Today we’d like to introduce you to Daphne Matthews. They and their team shared their story with us below:
At a young age, Daphne knew she was headed somewhere but had no clue that it would land her where she is now. When she was in her 20s, she went to school for Medical Assisting; after two years, she figured out that she could not see anyone throw up, so she changed her major to Forensic Psychology and CSI work. After attending school, where she had passed her police exam and could have worked for a local police department, her youngest daughter had fallen sick with what she later found out was Gastro issues, so she decided to start her own business and run it in Ohio where she resides Running her business for 13 years later into it she had submitted for a casting call for the movie Donnybrook. Daphne was working so much that she had forgotten about even submitting for it. That was the first role that landed her in the film industry. Daphne had fell in love with everything in the industry, so she put aside her business to follow a career that had been calling her for her whole life. She had already turned down modeling contracts when she was younger and a talent scout at the age of 24. Since she appeared in the movie Donnybrook, she has went on to do great things. She has appeared in the new Wrong Turn (The Foundation) movie working with the great director Mike P. Nelson and worked on 10 Minutes Gone starring Bruce Willis and Michael Chiklis. Daphne has also been in the movie The Big Ugly with Vinnie Jones being one of the stars and has also been in Sistas working with Tyler Perry and appearing on the country TV show Nashville among many other things in the midst of all the things she has been on set for, she decided she wanted to learn all things film and music. So, Daphne took a job at the Ascendent Studios working as a production coordinator and Management. Talent Manager and Talent agent at the company because she had already had a background in business. Daphne Has also done some casting and production work for the band (One Day Alive) featuring Jason Null from the band Saving Abel and will also be doing the casting for their next video as well as helping out with any production needs. Daphne can do just about anything. She has done everything from acting, modeling, PA work, Talent management, and Casting. Daphne has also went back to doing a little print work as well, she just did a photo shoot for the magazine (The Heart of Hollywood). A little into Daphne’s personal life where she was a small-town Kentucky girl who grew in mainly in Las Vegas; she has traveled living in places like California, Utah, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, and so forth. She has 5 kids and 3 that she has helped raise. Daphne loves muscle cars and motorcycles. She loves to ride. Daphne is a very family-oriented and work-oriented person. She keeps her family life private from everyone. Daphne takes her work very seriously, rather it comes to acting or being on a set to managing someone else. Daphne does believe in having fun at the same time (Motto: It’s OK to have fun at work, but the job will get done and done right). She believes that the stronger your team is, the better the product is, and your work relationships will be but never, ever burn your bridges. It is always good to be able to build the kind of relationships that will last forever as far as work and friendships. Honesty is always key, and reliability is not an option in this industry. Time is money, and the product must be the best. Daphne believes that we all must live our life with purpose and always have fun because you never know what can happen and where it will take you. Ms. Matthews is now the CEO of Lure Entertainment Productions LLC, Lure Entertainment, and DMTM Talent Management and now Producing a number of Movies and TV series. She is also an award-winning Screenplay writer for the upcoming film Shattered Dreams (The Leslie Vass Story) where the screenplay won best feature screenplay for the New York Movie Awards in January 2023. She is also now running segments on her Lure Entertainment website for different genres along with offering other people in the Film Industry the opportunity to use the Advertising Services also offered to Businesses and to brand them as well. Daphne also offers Online Acting Coaching, and she also does Photography for (Headshots, Professional Pictures, Senior Pictures, or general Photography to those who want Professional Pictures at a lower cost. She has even made it easier for people offering Afterpay for all of her services, and that makes it affordable to everyone because she knows herself how expensive it is to pay for services all at once from also being an actress in the beginning of it all. It is crucial to have these tools in the industry and in Business.
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 would have to say one of the biggest struggles for myself would have to be Time Management. I have to map things out daily because when you’re running three businesses and producing along with having a family things can get pretty hectic sometimes. I normally get my day going doing all the things that are house related in the morning and then getting the workday started. A typical workday for myself usually goes from 11 am to about 4 am. I like to work a little bit later because it gives me complete quiet time and allows me to be able to just stay focused on everything, or maybe some things I may have missed or let slip my mind. The transition from Actress to Producer was a little easier for myself because I am a trained Actress by some of the best coaches in LA, and I also have ran a business for 16 years. The first business I opened and ran was a Cleaning and Painting Company here in Ohio, and then fell into the industry and fell in love with it right away. I have been in the Film Industry for some years now, and I can tell you firsthand that this is not an easy Industry. You have to have thick skin and must be able to take opinions from others. This is not an industry to try to get into if you are a very sensitive person. When people work with someone like myself I am very upfront with them, and I do not sugarcoat anything. I wouldn’t let people do that for me because the information at hand is very important. In the beginning, it was a little hard as far as time, but I have now worked that out to be able to move forward. Everyone must create their own time management schedule and find a system that works for them in order to be effective in their job.
We’ve been impressed with Lure Entertainment Productions LLC, Lure Entertainment, and DMTM Talent Management, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I now run three different businesses, and I keep each one separated for a reason. Lure Entertainment allows everyone they need to become Branded. Offering services such as Acting Coaching, Marketing, Photography, and on the website, it also allows them the chance to watch the numerous Interviews I do with Industry Professional to better educate them about the industry. I Interview Directors, Musicians, Chefs, Stuntmen, Writers, and Health and Fitness experts. These interviews also allow the people in the segments the opportunity to get information out there and advertise their services as well. Lure Entertainment Productions LLC has currently been added for the Movie and Film Producing side of my business, and it allows me to make that a little easier in doing what I do. DMTM Talent Management allows myself to be able to work one on one with some of the clients I take to manage them and help move them forward with their careers. I am very picky when it comes to who I put on my roster as far as clients. I also cut Acting reels for the people who do not have one or need an updated reel. I am pretty much a One-stop Shop. The reason why I have set these 3 businesses up the way I have them is to make it easier for people to get everything they need in one place. I know myself from being in this Industry that the training, branding, classes, and headshots are not cheap. I have made this affordable to all because I do not charge as much as a lot of other people in my Industry. I have also set up Afterpay, which allows them to be able to make payments on these services instead of paying all at once. The Afterpay is set up for every single service on my sites even for small or big businesses to advertise on Lure Entertainment’s site. I like to make things easier for people because I know the costs of moving forward.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
The city of Cincinnati offers a lot of things for people to do as far as events, festivals, Football, Baseball, and Soccer. There are always Concerts and all sorts of things going on. I also love the fact that Ohio has offered the film tax incentive, so that also brings jobs here to our area. Helping everyone from Artists here and vendors to have the chance to make an income from it. The thing I like the least is the weather because you never know what season you’re getting day by day Lol.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lureentertainment.net
- Instagram: http://Instagram.com/daphne_matthews_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaphneMatthewsofficial
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/daphnematthewsofficial
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/D_NMatthews
- Youtube: http://youtube.com/@daphnematthews_official
- Other: https://www.linktr.ee/daphne_matthews
