Today we’d like to introduce you to Raven Clausen
Hi Raven, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up, my dad had one of the largest DVD collections I had ever seen. Looking back now, it was only about four shelves worth, but to a small child it was like the library in Beauty and The Beast to me. By the time I was 8 or 9 I was watching all the BTS “Making of The Lord of The Rings” and, without fail, answered every teacher’s question of “what would you like to be when you grow up?” with one name: Peter Jackson. I would draw out storyboards in my bedroom and make my older sisters act in my films (shot on a low-quality camcorder). I was living and breathing all things film until I could make it to Columbia College in Chicago, where I planned to get my BFA.
Unfortunately, my financial reality was far removed from my career dreams. I couldn’t even afford community college, so I went where a lot of kids in underprivileged communities go: a recruiter’s office. They could have convinced me to give them a kidney with what they were offering: $20,000 signing bonus (I had never seen or even thought about having that much money ever in my life), action, adventure, stable income, traveling far far away from my dysfunctional family, and most importantly: the G.I. Bill. That was my ticket into college.
I was only 17 (my dad had to sign a waiver for me) when I was on my way to the U.S. Army. I was an Arabic Linguist (35P) but found it to be a dull job dampened by the bureaucracy and politics of the Military Intelligence community. Thankfully, the Army had gone widespread in lifting its ban on female soldiers in combat arms occupational specialties. I was able to re-class into Infantry, managed to get a slot in Airborne School as well, and after several months in Georgia, going through basic all over again (OSUT, or One Unit Station Training, technically) on the lovely Sand Hill and jumping out of planes 5 times in one week, I had my airborne wings and my Infantry blue cord, which I took with me to 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, NC.
After getting to experience the fun and adventure I had been craving, it was time for me to finish up my contract and do what I had set out to do. In December 2021 I ETSed from the Army, packed up my belongings, drove 3,000 from the Atlantic Coast to the Pacific, planted my roots here in LA, and started my education at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in January 2022. While in school, I hit the ground running and immediately got started with putting together my portfolio: headshots, a demo reel, and a resume that was 90% fluff. Thankfully it was just good enough for me to start booking work. I continued to submit daily while completing my 2-year Acting Conservatory and found myself not just acting, but directing, writing, and working as a producer.
It was not without its growing pains. I got scammed by an “agency” that I was thankfully able to catch and back out of before signing any contracts, had another agent that went under during the strikes, got exploited for free labor a few times by “producers” aka film school graduates who had no clue how to plan and used my military background and operational experience to do it for them, had to learn when I was being too abrasive, had to learn when I was being too passive, had to learn that no, networking is not done by getting blitzed at rooftop bars in LA, and just about any other mistake you think a newbie in the industry could make, well, I definitely made it. My first year in Hollywood kicked my teeth in and smiled at me while she did it. However, I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world.
I learned a lot, quickly. As with any military operation, I learned how to adapt, improvise, and overcome in the world of filmmaking. I learned how to listen and learn from those with more knowledge, how to tune out those who prey on naivety/vulnerability, how to make relationships with quality people, and how to set my ego aside for the success of the mission: making the film. Above all, I learned what I was capable of, and that trust in self is thanks to the many wonderful people who have helped me in ways they do not even know as I have been growing and learning in this industry. I am the product of all their kindness, shared wisdom, patience, and grace. Now I work with Phase 3 Films, have had the pleasure of acting in a few feature films, several festival shorts, multiple commercials, and even a music video for Rico Nasty.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I spoke too much in the last question and covered some of this but a huge struggle I had to overcome was alcohol. The military is like one giant fraternity, and I was binge-drinking and getting blackout drunk almost daily by the time I was 18. When I ETSed I was still struggling to drink in moderation and had to come to the conclusion that alcohol and me just were not compatible. I didn’t like who I was when I was drunk, how I embarrassed myself and hurt those I loved, and how it affected my mental health. More than anything, I could not act and experience the full spectrum of human emotion while numbing myself at home with alcohol. My craft and my personal life were drowning in a booze-flooded gutter. So, I made the choice to quit and have been alcohol-free for 19 months now.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My primary role is actor, but I do it all: screenwriting, editing, directing, producing, etc. I even worked as a Casting Director for a project in Scotland this year. I also specialize in fight choreography, am a weapons specialist, and an equestrian. I have been riding horses for years and volunteered at a horse rescue in North Carolina where I took care of slaughterhouse rescues, horses with disabilities, and geriatric horses. I am most proud of the fact that I can look at 9 year old Raven and tell that film loving little girl “we did it”. What sets me apart from others, I feel, is that I have the tactical background I do, which is great for acting in action/thriller/military films, but its also great on the production side of things. I really hope to teach more veterans about opportunities in film production because I find so many of those military skills transfer beautifully to jobs on set, and would give them a new sense of purpose and place of belonging.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
This might be a controversial response but I think my assertiveness and ability to say no without having to explain myself have helped me so much. While I mentioned that I made a million and one mistakes when I first got to LA, I was actually able to walk away from so many of them unscathed because the second I realized something was wrong I walked out. I think in this industry we are fed the mindset of “you get more bees with honey” and I think that expectation is placed on women even more than their male counterparts, where simply saying “no” could give you a bad reputation and get you called slurs. However, it’s a risk I have always been willing to take if it meant turning down unsafe or uncomfortable or even outright unprofessional and abusive situations. I hope more men and women in this industry grow comfortable saying no to anything that gives them a bad gut instinct.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://imdb.me/RavenClausen
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/raven.clausen
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@RavenClausen
Image Credits
Photo by Jonathan White
