Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Roxanne Griffith of Los Angeles

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Roxanne Griffith. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Roxanne, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Recently, cooking new recipes has been giving me much more joy. I used to cook just the same few recipes over and over again, as I felt too busy to learn something new. But I’ve found it easier to make time for it and it does bring me a lot of joy to try something new, that turns out to be delicious and can become a part of my weekly rotation.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a freelance Producer, Line Producer, and Unit Production Manager based in Los Angeles. I work on a variety of projects, including feature films, shorts, vertical web series, and other web content. I’m originally from Canada, but have been in Los Angeles now since 2018, when I moved here to attend the American Film Institute Producing program. Since graduating, I have worked on a variety of projects including feature films, shorts, vertical web series and other web content. I do a mix of producing, line producing, and production management depending on the project and what else I’m working on. I tend to chose the my projects depending on who I will be working with and what the story is. I’m currently working on vertical web series and other web content, as well as attending the Sundance Film Festival for a feature which I was the Unit Production Manager for called “The Musical”.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I did my undergrad at the University of Toronto and while there, I did student theatre all four years. I began in theatre tech where I helped with building the sets and other tech elements. I remember feeling powerful when I was using the power tools and building and creating something to be used on stage. The majority of the tech team was women, and looking back it felt really special that we were the ones in charge of building and designing the sets. Learning about the different tools and how to use them safely, is one of my earlier memories of feeling powerful. It was also very satisfying to build something from scratch, and then see it used by the actors on stage.

When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
As a kid, I always found solace and comfort in movies. Not just watching them, but learning about how they were made and about the people behind them. I remember being in middle school, and having a hard time making friends so I had a lot of spare time. It would make me feel really sad and confused, but then I would watch the behind the scenes of the Lord of The Rings trilogy, and for a few hours I felt comforted and inspired. This is where I decided I wanted to work in film. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get there, or what I would do exactly, but I think it was seeing the community aspect of filmmaking in the special features that inspired me. I had such a love for these films, and seeing all the different people who worked on them be so passionate about every detail, made me want to be a part of that community. Movies were always able to make me feel better and give me something to look forward to.

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. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is not very different than the real me, but is a more confident version of myself. In my private life, I’m more open to express self-doubts and insecurities than I am publicly, as in my work I am often in a leadership position. When leading a team, I act more confidently and self-assured than I do in private. I need to be able to give direction and tell people what to do, and have them listen to me, in order to run a smooth set. I feel we all have different versions of ourselves, and show ourselves differently in public vs in private, or the real you, but what I try to keep consistent are my values.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Up to a certain point, I could give everything my best without praise or recognition, if I love the work itself. But being recognized and acknowledged is very important; it helps me feel like I am contributing and being valued in my work. After some time, I would find it very difficult to continue giving 100% if I am not getting thanked or appreciated. It helps build the community that each project has, when we acknowledge each others work and contributions, and if I lost that community it would be difficult to remain as invested in the project.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roxygriffith/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxanne-griffith-945a4a111/
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10435000/

Image Credits
Antonio Zamarripa, Jeremy Wellhausen, Samuel Grant