Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Nottingham.
Hi Vanessa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Well, I’d like to say my story is a fun one. When I was a kid, I lived in a bilingual household in South Florida. My parents thought I was very shy and wanted me to be more outgoing. So they decided that it would be a great idea to put me in some after-school acting classes. From there, I would begin my acting journey in film and television. I grew up acting in commercials and films and when I got to high school, I got involved in musical theater. However, I always loved being on film sets and would do anything to be on one, even if I wasn’t in front of the camera. Thus, I began production assisting on bigger sets and directing my own short films.
Of course, since the age of 11, I wanted to move to Los Angeles, but I made a deal with my parents that I would go to college before I moved out. When the time came, I decided to attend the University of Florida and get my BFA in acting. During my second year of college, COVID hit. With some acting classes being taught virtually and no live theater to work on, a friend of mine (Jamie Edmondson) and I decided to take the initiative and do what Hollywood was doing, which was following all the COVID safety guidelines so we could continue to work on making films.
During my last year of college, Jamie and I set out on our own adventure of becoming filmmakers. We first worked on a miniseries called Public Policy which gave us the opportunity to work with a small team and figure out how to ensure COVID safety. After having a very successful shoot, we decided we were ready to film a full-feature movie. When I was in my last semester of college, not only was I a full-time student living through a pandemic, while also filming a 1 hour and 45-minute feature-length film called The Lemonade Files: An Untold Story of the Missing Shoes. This was the craziest and most thrilling experience of my life. I was acting, co-directing, co-producing, catering, etc. It felt like I was wearing 10,000 hats, and from that experience, I learned firsthand what it truly takes to be a filmmaker. I knew that if I could survive, I could do anything, so immediately, I moved to Los Angeles, California, after I graduated
When I got to Los Angeles, I was very fortunate to book a role in a feature film the first week I got there. Immediately I made friends and connections that showed me that Los Angeles is truly the place for great opportunities. It’s been almost two years, and I’m so happy to call Los Angeles home!
I’m so grateful for all the wonderful opportunities I’ve had out here, which include acting, directing, and forming a production company with two incredible women called Divergent House. Our mission is to promote female, driven, and inclusive narratives while amplifying the female gaze and highlighting voices from a variety of backgrounds. It’s really to give more opportunities for women and those with different backgrounds to have jobs in above-the-line positions in film. It’s a way to cultivate our craft and tell the stories that aren’t always told.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Life isn’t always a smooth road, no matter how hard I try to make it one. This industry is like a roller coaster. There will always be ups and downs, but it’s all about knowing how to handle and react to it.
When I reached my eighth-month mark of living in Los Angeles, I hit an all-time low. I became depressed because I hadn’t been on a movie set in over two months, and I really missed my family. I felt really scared and was so confused about where to turn next. All my jobs were remote, and I spent my days alone, not seeing any friends. It wasn’t until a friend came to live with me for a month that I was able to get out of my funk. We inspired each other to work on projects, even if they were really silly and simple.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an actor, director, and producer, and I have been working in the film industry since the age of seven. I specialize in acting and filmmaking and I say filmmaking because when working on indie films, I occasionally have to take on multiple positions.
To audiences, I am known for my work on the children’s show, Dhar Mann where I play multiple characters that typically fall under the ‘mean girl’ category.
I am most proud of acting, directing, and producing my first feature film when I was only 21 years old. By the end of production and post-production, we had around 100 cast and crew members who made their mark on the project.
I believe what sets me apart from others is that I am never waiting for an opportunity to happen, I make it happen. It’s hard to stop and look back at my achievements, but I am very proud of the work I am doing now, which is creating a production company/studio where women and minorities can have a space to tell their stories and be in the position to make it come to life.
I believe that art changes lives and deeply influences society through the stories that we tell. I choose to live my life by being a smart part of that change and that movement that makes our world a better place.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is telling stories that uplift one another and shed light on deeply rooted matters. I care about equal opportunities for everyone and make it my mission to support my sisters from all parts of the world because gender stereotyping has long taken a toll on society and has hurt more people than we will ever know.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.vanessanottingham.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessanottingham/?hl=en
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@vanessa_nottingham
Image Credits
Megan Babbitt, Sasha Dylan Bell, Nathan A. Towns
