Charise Sowells of Santa Monica on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Charise Sowells. Check out our conversation below.

Charise, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Live abroad. In high school I met some friends of a friend who shared the difference in philosophy between our countries. Here in the USA, we’re living to work. But where they were from it was all about working to live. That shifted something inside me because I was going to high school followed by a performing arts conservatory after school while volunteering at a nonprofit and working at a restaurant. Living to work was already the name of the game and I decided from that point on that one day I would experience working to live in another country.

Soon after, I applied to a college in Switzerland and was accepted. But the retention rate was low and I was scared. While I had moved from Minnesota to California, two states that are worlds apart, the farthest I had traveled at the time outside of the country was Mexico and Canada. I chickened out and attended NYU Tisch School of the Arts instead.

After graduation, I worked at various TV companies on shows like Cyberchase and As the World Turns. I’d also traveled to Jamaica (with money I’d won from a playwriting award) and Puerto Rico. Every trip reminded me of that saying I’d heard in high school making every return a bit tougher. Grad school felt like another opportunity to take the leap. I applied to a BBC broadcast journalism program, interviewed with Deborah Vogel, and was accepted. Once again though, I chickened out.

In the years since, I have visited Costa Rica three times, explored England, Ireland, Italy, and France. My husband even proposed to me in the gardens of Versailles and I fell head over heels in love with Venice, from the Bienniale to Carnevale to all the art, history, and culture in between. Not to mention the beautiful landscapes and delicious food. We’ve since started a business inspired by our time there called Carnival of Masks and we’re officially working towards overcoming our fears and living abroad in 2026.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Charise Sowells, Founder of Unabashed Productions and Co-Founder of Carnival of Masks. My life has been dedicated to storytelling in many forms. My early work in Film and TV led to me starting my own production company in 2008.

I typically do freelance and contract work through the company and bring on others as needed depending on what the project calls for. As of late, the focus has been writing and development work both on my own original IP as well as for fellow creatives and bigger companies like Nickelodeon, Moonbug, Spin Master, Disney, and more.

My husband and I recently started Carnival of Masks where we’re building a platform for the global costume community. It has been quite the journey already and we’re excited to see what lies ahead.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Two major turning points for me happened in the theater. Jan Mandell, the theater teacher my freshman year at Central High School, taught me the power of storytelling. Steve Whelan, the experimental theater group leader and acting teacher at Orange County School of the Arts, made me see that the playwriting work I was already doing as a teen had a major emotional impact and he encouraged me to pursue it professionally. Because of both those teachers, life has never been the same since. They changed my perspective on the arts world and my place in it forever.

What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
After a lifetime in the entertainment industry, starting Carnival of Masks has involved getting to know the tech startup sphere on a whole other level. One of the biggest takeaways thus far in that realm is that failing is still a success in their eyes because it means you tried, you knew when to walk away, and you inevitably learned a ton in the process which will prove to be invaluable as you build your next venture. I’ve seen a lot of inspirational quotes over the years about failure being a part of every success story. But people generally don’t lead with their failures. In the tech world they do though. They mention their successful exits and failed ventures in the same breath. It’s like a notch in the belt, win or lose. Because just making it far enough to even call it a failure is a success in itself. You did the work. You learned. You grew. Now, it’s time to get back on the horse! That really takes the pressure off and encourages exploration as opposed to in the arts where the fear around having a flop runs so deep often times.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
Overnight success stories.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
In nature, especially amongst trees and water.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://charisesowells.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charisesowells
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charisesowells/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charisesowells
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChariseSowells
• Other: unabashedproductions.com
  carnivalofmasks.com