The Interview Q&A

Where are you primarily based out of?

Los Angeles, California

What role do you typically play on set?

Actor or Producer

How long have you been working in the film industry? Where did you get your start?

About a decade, started at a 48 hour film festival and made YouTube videos from there and have existed in the independent film stream and working on breaking into mainstream ever since.

What are some of the biggest challenges you've encountered and how have you overcome them?

The biggest challenges I have had to overcome is navigating the film industry with a disability. I have limited peripheral in my left eye and a tight Achilles heel that leads me to having some mobility issues. Due to my mobility issues, I face a lot of discrimination in my body type and a lot of hate. With my low vision, getting to and from sets takes a lot of creative problem solving and favors. So many sets do not make even car pool drop offs accessible and will fire if one even dares to ask. So there’s a lot of work to be done in creating solutions so future generations don’t have to deal with the hurdles I’ve had to deal with.

Who is your biggest inspiration? What have they taught you?

My biggest inspiration is Keely Cat-Wells. I met her at the White House when we were both recognized by MTV and the Biden Administration for our mental health advocacy. Keely taught me that the fight for accessibility in the film industry though exhausting is a cause worth pursuing, that artists with disabilities have a place in this industry, and there are many amazing places the pursuit of accessibility can take you.

What does it mean to you to be an inspiration/mentor to someone else?

It’s such an honor and humbling because so often I feel like such a work in progress. But there’s mentorship and inspiration in that fact that one doesn’t have to be perfect to have a career in this industry. Mentorship adds a layer of responsibility that I don’t take lightly and to be someone else’s inspiration- well that’s the reason I started doing this job in the first place.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

I draw my inspiration from Melanie Martinez, Frida Kahlo, Disney, the 50s, 60s, and 70s, my friends, the 19th century, medieval times, Euphoria, Nickelodeon, crystals, and Instagram and TikTok.

If you had one message to share with the world, what would it be?

In too many creative environments, there can be this culture that I find toxic where fellow set and cast members are viewed as competitors. That is so far from the case, everyone on set in this industry is a collaborator. People you don’t even know yet are collaborators. With that attitude there is enough space for all impactful creative stories to come to life. We artists are better friends than enemies but if you’re doing worthy art along the way- you’ll encounter a few haters anyway irregardless.

What’s are some of the biggest things you’ve accomplished in your career so far?

Going to the White House for my mental health advocacy is pretty hard to top. Opening a production company during a pandemic and still managing to survive through a strike and several other traumatic events seems pretty remarkable. But I think making my first feature- a mental health documentary that is actually feel good and full of solutions to overcome mental health challenges is my favorite thing I’ve accomplished thus far.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now? (No dream is too big!)

Hopefully about to launch my animated lesbian musical in a wide theatrical release and in production of season two of my cartoon web series where an evil house cat creates an apocalypse with the devil to spend time with her mom sans boyfriend and her annoyingly optimistic adopted brother. Probably also in production filming interviews for yet another mental health documentary- I like to stay busy.

If you had one piece of advice for a woman who wants to get started in the film industry what it would be?

Don’t be afraid of not knowing everything. No one in this industry knows everything. The willingness to help out and learn goes way farther in this industry than stressing out about perfection. Show up and authentically rock it. Also always wear comfortable shoes, you got this!

What kind of projects are you currently working on that you can share? (Feel free to leave links to the projects to view)

Mental health documentary I just made, check out the Instagram for where to see it theatrically.

Bake It Till You Make It Trailer https://youtu.be/Bbn_zP2qaSI

Pitch for Jest, the animated lesbian musical, but watch the Instagram for more on that AFM Jest Pitch https://youtu.be/zRvYHKQU54g

Marci and Milo (the evil cat cartoon) will eventually pop up here but stay tuned on the Instagram for more information on that

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXLE6lm1GOLWuUm9YX2HneleDZefaBx43

What does being a part of The Women in Film Project mean to you?

I’m so hyped! I think it’s amazing the platform you give for femmes to share their stories and promote their work. I want more spaces like these with these amazing spirits that work behind to bring this vision a reality. It’s incredible work and it matters.