“Don’t take everyone’s advice for gold.”
What pulled you into film and TV in the first place?
The movies! I was frequently sick as a kid, from seventh grade till 11th on and off again with an autoimmune disease that spurred other sicknesses. When I missed the day at school I’d watch the movies, the behind-the-scenes on dvd’s and on breaks or snowy days we’d go to the movies. I sometimes would go to the 99 cent theater to re-watch films two or three times. I was also an avid Nick at Night watcher, I didn’t go a summer without watching the entirety of I Love Lucy and Bewitched. And through all my curiosity I wondered why women’s story lines were so repetitive, how only few broke the mold. I was a huge history buff and frequently read historical fiction and non-fiction as well on my days from school and grew fascinated by all the remarkable women I encountered. It was then I realized through all my watching and reading I wanted to be a storyteller.
What do you think the industry gets most wrong about women like you?
What a great question. I think the industry perhaps fears the root of women’s stories and the places they can go, what they talk about, can mean if shown to a broad audience. I haven’t been one to shy away from the women’s perspective especially when it comes to our psychology and body.
What does success mean to you?
Having your voice be heard and understood.
What are you most proud of that most people don’t know about?
That I’m still here. From age 12 to 24, something went wrong with my body every three years, the last two being a car accident and surviving sexual assault. At 15, doctors thought I had a brain tumor and told me I might not make it. Those experiences, spaced out like clockwork, gave me a strange kind of perspective. My survival really started as a mindset before it became anything physical.
What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?
Community, knowing I’m not the only one experiencing this hardship. And the stories, gosh, story keeps me motivated. They fuel me.
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