Today we’d like to introduce you to Ava Lauren Grayson.
Hi Ava, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started writing novels as soon as I could pick up a pen. Growing up on fantasy writers like C. S. Lewis, William Goldman, and J. R. R. Tolkien, as well as YA franchises from authors like Sarah J. Maas, I have always had a passion for fostering historical fantasy and Young Adult books and screenplays. I wrote my first novel at thirteen years old and have written six novels, three screenplays, and dozens of teleplays since. In 2022, I joined Quill and Flame Publishing House as a junior editor and now work as a developmental editor with multiple traditional publishing houses as well as having been published six times.
Throughout my time in college, I straddled both a career in publishing and in film. Born and raised in LA, I graduated from ArtCenter College of Design with a BFA in Film and am fortunate to have built up a resume of having worked on over fifty films, including award-winning shorts, indie features, and music videos, and for several production companies. When it became time for me to graduate in 2023, I knew that I would want to combine my love for and my experience in the traditional publishing industry with filmmaking and decided to focus my writing and directing career on book-to-film adaptations.
I started my own production company, Hip Librarian Productions, in 2023 to make book commercials, book trailers, and book-related films for a Young Adult and New Adult audience that devours films and TV shows like SHADOW AND BONE and THE HUNGER GAMES. With Hip Librarian Productions, my goal is to revitalize YA books of all genres in the film industry and make book commercials cinematic for the Gen-Z audience that craves more books on screen.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t feel like anyone in the film or publishing industry can confidently say it’s been a smooth ride for them. Haha. Like so many of my friends, colleagues, and peers, it’s very easy in these creative industries to run a rat race or compare your progress to others. “Why is their career moving faster than mine?” “Why didn’t I land that job?” There sometimes is no rhyme or reason for why careers or projects move forward or backward in certain ways, and because of that, it can often be super frustrating and discouraging.
For me, the hardest challenge has been the emotional rollercoaster that all of the uncertainty in this business creates.
But I have never given up, and I would encourage you, if you’re working in one of these industries, to never give up as well. It might be disheartening when you feel like nothing is progressing at the rate you want, and you might have to work a bunch of random part-time jobs to pay bills, but never give up on yourself, your art, or your dreams!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I started Hip Librarian Productions, a book-related film production company, to address a gap in the industry. Young Adult book-to-film adaptations and book trailers were very popular about a decade ago but have become less produced of late. With the growth of BookTok Bookstagram and YouTube book vlogs, reading amongst a teenage and young adult audience has grown tremendously. I started off with creating cinematic visuals, reels, and teasers for books and transitioned to making book commercials and more comprehensive book trailers for authors and publishers to promote their books online.
Hip Librarian Productions makes low-budget, high-quality cinematic book trailers and teasers for traditionally and independently published authors and books! We are passionate about working closely with authors to create original videos and visuals based on their vision and desired content. For each project, we write a commercial script, cast, storyboard, shoot, edit, and compose original material adapted from the book to be used on social media to reach the author’s intended audience, especially the Gen-Z market.
We are still taking on bookings and clients for 2024 and 2025 and would love to work with any writers, authors, or publishing companies looking for book commercials, book trailers, or book-to-film adaptions (short films or features).
I am also proud to share that our company has produced a historical drama short film written/directed by myself and was made with an all-female and non-binary cast and crew, and it has already started winning awards in the 2024 film circuit. If you are looking for a director or production company to partner with for your book-to-film needs, we would love to connect with you!
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Collaboration is what makes this all possible! I am very excited every time I work with someone new who brings innovation and creativity that I never would have thought of myself to a project. I am always inspired and motivated by my team, who pushes me to be a better creative and shapes my work with every book or film we collaborate on.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.avalaurengrayson.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avawithacamera/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ava-lauren-grayson-9a57211b1/
- Other: https://www.hiplibrarianproductions.com/ https://vimeo.com/avalaurengrayson
Image Credits
Ava Lauren Grayson
Michael Price
Lauren Melton
Karen Zipor
Zhanna Honcharova
Josie Hull
Minh Tran
Janelle Chaidez
Vanesa Moreno
Kimberly Lawson
Coco Lytton-Grayson
Annie Klups
