Today we’d like to introduce you to Avery Robinson Rouda.
Hi Avery, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
To start at the beginning, I am a Midwestern gal from the biggest small town in the USA – Columbus, Ohio. I came out to LA when I was 15 to be an actor, but soon realized I’d rather be the one behind the scenes writing the lines instead of solely performing them! As I got older, I applied to Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University and graduated with honors. After my film school training, I went on to work with some of the best artists, agents, and producers in the industry. I apprenticed and worked my way to where I am today, which is collaborating with other like-minded filmmakers to create content through my production company, Enlighten. Today, I create content for film and TV that shifts and uplifts the consciousness of the planet. Our most recent animated film, Bloom In, premiered at the 2023 Comic-Con.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Is it ever a smooth road? I can say mine was surely not! Being young and hungry gets you in the room, but being experienced and, dare I say, ruthless is often what keeps you there. In this industry, the only way to really learn the ins and outs of it is through a trial by fire. You have to be ready to let your knuckles bleed with passion and find a steady heartbeat of persistence to keep you motivated to make your goals happen. In fact, the rocky road of a filmmaker comes with equal parts creative challenges and practical challenges. I’ve pursued jobs that were soul-crushing and I’ve been crushed by jobs that I thought were a dream come true. Ultimately, if you want to stand out in this town, you have to pave your own way and navigate beyond situations that may feel limiting. I’ve had ups and downs on this rollercoaster ride of a career and each plot twist has led me to where I am today, which is exactly where I am supposed to be. It’s hard to make waves in any industry if you’re trying to fit your big self into a small box. The journey to find success, in my personal experience, has given way to a constant dismantling of limiting belief systems in my own mind, a realigning to my highest purpose, and a cultivation of an unwavering commitment to my work ethic that sometimes helps me manifest a prayed over miracle.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Enlighten Productions?
We specialize in turning dreams into reality! Lately, it feels like all Hollywood is interested in are remakes and reruns, projecting nightmarish machismo onto the screens. There’s a lack of substance in the material that gets made today- and, because of that, there is also a shortness in magic. Cinema is an illusion of light that sparks the imagination with a sense of wonder. My team takes this responsibility to inspire audiences seriously, shining a light on the shadows of this world. We let our art be a guide to illuminate the collective heart of humanity. At Enlighten Productions, our focus has always been on crafting meaningful stories for the screen, engineering a kind of Rainbow Bridge between spirituality & storytelling. From script development to character work, pitch decks, story diagnosis, rewrites, and more – I spend any given day working to develop novel visions with other Dreamers and Wayshowers to grow the seed of an idea into a wide-reaching commercial success.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
As an artist, there is an inherent risk involved in everything you do, but with that comes an equal, if not greater, measure of reward from finding success by following your heart. From which jobs to take, which projects to focus on, and which team members to rely on – there comes a keen need to practice discernment. It’s so important to think big picture (no pun intended) when weighing decisions that affect your business. I think one of the biggest risks in filmmaking isn’t always a budget-related predicament, but rather a creative one. If you don’t create from a place of life-affirming passion, audiences will feel disappointed when they see the finish product. That said, film is a business of risk-taking. A gamble on story. A rolling of the dice on direction. We risk it all with the faith that others will see the same value in our pursuit of creativity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://enlightenproductions.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averyrobinsonrouda/?hl=en
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/en.light.en.productions/?hl=en
