Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Lynn Rye.
Tara Lynn, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m a filmmaker and actor here in Hollywood and the owner of Rye Productions, LLC. I’m from a town called Moorestown, New Jersey outside of Philadelphia. When I was young, I used to make movies with my neighbors on a camcorder, and I found it was the first time being called “bossy” didn’t bother me at all. I wound up going to school for acting at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. Going to school in Manhattan was a unique experience. I was lucky enough to meet so many wonderful and talented people at school.
Some of which I get to create without here in LA. When I moved to LA about 2.5 years ago, I quickly realized that something had been missing for me. There is something about creating something out of nothing, watching your vision come to life that I hadn’t put any focus on since a was a little girl with a camcorder. I wanted acting to be a part of what I do, but other parts of me as an artist need to be explored. I feel like LA is so full of people who are starving to create and be a part of making magic. I don’t think I would have had such ease creating content and making movies anywhere else.
I am lucky enough to have two badass women I met in college, Magen Ashley Young and Mackenzie Yeager, out here creating with me. I wrote my first sketch about a year ago and was able to film it a month later. The ball kept rolling from there. I established Rye Productions, LLC. I currently have two short films in post that I produced, wrote and directed that will be hitting the festival circuit. “Wonderwood” is a surreal comedy about the female experience; a trippy modern twist on Alice in Wonderland in LA.
The other is a filmed art piece of spoken word about sexual assault called “Womxn.” One in three women is sexually assaulted in America. I was able to film 26 different women reciting the same text. The outcome was powerful and inspiring. I’m constantly inspired by all the powerful and talented women around me. I want to continue to bring women creatives and filmmakers together with my work and future Rye Production projects.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Of course not! Bumpy as hell. I think the two biggest struggles for me have been discipline and fear. I still struggle with them. The discipline to sit down and do the work and the fear of not being good enough. If you reject discipline and listen to fear, you will be stagnant. That’s how I felt for a long time. I didn’t know how to focus my energy properly.
This past year, I have worked harder than I ever have in my whole life and I kinda had to get over myself. Ideas are just ideas. Just because you are talented doesn’t mean things will happen for you. The most successful people work the hardest; we just don’t see it. I had a million ideas, but they meant nothing until I did the work to expand them, set dates and deadlines and put them into action.
The fear is a grander beast and one that I think all artists fight. I was scared if I made something what if it wasn’t any good? What if people didn’t like it? I think once the fear of doing nothing overcame the fear of those two things, I had no choice but to start filmmaking. If you think you have something to say be authentic, block out what anyone else thinks and make it for yourself.
Block out the fear inside your head that says its better not to do anything then fail. I have no idea if what I’m doing is any good but I know I’m learning and I’m being truthful to myself and that every project I do, I am getting better. Before I directed “Wonderwood,” I had no idea how to direct for film.
I sat at home and read “Directing for Dummies” and YouTube different kinds of shots to educate myself. I learned so much on set and still have so much to learn. I’m grateful I didn’t get discouraged. And I’m lucky to have had some wonderful mentors/friends show me the ropes.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Rye Productions, LLC story. Tell us more about the business.
Rye Productions, LLC is a production company specializing in film. We are just four months old. As the owner, I’m looking to build the production company and work with creatives to produce products that are female driven and artistic.
I want to create more of my own projects but also creative produce to help bring someone else’s vision to life. I want Rye Productions to really be a place where female filmmakers, writers, and creatives can come together and be a community of storytellers.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I think luck has played a part in all of this by bringing certain people into my life. I have been so lucky to have met fellow creatives and friends that are true “go-getters.” That are passionate and just as impatient as I am. Making anything takes a village.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.taralynnrye.com
- Phone: 8566306451
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taralynnrye/
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