We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Carol Ann Kennedy. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Carol Ann below.

Carol Ann, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU LOVE
My mother often said that I was the cause of the majority of grey hairs on her head. I believe this to be true. Growing up as the youngest of four sisters, I learned early on that life is meant to be lived boldly. I grew up in a haunted house so every trip into our basement was a risk. When I was a kid, I snuck out of the house at 2 a.m. and broke into my neighbor’s backyard and took their dog – the dog that they were abusing – and gave him to a loving home. I embarked on a journey to England fueled by my passion for filmmaking, armed with nothing but determination and a scant wardrobe. I gave a homeless girl my stockings and shoes on the way home from a late-night event and walked for 2 miles to my car barefoot in the snow. But believe me, I am no saint. I have also taken other risks that, looking back, were downright stupid and dangerous.

And now, after many years in philanthropy and having raised millions of dollars for good causes, I find myself reaching out again to my first love – filmmaking. Storytelling has always been a part of my DNA. With both African American and Irish ancestry, I guess, it makes sense. And music – lots of music. I sing, play the guitar, love anything percussion and several years ago took on my biggest musical endeavor – attempting to learn the sitar.

Pursuing a life calling feels like rekindling an old flame, demanding a patience and resilience honed through years of risk-taking. There have been many disappointments, but the rewards have far outweighed the setbacks. I was nominated as Best First Time Female Director for my first short film that I produced in Albuquerque on a shoe-string budget. I recently signed my first deal with a Producer for my screenplay, Georgia. I received a ‘recommend’ on another screenplay. I had an opportunity to work as background on a new Coen brothers movie, and more importantly, I have sparked amazing friendships with my tribe – the film community.

I now look at life through a new lens. And through this journey, I’ve learned that while I may not court danger as fervently as I did in my youth, I have discovered a new kind of courage – the courage to fight for your true love.

Carol Ann, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

STALKED BY MY DREAMS
I am proud to have raised millions of dollars for many worthy causes throughout my career as a development professional; however, my career started in a very different way and now seems to be coming full circle.

My first encounter with the arts was a memorable, albeit chaotic, stint in an elementary rendition of South Pacific, where I stumbled offstage and emptied my breakfast onto an unsuspecting audience member’s lap. Despite the mishap, the allure of the stage was undeniable. I had officially gotten the bug.

From there, doors opened: I was selected among thousands to study filmmaking in England, training under esteemed British directors and crew. A chance encounter with veteran screenwriters Garry Marshall and Fred Freeman sparked a mentorship that shaped my trajectory. Recent experiences, from appearing in an Ethan Coen production to Better Call Saul, have further fueled my passion. And amidst it all, a profound connection with the sitar has deepened my spiritual journey.

The artistic bug never ceased its whispers, persistently nudging me towards my true calling. Now, as I establish my production company, cakennedyfilms, the pace quickens. My creative reservoir overflows with characters and stories, each vying for cinematic life. CA Kennedy Films offers a spectrum of services, from script consultation to fundraising strategies, reflecting my commitment to nurture artistic endeavors.

So many are encouraged by friends and family to abandon their artistic dreams in place of more conventional careers. While many are well-meaning and seek to provide warning and protection from a competitive, and sometimes brutal industry, there is no replacement for one’s life calling. So, I say, to all of you out there who have goals to pursue a career in the arts, don’t let anyone steer your ship. Be the captain, never veer, and even though you might not reach the pentacles of success, regrets are far less likely when you’ve charted your own course.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

You must jump on your chariot, wield your shiny sword, and slay the nay sayers and killer of dreams. I was taught early on, mainly by the nays, that life just happens to you and we have no control so always be on guard. This idea only served to keep me stuck, fearful and always looking for that next life horror. I had to let it go.

Now, I’m a firm believer in the law of attraction, the secret, Abraham Hicks, God, Allah, – whatever you call it. I think it’s all the same. For so long I thought that I was a victim of circumstance and had no control of what happened in my life or what happened to me. I now know better.

So I started thinking, ‘what if I were to stop thinking’. What if I were to get out of my head – the risk taking, danger seeking, fight or flight head that kept me, what I thought was, alive. But really all it did was keep me in my own self-imposed internal prison. What if I don’t make money in the business? What if I’m not good enough? What if I fall flat on my face? What if I encounter mean, brutal people? How will I deal with the endless criticism and judging?

And then one day, I decided to stop. I started meditating religiously. I started breathing exercises, tapping for anxiety, being in the present, walking meditations, spending time with like-minded people, all of it.. And things started happening. A new world began to unfold as I left victimhood behind and learned that everything around me I had manifested. I was indeed, the creator not only of films, music and art, but my own world. Much of what I had manifested was through a warped lens and it became glaringly clear. So, just like any good director would do, I changed the lens. And like any good screenwriter would do, I rewrote the script. And an entirely new world evolved. People in the film industry started to appear in my life, seemingly out of nowhere. Synchronicity was everywhere. It was like I was becoming the Director of my own life film, creating the shapes, colors, look and feel just as you would a movie. And it all brought me to where I am now – on the verge of what will be a successful and fulfilling film career.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

THE LOST YEAR
At a very young age, I lost my father to cancer, my best friend to lupus, and coworker from a bus accident all in one year. I was also laid off of a job during the same time that my boyfriend was moving out of our home and my life. I’ve had some really hard knocks in life, some really shitty things, shitty people, shitty places, but this year was the granddad of shit. I came close to giving up and surrendering it all to the demons that were telling me it’s all too much. But I didn’t. That tenacious little resilient girl who had stars in her eyes and creativity in her soul resurfaced.

The spirits once again whispered in my ear and a director friend who I had not heard from in years suddenly called and asked if I would be in a play that she had written. The theme of the play was human resilience – a poignant irony. Once again, like an old friend, the arts saved me and brought me back to life. During my time working on the play, I forged so many amazing friendships some whom I still call friends today. Through the arts, music and the love of crazy, whacky creatives, I, once again, found my way back. I recently reconnected with an old college roommate who I haven’t heard from since college. She said that all she remembered was me talking about ‘going to California to make movies’. I believe all things happen for a reason including that phone call because it reminded me of how close I came to losing that wide-eyed, high-spirited Carol Ann. She’s back.

Life’s path is not always paved with flowers and good times. Those dark times are markers left to challenge us, to teach us, to motivate us. I’ve learned to embrace them and appreciate them even more than the good times because they have not only shaped who I am today, but they have given me a much more profound appreciation of the school of life and how much there continues to be to learn.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cakennedyfilms.com

Image Credits

Broken Chain Photography – Tino Duvick