been happening, hopefully it's a tipping point, where networks and studios are starting to sit up, pay attention and follow suit. Netflix and Amazon have helped pave the way to show the studios what audiences really want, what we've been lacking, while allowing a great deal of creative latitude where it counts. Personally, I'm a also huge fan of Hollywood game changers Charles D. King and Kim Roth at Macro or phenoms John Legend and Pharrell Williams who are developing and producing a wide array of incredibly diverse projects across all formats all with a conscientious approach. And of course the incredible, ok I'm going to geek out for a minute, John Ridley who is such an inspiration to me personally and professionally. How he sees the world, how he creates and communicates from a such a reflective space, whether through his novels, screenplays, documentaries, his casting, directing, his graphic novels, which by the way should be a mega million dollar franchise by now, why it isn't I don't know. He is someone who writes raw yet always seems to be daring the audience to engage with more understanding and empathy, which I believe can actually create positive change in the world. What Ridley does, what we're all capable of doing though film and tv, no matter at what level it may be, is more exciting than just creating entertainment.
- [on working with Viola Davis] It was an honor to just be in the presence of such an incredibly hard working and gorgeous person. She's inspirational on so many levels as an artist, activist, woman and mother. She absolutely sets the tone on and off the set, where everyone ups their game, wanting to do better and be better, just to try to match her abilities and level of commitment to the craft, which is nearly impossible. She's amazing, and not in that LA millennial superlative way. Viola truly is amazing. I can't wait for her to be producing and directing.
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