“ Be relentless, study under those you admire, and take as many risks as you can. To be creative you have to live creatively. ”
— Sahvannah Rae
The Interview Q&A
Where are you primarily based out of?
Los Angeles
What role do you typically play on set?
Director
How long have you been working in the film industry? Where did you get your start?
My official directorial debut was in 2018, but I have been engulfed in the film industry since I was 2 years old when I started as a child actor. In 2016 I went to film school, and after that I spent 3 years at a small production company working for the VP of Development so that I could study the ins and outs of script development, pitching, notes, decks, studio relationships, and everything else between. After I felt I had a strong understanding of the business, I found the confidence to start my own production company in order to develop the stories I was truly passionate about. In 2022 Skye Film Studios was born and in 2023 we will be releasing our feature as a company.
What are some of the biggest challenges you've encountered and how have you overcome them?
I would say the biggest challenge I have faced has been staying confident in my voice as a creative and never veering from what initially feels right. In an industry as challenging as the film one, it can be daunting sharing the stories that are the most authentic and honest, because they are the most personal. As a writer and director I have found the most important thing I can do is choose the stories that feel the most scary to share because those are what end up becoming the projects I am most proud of.
Who is your biggest inspiration? What have they taught you?
My biggest inspiration has always been my father who left his home town of Tampa, Florida to pursue a career in the Los Angeles film industry with nothing but a dream for what his life could be. He taught me to chase my dreams no matter the practicalities of it, and above all he taught me that anything I can imagine I can make real through filmmaking.
What does it mean to you to be an inspiration/mentor to someone else?
I believe being an inspiration to someone means pushing them out of their comfort zone, challenging them to broaden their curiosities, and never letting them think anything they want to do is too far out of reach.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
The most rewarding aspect of filmmaking has been discovering the process of witnessing a concept of mine slowly become its own reflective embodiment with a personality and perspective. The stories I tell oftentimes end up surprising me on where they end up going and what they end up teaching me about myself. Seeing a story, I had envisioned come to life on the screen. I believe stories are an extension of ourselves and the most important thing we can do in this life is share that vulnerable extension with others. My inspiration to become a filmmaker always derived from my love of storytelling. Stories are an entity in themselves, and they come alive when they are told. I have always been fascinated in the idea that anything I can imagine, I can make real through filmmaking. The films I create always begin with a story that is a mirror of my own fears, traumas, angers, or happiness’s. Filmmaking is much bigger than one singular person and every film that has ever been created was a compilation of countless individuals and their original ideas. It has always been the greatest reward to see how a film of mine can bring creatives together in an environment that promotes authentic art. My drive is centered in those opportunities to collaborate with other professionals on something as personal as my own story. Filmmaking has taught me how to be inspired by everything around me, and my films have become so deeply impeded in me that they often unveil a part of myself I had no idea was there. I feel privileged to make filmmaking a career and storytelling a priority for my life.
If you had one message to share with the world, what would it be?
My message to people would to be keep a keen sense of curiosity at the forefront of everything you does. As we grow older, adults begin to lose their curious nature and with that, their sense of awe. The world is filled with hidden wonders, and it would be an injustice to not spend our lives discovering it. Having a sense of curiosity for other cultures, for the nature around us, for different kinds of art, and for the people we have yet to meet will serve us more than any amount of realism. Keep being curious, and you’ll never stop falling in love with the would and art around you. I think cinema has always been a reminder of this. Films remind us to stay curious as it shapes perspectives, brings awareness to issues, and creates a necessary sense of empathy that is widely lacking in today’s population. Films open our mind to new ideas, original thoughts, and can make us care for characters we have never met. It will never cease to amaze me how something as simple as cinema can expand a person's emotional spectrum and make them better than they were in a matter of minutes.
What’s are some of the biggest things you’ve accomplished in your career so far?
Starting my own production company, wrapping my first feature film as a writer director, and publishing my first novel. This year has been a year of many first and I'm so excited what the next year has in store.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now? (No dream is too big!)
In 5 years I hope to be at the Oscars accepting an award for best director. I hope to be publishing my third novel, and I hope to see Skye Film Studios helping other female filmmakers of color pursuing their own dreams.
If you had one piece of advice for a woman who wants to get started in the film industry what it would be?
Be relentless, study under those you admire, and take as many risks as you can. To be creative you have to live creatively.
What kind of projects are you currently working on that you can share? (Feel free to leave links to the projects to view)
Worked To Death feature will premiere in November and Just Visiting the novel will be released in December.
What does being a part of The Women in Film Project mean to you?
It means so much to be part of a platform that other female filmmakers in the world who are brave enough to risk their own vulnerability through storytelling. Choosing a life of creative openness has been the most terrifying part of my journey, and I condone every person who chooses this path. In my experience, the films I create always begin with a story that is a mirror of my own fears, traumas, angers, or happiness’s. Stories are an entity in themselves, and they come alive when they are told. They are extensions of people daring enough to share them, and through the experience I have come to love and respect fellow filmmakers more than every before.