Rising Stars: Meet Ava Grimes of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ava Grimes.

Hi Ava, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Getting in front of the camera and working behind-the-scenes of a local television studio in high school led me to creating a friendship with a filmmaker, who at the time, was accepted into AFI, American Film Institute. While I hosted the local television show, narrated some of their marketing commercials, and helped out behind-the-scenes, I had the opportunity to really figure out my own artistic trajectory. From that moment I witnessed filmmaking as an instrument of change, I just knew that my future was in filmmaking.

Eventually, getting my feet wet in front of the camera and behind the scenes at the television studio as well as in my own film projects and television series led me to intern as a PA, set dresser, and even lead actor on various AFI Cycle and Thesis films. Once I graduated from high school, these auspicious opportunities, along with technical training and experience in photography, cinematography, art direction, editing, scoring, and directing, led me to independently produce music videos for Sophie Powers, Illusion Hills, and other independent musical artists, a commercial, and award-winning short films, all within the dynamic city-scapes of Los Angeles!

As of now, I just completed and submitted my short film PECADO for a festival run, and I am in post-production for my short film OMAKASE, both of which I wrote, directed, and produced. So far, my adventures in filmmaking have taught me to embrace the virtue of learning!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I am so grateful to continue to create and produce, but there have been some challenges along the way. A challenge that I have confronted in my professional career has revolved around my self-doubt. Really, it has been easier to challenge other people’s perceptions of my work ethic and my skills, as outside perceptions are a function of my age. However, it has been quite a bit more challenging to overcome my own insecurities about my own productivity and creative directions, particularly when it comes to my artistic vision in production. I have found that collaboration has helped me to work through my own self-criticisms and has guided my creative trajectory. The more I understand that this particular challenge is a part of the learning process and an inevitable creative and personal growing pain, the more I have learned to distinguish and trust my instincts, and then persevere.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am primarily known as a Producer, but I do not see that role as limiting. Producing means understanding the entire ecosystem of a project from the financial to the creative to the logistical to the emotional components. I specialize in assembling a team, maintaining momentum throughout the project, including post-production, and ensuring the creative vision survives the realities of production. As well, I direct, and I have been increasingly involved in post-production, like editing, soundtrack development, and sound design. In particular, with my films Omakase and Pecado, I wanted to be involved in every filmmaking process, ultimately because the final tone of any film is shaped long after a shoot ends.

Overall, I am most proud of my leadership and my unrelenting drive. Just last year, I was able to produce 20+ narrative films, 5+ music videos, and 1 commercial! Among those music videos, my favorites to work on were ‘XO’, a music video for Sophie Powers and RJ Pasin, and a music video for the song “Strawberry Casket 2,” which I co-produced with an amazing Producer Macy Friday.

Overall, I think what sets me apart from others is that I do not operate from competition, but rather, I thrive in shared vision, notably in the craziest of circumstances!

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I have recently been a big fan of Milanote, especially for planning music videos, because it organizes ideas. It is effortless to create mood boards, make to-do lists, and get on top of deadlines. A good friend of mine introduced me to this app last summer, and now, I am hooked. Seriously, I cannot get enough of it! Honestly, I would love to produce an ad or commercial for them!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ava__grimes/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ava-grimes-354481327/

Image Credits
Peter Flynn
Justin DeAnda
Preston Rodriguez
Nicky Rudolph
Chloe Mckinstry
Felix Ashley