We’re looking forward to introducing you to Natalie Rodriguez. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Natalie, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
To me, nothing is more important than integrity, especially in today’s world of social media. Over the years, like many others, I’ve experienced people who have taken advantage of my kindness or used me for their own gain. Fortunately, I’ve learned to set boundaries with those individuals, even if that meant walking away or cutting ties. At the end of the day, your instincts always know when something—or someone—is off. That’s a lesson I continue to carry with me: always trust your intuition, because if you don’t, your body and emotions will find a way to remind you to.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello everyone. My name is Natalie Rodriguez, and I am an award-winning director, screenwriter, producer, author, and mental health advocate based in Los Angeles, California. I graduated from California State University, Fullerton, in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Radio-Television-Film. Early in my career, I had the incredible opportunity to intern at The Conan O’Brien Show and Mandalay Pictures, where I worked with producers such as Jennifer Berman, Matthew Rhodes, Cathy Schulman, and David Zelon. Those experiences helped shape my passion for storytelling and production.
In 2017, I founded Extraordinary Pictures, an independent production company dedicated to telling emotionally driven stories that explore mental health, identity, trauma, and resilience through film, television, and digital media.
My debut feature film, The Extraordinary Ordinary, began as a short film and evolved into a full-length drama that screened at multiple film festivals before being released on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Roku, and Tubi. My second feature film, Howard Original, which I co-wrote, directed, and produced, also made its festival rounds and is now available on several streaming platforms.
Currently, I am in development on my third feature film, Inner Child, a psychological horror-drama that I wrote and will direct and produce. The story follows a college student confronting childhood trauma through recurring night terrors and sleep paralysis. I also adapted Inner Child into a novel, which I am currently pitching to literary agents.
Recently, my team and I celebrated the world premiere of our thriller-horror short film Beyond the Moonlight, presented by our friends at Basement Tapes. We had a wonderful turnout and are planning a few more screenings for the film. I am also very excited about the upcoming screenings of the final short film in my Matty Cat series—a 2D animated story about a curious and lovable cat, inspired by my own fur babies, including the real Matty.
In addition to filmmaking, I am the author of the Elephant young adult thriller series, which was a finalist in Clare Books’ The Binge-Watching Cure II contest for Best Novel, as well as the novel adaptation of The Extraordinary Ordinary. My written work has appeared in HuffPost, Thrive Global, NowThis News, Hello Giggles, Anxiety Resource Center, and The Mighty, and I have spoken at events hosted by Google, YouTube, Hispanicize, Ontario Revolution Con, and L.A. Comic Con.
When I am not writing or editing, I can usually be found resting, which is something I used to take for granted, and catching up on some of my favorite television shows. Recently, I have been watching a lot of Supernatural and Abbott Elementary, and like many others, I am eagerly waiting for the final season of Stranger Things.
At the heart of everything I do—whether it is filmmaking, writing, or public speaking—is my passion for using storytelling to destigmatize mental health and trauma recovery while connecting with others through empathy, hope, and creativity.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Looking back at my childhood and teenage years, I wish I could hug that younger version of myself. I would tell her that there is always hope and that the pain and hardships she faced would not stop her from pursuing her dreams. I would remind her that no one is destined to be “doomed” or to repeat toxic family cycles. Healing is possible, and with time, strength, and faith, she will learn that her story is hers to rewrite.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
For years, I was told that remaining silent about certain aspects of life was for the best. But as the saying goes, we are sicker than our secrets, and that truth can truly eat you up. In college, like many individuals, I began experiencing extreme panic and anxiety attacks, which often intensified episodes of depression. It scared me to the core. Fortunately, I sought treatment through cognitive behavioral therapy, which I still practice to this day.
Therapy taught me—and continues to teach me—to embrace my voice, whether through writing, my books, film and television projects, or full-on advocacy work. I have been fortunate to contribute to organizations such as OC87 Recovery, Anxiety Resource Center, and The Mighty, using my experiences to empower others and transform pain into purpose.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
In all honesty, one of the biggest lies the entertainment industry tells itself is that women cannot do it all. We can. Women can work behind the scenes—writing, directing, producing—and still balance multiple careers, projects, and life changes. We do all of this while often navigating physical and mental health challenges behind closed doors. The industry often underestimates our resilience, creativity, and ability to manage both our craft and our personal lives with strength and dedication.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
It is a daily work in progress, which I am learning to make peace with. My anxiety disorder and acute depression often amplify catastrophic thoughts, making me expect the worst outcomes. I continue to seek treatment through cognitive behavioral therapy to catch these thoughts early and work through them, because excessive worrying and stress can truly make one sick. I have experienced times when the stress and anxiety became so overwhelming that I had to shut down physically and mentally.
With time, I hope to recognize and address these thoughts sooner. That process starts with weekly therapy sessions, making time to rest, working out, and enjoying the small moments—like spending time with my boyfriend or my three cats. Even though the payoff may not be apparent for 7–10 years, these daily practices are building the foundation for long-term mental and emotional resilience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/extraordpictures
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natchristinerod/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/extraordpicturesllc/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtmpj_3hfiO5jJHTsTjjlaw?view_as=subscriber
Image Credits
Main photo, and all photos in the checker dress were taken by Natasha Santana Photography
