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Meet Monica Zaffarano of Zaffarano Productions in Noble Square

Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica Zaffarano.

Monica, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up in the Midwest but always had wandering eyes to what the world offered. As a young ballerina from Iowa, a summer at the Joffrey in NYC was all it took to expand my horizon and my ideas for life and I was never looked back!

I explored theater, acting, and modeling and took my curiosity to Europe where I lived for a few years. Deciding to give acting a go, I decided to return stateside to pursue it full time.

I enjoyed success which I base on not having to find employment by other means for several years. Seamlessly, I moved towards a career in Chicago’s advertising world as a Commercial Advertising Print & Motion Producer.  I am deeply grateful for a successful career spanning over 12 years doing that which I love. I’ve traveled the world, worked in many markets and met many friends along the way.

I am always looking ahead, at possibilities, new with new people I can collaborate. That’s it in a nutshell. 🙂

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My biggest challenge has been learning to advocate for ME. Additionally, I have learned some tough lessons in business flow but being able to adjust and move onward is tantamount to continued success. The ad world is constantly changing and we have to change and adapt with it.

Please tell us about Zaffarano Productions.
I own a company that produces photography and non union video content for commercial advertising. I work with a variety of clients from Purina to Toyota to Wells Fargo to  several Pharma clients and every little thing in between. There probably is an ad running in a magazine in your home or on a billboard near you that I have produced.

What sets me apart is perhaps that I will always try to advocate for my crew. I like to make sure every single person on my set matters and knows I “see” them and appreciate their contributions.  Every one is a part of the success of a shoot no matter the role.  The newest news is I am doing a full overhaul and rebranding my company. Its time, its been 12 years so I am ready!  Be on the look out January 2019!

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Sometimes I feel my childhood was a bit of a Camelot. It was happy time – loud around the kitchen, loads of activities and food and lots of hand me downs but it felt rich with love.

I’ll never forget waiting with anticipation at the kitchen window for my brother, a brother a generation older than I, a brother I wouldn’t really “know” until I was older, a brother who had hitchhiked from Oregon to Iowa. I was so excited when I saw him, his 6’6″ frame walking down the winding street towards my family home with a backpack towering over his head – and a great chess match followed! Also, fond memories of my Dad at the piano and mom in the kitchen singing as she cleaned up after supper.
Yes, it was a nice upbringing, never lacked for love.

Contact Info:


Image Credit:

Thomas Hoeffgen / Cade Martin / Peter Ash Lee / Art Streiber / Andy Mahr / Tim Tadder / Jim Hughes

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