Jia Wertz - from Forbes and fashion to film-making and fighting for freedom

Smashing The Ceiling

My guest today has gone from shy wallflower to recipient of international film awards and a column in Forbes.

Jia Wertz is a filmmaker, entrepreneur, podcaster, activist and writer, who, like many of our guests, has had a working life with some unexpected twists and turns.

Jia had a super successful career in the fashion industry when she first heard the podcast Serial back in 2014. She was moved to do what she could to help Adnan Syed, the protagonist of the series, who was sentenced at the age of 17 for the murder of Hae Min Lee, a crime he always denied.

Jia became actively involved in Adnan’s case, and at the same time, made the decision to quit her career in fashion and go to film school at the age of 40 having recently given birth to her son. Jia was subsequently inspired to make her first documentary film, Conviction, about the wrongful conviction of Jeffrey Deskovic, which won multiple awards and opened Jia’s career up in ways she never expected.

Since we recorded this podcast, Adnan Syed has been released from prison and the charges against him dropped. You can read more about the case here.

Useful links

Jia's website

Follow Jia on Instagram

Follow Jia on Twitter

Watch the trailer for Conviction on YouTube

Watch Conviction on Amazon Prime

Music

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