Check Out Constance Powis’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Constance Powis.

Hi Constance, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I think the idea of working in the entertainment industry is not always something you choose, it can choose you. I remember directing small plays with a group of friends when I was 8 years old, we were practicing during the break and performing in front of the class. The shows were bad, but it was the first seed of my journey in entertainment. Around the same time, I was telling everyone that I would live in New York and own Broadway one day. Let’s see how life goes!

Later, growing up I continued to be attached to my creative side but I developed another side of my personality. My studies in business and management fostered my ambition and desire to engage with the world, be an active player in the community, and support the creative geniuses around me in any way I could. I want to use my organizational skills and visionary mindset to tell great stories and help others to do the same.

When I studied in Belgium (my home country), I was the head manager of a nonprofit association that organizes business games all around Europe. The skills developed and used in this experience were close to production and I tried to understand how I could meet the dream and the reality. Maybe production would be a good place for me in this wild industry. Where should I go to learn? After working a bit to save money, I was on a plane to pursue a professional certificate at UCLA Extension in Los Angeles, it seems logical to learn in Hollywood.

While studying production during evenings, I tried to be on set as much as I could and learn from the inside. From there, different paths and opportunities opened up to me. With a gentle mix of luck and work, I met great people, some with big careers in Hollywood and to whom I could ask for advice. They all agreed: the only rule to success is to not give up and start at the bottom. My goal in LA is to create an interesting profile that would differentiate myself to approach the European media industry later. I think the mindset in the US pushes us to go for it, to experience as much as we can and I needed that kind of spirit to jump and build confidence in this career choice.

Finally, this profile I was talking about is in construction but I can tell you what I know. I want to develop my network and community both in the US and in Europe. I want to build traditional moviemaking knowledge but also comprehend our new technologies like the use of Virtual Production and VR to create Immersive experiences and push storytelling further. In the end, I want to tell stories and produce content, the form can vary. That’s why I am working with E.N.D Entertainment, a company founded by a Belgian producer based in LA.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not smooth, you have to fight every day to make things happen and prove that you are valuable, but at the same time we are learning and the competition is rude. I always envision working collectively, that is also what attracts me to this filmmaking business. Therefore fighting to prove that you are better than someone else for a job is not something that I appreciate. Naturally, I struggle as anyone to enter the business because of the vicious circle. You learn on set but to get on set, you need experience. That’s why I am working on another strategy, using my nationality to differentiate myself.

This experience is asking me to get out of my comfort zone constantly to get the most out of my time here, and sometimes I might have put too much pressure on myself. In general, finding the right balance is everything and it’s a bit more difficult to find it while being a freelancer, working for different companies, and organizations at the same time.

Lastly, I would say that it is difficult to know if our ideas and goals are valid, there is no guarantee and it is a risk but we have to try. I see this as a long-time learning process to trust our instincts and abilities to do this job and move up the ladder, it does require a trial and error method.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am working on multiple fronts right now.

I mentioned earlier working for E.N.D Entertainment. This is a production and distribution company based in Los Angeles focused on projects coming from Europe, China, and the US. Specializing in traditional media and new media, E.N.D. has the mission to eliminate boundaries and challenge the future of the entertainment landscape in general. On one side, I coordinate our film projects. We are busy with the post-production of a Brazilian documentary right now for example. At the same time, we are developing a showroom to host international immersive experiences in Downtown LA. The idea is to be an entry gate for international companies to sell their experiences abroad. This reflects one of my goals to give opportunities to Europeans to work with the US if that’s their desire. Being a bridge is an idea that I like a lot, putting things together so that it’s easier for someone to achieve their dreams and improve our community. That’s why I am also the event coordinator of the entertainment community at Belwest, the new Belgian and Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce based in LA. We have a project of building a cross-Atlantic community and be this entry gate to facilitate business and fulfillment for our members.

I use my free time to produce low-budget short films when I find great scripts or people I want to work with. For example, I am working with a DGA Director to finish a short movie written by foster kids to help them process their trauma. Our goal is to start the festival circuit as soon as we can! I also work on the development of the first feature film of a Belgian Director.

I do on purpose go in different directions to keep my options open and see different things. If I want one day to be a good producer and an active player in the entertainment industry, I need to experience as much as I can.

I know that I am appreciated for my commitment, energy, and vision. I love having a team to care for and lead people to achieve the best result together. Making everyone feel important is key in the filmmaking business because we do need a whole army to finish a movie! Moreover, I am proud of thinking outside the box and allowing myself to be successful. I have a lot of long-term projects that need constant adaptation and flexibility. Being a bit naive might be necessary to stay strong in this wild everyday changing world. My positive mindset and believer spirit will get me where I want but it will require time, patience, and understanding of a step-by-step process.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
If anyone is interested in the relationship between the US & Europe in terms of storytelling, we should have a coffee together. I just love this habit in LA to grab a coffee and discuss projects even if they are not ready to get out of the nest yet! Those informal conversations make us grow, we can move on faster because feedback is everything! For me, a crowd is the best way to create impactful changes, let’s talk, let’s collaborate, let’s connect!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.constancepowis.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/constypowis/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/constance-powis/
• Other: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm14516744/

Image Credits
Zan Peeradon, Vonmay Mendoza, Belwest and UCLA.