Today we’d like to introduce you to Charise Sowells
Hi Charise, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My life has been immersed in the arts since day one. Choir from age 4. Musical Theater from age 7. Dance. Band. Orchestra. I had a diary before I knew how to write my letters correctly. And my friends and I loved making up our own shows for our parents.
At the same time, growing up in Minnesota, I was a nature kid too. Playing outside with the neighborhood kids until the sun went down was a way of life. All of that informs and inspires a lot of the work that I do to this day.
Same with being born in the 80’s and coming up in the 90’s and 2000’s when racial tension was an ever present force. Mixed people were far less common then. Interracial love was still a frowned upon rarity.
And most people thought bisexuality was a myth. Or worse – that being queer in any way was sacrilege. These things shaped me as a person and my voice as an artist.
I didn’t see the stories of me or my community on the page, stage, or screen back then. So, after a couple of unforgettable high school teachers taught me that I could change all that by becoming a writer myself, I ran with it and never looked back. Eventually, this led to the creation of my company, Unabashed Productions and our motto, “Don’t just think outside the box, live there.”
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has been long, windy, bumpy, under construction, and seemingly completely obstructed at times. But for me, as a multifaceted multi-hyphenate, it’s all about the pivot. So, when the going gets tough and I run out of steam or cash or ideas for yet another way to approach my goal at that moment, I reassess and change course.
Sure, this has led to a roundabout career of sorts. But everyone has their own journey. And while some people don’t know what to make of a well-rounded life, others hire me precisely for that reason.
It has gifted me with insights on countless lived experiences, worlds, and characters which sets me apart as a creator and makes my stories incredibly rich. One professor called it “filling the well” which really struck me. I’ve shared that concept with loads of people over the years because it’s a part of the process often taken for granted despite it actually being really crucial for some of us.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a nomadic storyteller who has lived throughout the US and aspires to move abroad. Unabashed Productions is a company I started 15 years ago after working in Film and TV production in NY. It’s a multimedia venture that houses all my creative endeavors including but not limited to music, film, theater, TV, immersive events, and sound healing.
I have worked with companies such as Disney, Spin Master, Nickelodeon, Netflix, BBC, Moonbug, and more. In addition to Scriptwriting and Songwriting, I’ve been enjoying the Creative Consultant work that has come my way. I’m also passionate about Development and Creative Producing. Sometimes, I even throw the Director hat on.
No matter the project, I bring the unique perspective of a mixed bisexual female writer from the Midwest who has lived throughout the country, traveled abroad, married her bandmate, and worked in the arts and entertainment industry for decades in a vast array of capacities. Everything I do has heart and I’m no stranger to a good takeaway. Representation was the impetus behind my writing career early on and it is something I’m intentional about to this very day. Helping others hone in on the core of their concept and how to realize it with diversity, inclusion, authenticity, and equity in mind is a process I thoroughly enjoy.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I always say tenacity pays. A former boss of mine at a music magazine once said, “Most bands don’t make it past two years. But the ones that do, tend to succeed.” During the years when music was at the forefront of my life, I saw that play out time and time again.
Even the most promising local bands almost always broke up before 2 years. But every now and then, a group of musicians stuck it out. And voila. A new level of success was reached.
That applies to so many things. You hear story after story about successful people finally making it right when they were considering giving up. Or hitting rock bottom before everything changed for the better. The important thing is that they didn’t give up. They were tenacious.
When I hit a wall, I shift gears by focusing on something else for a while. That could mean I volunteer, spend time with loved ones, go to a sound bath, or get out in nature. By immersing myself in the world or another passion, it takes my mind off the road block and sort of pushes the reset button. Whatever works, however the muse moves me – I just find a way to pivot. Even if only for a moment. That has enabled me to keep going.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://charisesowells.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/charisesowells
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/charisesowells
- Youtube: http://youtube.com/charisesowells
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/charisesowells
- Other: http://unabashedproductions.com
