Actress Ashley Versher on Working with JLO + Short Film "Brief Exchanges" Winning Big In The Film Festival Circuit
Ashley Versher is a self made artist of many forms- a filmmaker, writer, producer, and actress. The San Francisco native has been in NBC’s American auto, Law and Order SUV, Hulu’s Reasonable doubt, Cleo tv’s Tough love, and most recently “This is Me Now” with Jennifer Lopez. Versher has written and directed a short film, Brief Exchanges which has been in 13 film festivals.
Amongst being an accredited actress and self-taught filmmaker Ashely also has an immense passion for supporting young filmmakers of color. She works with nonprofits that work directly with filmmaking companies that are dedicated to the advancement of young girls and non-binary youth of color in the film and media industry.
To learn more about Ashley, I spoke with her directly about Brief Exchanges, This is Me Now, and the nonprofit organization she is involved with.
Versher’s start in the film industry was a result of her love for performing. During her childhood she found herself gravitating towards activities where she would be putting on a performance.
“I have always been in some instances a performer. From a very young age, a friend of mine and I used to write little short plays to ask our mothers if we could have sleepovers. I started playing the violin when I was probably around 5, maybe 6. I was singing in the choir at that point and playing sports which is kind of a performance I guess. I think that kind of bug was always in me.”
She also intertwined herself with the arts when she started playing the violin in an orchestra.
“I felt like every piece that I performed was a story. I really understood that and I think that sort of lends itself to theater, to acting…”
Ashley then got herself involved in theater which catalyzed her acting career. She even deemed herself a “theater kid,” in her own words. After acting school, she began to receive opportunities, such as short films or web series, which she embraced from a young age to lead her to where she is today.
When asked about what made her want to pursue writing she remembered that even when she was younger she would write poetry, which manifested itself over the years into something bigger. She claims around 2019-2020 she was exposed to many elements of the independent film industry, including actors who made their own films. She found it inspiring.
“I think I found that very inspiring to watch and particularly I was surrounded by a lot of women who were actors, directors, producers, and writers. To some degree, you could say I kind of took my shot at that via that inspiration just feeling empowered by what they were doing and what they were able to create…I had a story inside of me to tell- I think that’s where most of my writing comes from it’s just a specific story that’s rubbing me raw and my need to tell that story- that’s where it comes from.”
Ashley wrote and directed the short film “Brief Exchanges,” which was included in 13 film festivals and won 5 awards. I asked her to tell me about the film in her own words.
“Brief Exchanges is about a day in the life of a young black woman navigating those intersectionalities and living in New York City. It’s a film that really is focused on these sort of vignettes of micro-aggressions that she experiences throughout the day- coupled with a romance that sort of makes the day- and the whole film a little more digestible. But also that romance is really steeped in New York City and the way that that city functions. The fact that you could meet someone in one day, and spend the whole day with them- really beautiful, and maybe that is my kind of romance.”
Ashley goes on to say how the events of 2020 heavily influenced the film itself. She explained how the murder of George Floyd and the acceleration of the Black Lives Matter movement influenced the piece. During this movement, the pandemic was in place- not allowing many to protest in person. She shares how many took to social media as the landscape- and what she came across is where she found the motif for her film- microaggressions.
“I kept coming across a lot of information, a lot of education posts about microaggressions and people wanting to articulate what they were, how they felt, what they sound like or look like- I was really inspired by that. I really wanted to create a film that could showcase what that is…”
Ashely set out to cause the audience to feel empathy by relating to the main character, Tanya, or even better understanding her experience by feeling connected to her. Ashley explains how the moments Tanya experiences are not limited to moments that black women in New York may experience but rather New Yorkers in a broader scope.
“Those small moments, brief exchanges, are things that any New Yorker would experience. So there’s a part of the film that connects people in terms of experience and maybe developing a future understanding. But also a really important part and maybe the main focus of her intersectionality of where she lives and what one day could be like for someone in her shoes.”
Ashley herself lived in New York City for a very long time. She felt her initial idea for the film stemmed from an experience she had while living there when a stranger gave her a small act of kindness. She was snapped into a backpack one rainy day near the subway tracks, after struggling to fetch her umbrella from the zipper she asked a stranger to help. The small gesture stuck with her.
“It's evocative of the New York experience and the community that exists in that city. It’s a challenging place to live but it's a beautiful place to be. There’s this strange sense of community that I think might take some time for people to understand that it exists… In this film, New York is very much a character.”
She felt she had support from the city itself, which was the “begging crack” opening of the film. However, when 2020 happened and social media shifted- she felt it was the time to revisit the film and shape it. So she wrote the film, directed it, and co-produced it. Which she felt puts a lot of weight on your back; however, is a very much rewarding process in the end.
I then asked Ashely about her film alongside Jennifer Lopez, “This is Me Now,” an Amazon original. Ashley explains how the film is a love story and “cinematic musical experience” created by JLO and developed by a talented team of artists.
“It focuses on empowering people to believe in forever and everlasting love- and that it’s available to all of us. It also concentrates on the importance of healing, self-healing, healing the inner child, and how loving oneself is important… also how loving oneself can truly create opportunity to find that romantic love in a way that is special and genuine and adventurous. That is meant to be.”
Ashley plays one of Jennifer’s best friends, who she describes as the “idealist.” Versher’s character is a firm believer in the way things could or should be in contrast to how things are. She described the project as both being fun yet vastly important. She also mentioned that in the recently released documentary, “The Greatest Love Story Never Told,” that follows JLO’s life there is even behind-the-scenes footage of “This is Me Now.”
Lastly, I asked Ashely about her philanthropic endeavors. She is heavily involved with “Made in Her Image,” which is a non profit organization that focuses on empowering young women, girls, and non binary youth of color to pave their way into the film or media industry.
Ashely started as a volunteer then over time gained a bigger role with the organization aiding with the educational curriculum. She says she enjoys sharing about this organization and the incredible things they do. The organization has had summer camps to train those kids in film, partnerships with A24, and many panels (where she got to speak on) of media talent for children to interact with. She feels the organization helps to close the gaps that exist in the industry.
When I asked her about the gap that exists, she claims there has been much progress that has been made- pointing out ‘Moonlights’ Oscar win, the Black Panther franchise, and more. However she feels there is still room to learn and educate.
“I do believe in the pipeline program ideology. I think that if you give people an opportunity to learn but not just learn- but then to put them in the position to practice what they learn in a professional capacity people can grow from amateurs to professionals. It’s an opportunity that is incredibly challenging to find- which we know in this industry. But if we can curate that in a way that comes from true support and consistent guidance and mentorship then I think we can really change a lot about the industry…”
From speaking with Ashley it is apparent of her talent, passions, and drive. She truly is a woman of many talents and is incredibly well spoken.
To follow Ashely’s projects follow her instagram @ashleyversher + to watch her short film Brief Exchanges visit litteblackgirlfromthebay.com.
“This Is Me Now” and “The Greatest Love Story Never Told” are both available on Amazon prime.
To learn more about Made In Her Image visit www.madeinherimage.org.