Meet Ashley Bowers of North Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Bowers

Hi Ashley, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
How I started and how I got to where I am today? Let’s see, the elements of my life are a little staggered. So let’s perhaps start with theatre. I was 12 years old when I started performing in school plays and musicals. Footloose, in high school, was the production that helped me gain the confidence I needed to pursue a path as a performer. My senior year of high school I met actor, Tom Proctor, who came to my school and spoke to our drama club about the film studio he was a part of down the street from us. Tom Proctor and Margie Rogers took my first headshots and got me involved in a film project. This was when I knew I loved theatre, but had an ever growing passion for film. I then went to the College of Sante Fe in New Mexico where I was accepted on a performance scholarship in their musical theatre program. I got involved in student films while I was there as well. After a year I ended up coming home to Arizona and going to school online. After a few months I moved to Orange County to live with my grandma, attended school online and went to LA for auditions. After another year of that I moved home again… The business is hard. I took a two year break from acting and played tennis for college. We went to Nationals two years in a row. I then would go on to graduate from Arizona State University with a BS in Marketing (graduated Magna Cum Laude). I got married, started a horse training facility with my husband, and began my path with horses. Particularly, Iberian horses (Andalusians and Lusitanos).

For the past 11 years I have worked with these horses as a rider, competitor, instructor, trainer, breeder, and even as a licensed official and clinician for the sport of Working Equitation. I use my horses in many capacities including performance. We did a stint in the circus (Zoppe Circus), have performed at weddings, parties, parades and more. These skills even helped me land the lead role of the Queen at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament where I performed in the show and rode their Andalusians for 4 years. I also served as the Apprentice Horse Trainer during my time there.

A few years back when I was going through a difficult divorce, I was contacted by someone I hadn’t heard from in at least 5 years. It was none other than Tom Proctor himself. Covid had shut everything down and he had time on his hands to write a script. In his message he had asked if I’d be interested in costarring in a film he wrote. Ever since I was 17 years old I had wanted to be in one of his movies. I remembered he had done a lot of horror films and was assuming that this would be another. However, I was pleasantly surprised to read that it was a thriller instead. There were a couple roles I was up for and I had to audition for the lead female. One other gal read for the role as well, but due to availability I was lucky to get the role I wanted. And that gal costarred with us and became one of my best friends. Her name is Kat Kemmet, and she is an AMAZING actress. The film we all starred in is called GUILT, by Tom Proctor. It has just finished up its rounds in the film festival circuit and is awaiting distribution at present. This film took home 4 awards at the Show Low Film Festival last year: Best Feature Drama, Best Score, Producer’s Choice, and I was blessed enough to win Best Actress.

Coming off of the rush of going festival to festival and promoting our film, I didn’t want to wait around for my agent to possibly get me a role of a lifetime. My father happened to be best friends with a family member of the President of World Wide Production at Warner Bros. Studios. So, I was fortunate enough to have a phone meeting arranged with her. It was during the SAG strike, so work was scarce for actors at the time. She told me what I had been telling myself for years but never followed through with. She said that I needed to make my own content and take my career into my own hands. To “do a Stallone” and make your own movie. So that’s exactly what I’ve been doing.

I studied, read books and took workshops. Then I wrote my first script. It’s called, EYE FOR AN EYE, which is a short that we will be filming in the Fall of this year. We are currently crowdfunding for this project. The logline is: A scavenger in a post apocalyptic combine attempts to flea their tyrannical leader’s control, but will her sister (their leader) let her? The script has been entered into a handful of festivals and has been accepted into two so far while awaiting updates on the others. The first festival was in May of this year, and we were fortunate enough to win Best Dystopian Short Script at the Pittsburgh Moving Picture Festival. We have also been accepted into the Love & Hope International Film Festival in Barcelona, Spain this coming September. The completed short film will be entered into the festival circuit next year as a stand alone project, but also to promote the feature version of the film as well. The talented Kat Kemmet is costarring in the short with me, while also serving as our creative producer and script editor. We have most of the principal characters cast and our DP on board. We’re even bringing in a stunt coordinator from Mexico. The best part is that we’re utilizing Iberian horses from Rising Phoenix Equestrian in the short. We had a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo for 60 days that ended June 2nd. We were able to raise about $2400 USD out of a goal of $20,000 USD. We do have about $1500 still pledged but have not added that to our total yet. So, in anticipation of this we have launched a new crowdfunding campaign where all contributions in $25 increments, donated between June 3rd and August 31st, will receive entry into a drawing for a horse bred by Rising Phoenix Equestrian. She is a 4 year old Andalusian S/P mare with IALHA. Winning her would be like taking home a piece of the film since these are the horses that will be used in the short. She was donated to the cause by Rising Phoenix Equestrian and is valued at $20,000 USD. We hope this helps us meet our pre-production goal. If you would like to make a contribution to our short, please visit www.acbowers.com/eye-for-an-eye

Though making a film is exciting and time consuming I am also equity eligible, and somehow managed to get cast in the musical, Anastasia, at the Don Bluth Front Row Theatre in Scottsdale, AZ. Don Bluth himself will be directing the musical. He is the director and animator behind the original animated film, Anastasia, from 1997, of which this musical is based on. His other works consist of: The Secret of Nimh, The Land Before Time, American Tale, Rock A Doodle, All Dogs Go To Heaven, Thumbelina and more. It is such a privilege to be directed by this legend. You can see this production run September – October of this year.

