Today we’d like to introduce you to Allyson West.
Hi Allyson, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started as a performer, actually. I have a BFA in Acting from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music at The University of Cincinnati. This is how I was first introduced to Cincy, actually. My husband and I worked in New York City/Brooklyn for a few years after I finished college – but he wound back up in Cincy for work, and I followed him.
I had a really hard time finding consistent work while I was “back” in Cincinnati, and I started writing my own films. A friend of mine encouraged me to produce one of them, and I dove headfirst into producing and directing – aiming to make a short film within two months. I totally did it (anyone can do it!) My first film – TEXICAN – actually did pretty well on the Indie film circuit and I loved the opportunity to travel and meet other filmmakers just like me. I kept scratching my head that Cincy didn’t have a film festival dedicated to supporting emerging artists, and finally – again – someone (this time my husband,) gave me the push I needed to try and organize one myself.
Well – it takes a village to raise a film festival – and within eight months Cindependent Film Festival 2018 was underway. We welcomed over 200 filmmakers from all over the world, featured over 100 submissions with local, national, and international roots, had five sold-out screenings, and over 2000 attendees over three days. It was amazing. Our festival was ranked one of the ‘Top 100 Best Reviewed Festivals’ in the industry, and we loved coaching, mentoring, and supporting artists at all levels through this event.
The festival continued in 2019, but in 2020 we paused our festival work due to Covid-19 complications. Instead, we built a mobile cinema out of a cargo trailer and I drove it to 25 different locations over the summer and screened cheery, optimistic, family-friendly films to our community in socially-distanced, outdoor spaces. We started a virtual screening series in 2021, and are still in development about what our 2022 festival is going to look like.
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?
The road is full of so many potholes and curves and roadblocks. I actually was pregnant and birthed two children from 2018 to 2020, so our entire festival planning and execution phase is full of me also handling being a new mother. Thank goodness for my wonderful friends and peers who have done nothing but support me to bring the best version of myself along the way.
I also had never attempted any major fundraising prior to 2018 and had to learn many of the tips/tricks to be successful with this.
And – overall – putting yourself OUT into the world is really vulnerable. I’d be criticized for other people’s ideas about what they thought I should be doing, and trolled on Twitter sometimes too. Everyone likes to tell me how they would do the projects I am doing, and not always in the nicest or kindest words.
Over time, I’ve learned so much more about trusting and collaborating better with my team and thanking others for their feedback as graciously as I can.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a filmmaker – a producer, a director, a performer. Primarily, from 9-5, I’m a Producer/Director at The Kroger Co. in Cincinnati, Ohio but I love moonlighting as a performer for friends when they’re making their own projects come to life. I really specialize in stories that serve up an incredible amount of heart – I’m known for solid storytelling. It’s so important for stories to fully work themselves into a viewer’s mind, and be brave enough to address all of the whims our imaginations may place in front of us.
I’m most proud of my ability to use my skills in a variety of ways – particularly in the case of Reels on Wheels, our cargo trailer that transformed into a mobile cinema in 2020. Finding innovative ways to connect t with community and artists is one of my specialties, and I love being able to execute on the brilliant ideas we develop.
For 2022, I’m organizing a workshop titled ‘Green Lite.’ This is a more specific, custom approach to filmmaking for emerging artists – a workshop that kickstarts their idea forward. We want filmmakers to approach their projects with ease and efficiency by spending two days developing a custom plan for their project that leads them from development through distribution. The workshop involves many incredible industry professionals to teach and coach 10 artists at at time. People can check this out and apply for the workshop (space is limited to ten attendees,) at www.greenlitenow.com. I see so many incredible storytellers who just flounder through the beginning of filmmaking. Many of these artists are middle aged or seeking a career change, and sometimes “floundering” through a passion project can put a whole family at risk. Green Lite is designed to support and amplify the vision of emerging filmmakers by providing them classes, resources, templates, and information they need to protect their financial and creative energy.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Flexibility is key. Kindness is key. Being okay with change is key. There is always a way if we open our minds enough.
Contact Info:
- Email: allyson@cindependentfilmfest.org
- Website: www.cindependentfilmfest.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cindependentfilmfestival/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cindependentfilmfestival
Image Credits
Katie Nartker
