We were lucky to catch up with Cynthia Gravinese recently and have shared our conversation below.

Cynthia , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

My husband Mark Brown’s award-winning script, Watching Walter forced me to STOP everything I was doing and Executive Produce this project. I worked tirelessly, along with a very talented, dedicated team of creatives to help bring this story to life. Watching Walter pays tribute to the life of Wladyslaw “Walter” Wojnas, who, at the tender age of fifteen, witnessed the murder of his family and was captured and forced into the Stutthof Concentration work-turned extermination camp during World War II. From 1940 to 1945, he worked under the extreme authoritative hand of a Nazi Master Watchmaker, experiencing hunger, long hours of work, senseless beatings, and the devastation of bombings from the opposing Allied Powers. Wojnas was determined to get back at his captors by obtaining as much knowledge as he could from them and becoming the best master watchmaker. His unyielding spirit in the face of unimaginable horrors allowed him to survive the camp and ultimately achieve his goal of a First Class Standard of Proficiency in Watchmaking.

The film, starring Stephen Tobolowsky, is set in both 1995 Philadelphia and in World War II Nazi-occupied Poland, touching on several key moments from Wojnas’ life. Walter’s story is a bittersweet one, filled with hope, loss, fortitude, love, and ultimately a message of tenacity and forgiveness in the face of insurmountable devastation. I’m proud to say Watching Walter will make its World Premiere at the prestigious Oscar Qualifying LA Shorts International Film Festival on July 19th at 7:45 pm (Block 10) at Regal LA Live in downtown Los Angeles.

For more information about Watching Walter visit www.watchingwalter.com

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Born and bred in Philadelphia, the youngest of five, I always had a vivid imagination and went from creating stories with my siblings to pursuing the creative arts as a career. After attending the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts, I made my way to New York City and studied at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and upon graduation, began working in Off- Broadway and regional theatres. But as I aged, I had a strong desire to create my own material. Before youtube, or any other social media platform came along, I started taking writing classes at AFI and with the amazing Pilar Allessandra. I thought this is my way to create my own content instead of waiting for someone to write it for me. I took a risk and took the plunge and as the writer, executive producer, and actress my love for dance inspired me to create “Meet Me at the Barre”. A story about a bunch of misfits ranging from the co-ordinated to the un-coordinated, dancing together in a jazz class at the YMCA. They stretch at the ballet barre, and then hit the local bar “The Happy Place” and work out life’s problems, hook up and dish.

The award-winning web series is currently streaming On Youtube. Most recently the series earned the Best Web Series award from the Glendale International Film Festival, NYC International Film Festival, the LA International Film Festival and appeared in the Film Collective Best of Series and the Phoenix Film Festival.

Besides TV, Cynthia will be appearing in the soon to be released film, Something’s More Than One Thing, produced by the Russo Brothers and directed by Jay Alvarez and the psychological thriller Protos playing an unscrupulous Senator, imagine that! As a producer, she recently wrapped the upcoming Baby Blues horror/comedy thriller. Quite a leap from a historical Holocaust drama to a bizarre story about dentistry gone wrong!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

After raising our son, I felt the need to jumpstart my creative life. The desire to tell important stories, especially about “ladies of a certain age” fueled my mission to create “Meet Me at the Barre”. Every character in my series is facing a challenge. Navigating middle age, divorce, depression, anxiety, child rearing, body image crisis, cancer, disabilities, financial trouble….these issues are timely and relevant in today’s world. Especially now when women are finding their voices! The comedy series showcases females in front of and behind the camera. It’s been a labor of love and it took my own finances to make it happen, the goal is to sell the story, but more importantly encourage other women (and men) to tell their own stories. Make your own breaks and create your own destiny. This busines is built on relationships so every time you create a project, your circle grows. I created Three Wise Women Productions to honor my Italian grandmother, my beautiful mother who inspired me to reach for every goal I ever set, and for all women who just want a shot and a seat at the table.

https://meetmeatthebarre.us

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Seeing your ideas come to fruition is rewarding. Seeing something you created or produced on the big screen (and little screen) is rewarding. Winning awards is the icing but not as important as having a team of like minded collorborators working together as a community. I had an acting teacher back in New York named Diaan Ainslee who used to say “be as good an actor as you are a liver of life!” I took that message to heart and continue to be enriched by other creatives and to keep pushing myself and growing as an artist.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cynthiagravinese.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cynthiagravinesebrown/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559348729209
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-gravinese-8a3a3b1a0/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX-ucLiPMmyo0HOFwOuVIXA
• Other: https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm0285310?ref_=lrn_nv_usr_profilehttps://watchingwalter.com

Image Credits

Ken Sawyer
Marianne Franco
Brooke Williams