In addition to all of this, I am also a realtor®. I specialize in horse properties and land, but can assist with almost all real estate needs. You can find out a little about all of my businesses and background at my website www.acbowers.com

I travel back and forth between my two locations in the LA area and the Scottsdale area regularly. I still have a long road ahead of me. But I think the journey is the point of this lifestyle, not the destination. So I encourage everyone to follow their dreams by making them a reality. Be a doer, not just a dreamer. Every struggle will be that much more fulfilling when you accomplish the next goal at hand. And the big secret is, we can’t do anything alone. Our village is our key to success.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been so many struggles. I would be lying if I said otherwise. From putting my career on hold, to getting a divorce, having an unlawful eviction that I had to fight in court, running my own businesses, and even losing some dear animals and loved ones over the years. Financial hardships have also been a factor. Some years it felt like I was working for free when a business of mine would operate at a loss. But we have to remember to adapt and persevere. Learning to change and be flexible has been the hardest lesson, but also the most vital. Change can also be seen as growth, and that is something we all need. A student for life.

My world was falling apart when I got offered a starring role in GUILT. I remember praying in bed asking God for direction and help. Before my prayer was even finished, I got the message from Tom. Sometimes opportunities come when we least expect them, and when we’re at our lowest. That is the most important time to not give up. Our success might be one more “no” or bad experience away from the one that changes it all. Never give up.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My umbrella company is Rising Phoenix. I came up with this name after my divorce… I have Rising Phoenix Equestrian, Rising Phoenix Homes, and the newly formed Rising Phoenix Productions. My horse training business focuses mostly on training homebred horses (including my 5 year old namesake buckskin Andalusian S/P stallion, Phoenix) and competing in Working Equitation and Dressage. We also utilize the horses in entertainment and special events.

My real estate business focuses on horse properties and land sales. Though we also help with single family homes and many other real estate needs. Being a specialist on horse properties has helped me tie my businesses together regularly.

My production company is being formed for the film we are making. Horses are heavily tied into that as well. So it was fitting to use the same logo and name for all of my businesses as they all are interlinked. I am currently working as a script writer, director, producer, and actress on this passion project that is getting great feedback. And there are more projects in the pipeline waiting to be made when we have finished this one.

I do like to stay active outside of my projects, whether it is theatre, commercial work from my agent, workshops, or reading useful books. I am also taking more vocal lessons to keep my singing voice up to speed. I had the privilege of recording a couple original songs in the studio with an opera singer, Johnny Huerta, who is my vocal coach. His coaching helped get me cast in the musical, Anastasia. It even got me invited to sing the national anthem at a Chamber of Commerce event and at an Arizona Diamondbacks MLB game.

What matters most to you?
For as long as I can remember I have been a Jill of all trades. I have been repeatedly told that I must pick one thing and have been unable to do so. My senior year of high school my varsity tennis team gave me the “Can Do It All Award” and I think that just kind of stuck. My trick as of late has been to work on tying my interests together as much as possible. This helps alleviate the stress of constantly changing hats throughout the day on what needs to be done. I was an actress first. I think I always will be. I was an equestrian second, but horses need constant attention and because of that they are also a priority to me. I am also a sponsored rider now with brands such as TechMix, The Rustk J, Cavaliere Couture, and Di Gala. TechMix provides superb supplements and nutritional health to my horses, and they support me at my big events. The Rustk J offers custom work from jewelry of your horse in different metals as well as horse hair jewelry, engraved or lasered misc (ex: glassware and awards) and even silk screen shirts. Cavaliere Couture keeps me in the latest riding attire and Di Gala supports my special events. Being a performer and an athlete keeps you on your toes. I am competitive by nature, which I use to keep me motivated and working hard. But I also have creative and artistic expressions that need to get out. That is why both acting and classical dressage help to work as outlets for this part of my life.

Pricing:

• $25 Film Contributions for Drawing Entry

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.acbowers.com/eye-for-an-eye
• Instagram: https://instaash.ley
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashley.bowers.792
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11765687/

Image Credits
Miguel Undabarrena
Tamra Klugh
Bryan Scott
Steed and Hound Photography