We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bella Dontine a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Bella, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I have always known I wanted to be in the arts. I loved performing since I can remember. I used to put on shows around the house and force my mom to introduce me and if she didn’t say exactly what I wanted her to say I would make her do it over again, I was three. I also used to put on shows for the neighborhood and charge a dime for people to attend that way I could say I was getting paid. My mom used to think I was just a star struck kid and it wasn’t until I was eleven that we went to see the movie Never Been Kissed with Drew Barrymore. I walked out of that movie and I was talking to my mom about how it was great the way Drew fell up the steps and did you see her face when she was hit in the face by the door. I was going on and on about the cinematography, the writing, and the acting and that’s the moment my mom realized I was not just watching the movie I was analyzing it with no training, so that summer she put me in every acting workshop we could find in Delaware and Pennsylvania. From, that moment I was auditioning, training, my mom was driving me an hour to and from an acting coach in PA. But I knew I wanted to be in movies and television. Well, we didn’t have money and didn’t have the money to travel to CA or NY so for a number of years I did theatre, competitive dancing, and short/student films.
Once I was old enough I decided to go to Wilmington University because I saw they had a film-making degree so I decided to go to learn all aspects of filmmaking, from producing, writing, lighting, audio, etc. Since then, I have started my own production company, Small Wonder Studios, and have continued writing and working on different projects. I currently have a feature film coming out on April 22nd on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and many more.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am an actress, writer, and producer. I started my own production company when I was 28 years old called Small Wonder Studios based in Delaware.
I got into this industry because I love storytelling and have always known this is what I’ve wanted to do. I have worked extremely hard for a couple decades to bring the stories to life that I would like to tell.

I am most proud of not giving up. There are so many days when I have felt like giving up because there is no road map for this line of work. I’m weed whacking and trying to pave a way as I’m going.
I also am so proud of a film I produced, co-wrote, and starred in called A Lion’s Game is coming out on April 22nd.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I believe every audition you don’t get or every role you are turned down for creates resilience and determination but one specific story is when I was dancing. I wanted so badly to dance on the Senior Dance Team but all the others girls had been dancing consistently since they were three years old. I didn’t start until I was 14 and had to work my way up. I auditioned for the team when I was 15 but was put on the Junior team so I was dancing with 10-12 year olds. I just kept telling myself this is what I have to do to work my way up to my goal. I did that for a year and practiced every day at home when I wasn’t at the studio. By the next year when I was 16, I made the Senior team and was dancing with 17 and 18 year olds. One of the best moments was when my dance teacher, in front of the whole class, called me out and said she was amazed at how far I had come to be dancing with girls who had been dancing since they were three. It was a proud moment that all the hard work and dedication had paid off.

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

From what I’ve come to find, inspiring people is the most rewarding part of this journey. I remember walking out of movie theatres completely moved by the stories I saw on screen—it made me dream even bigger.

There are definitely times when being in this business feels incredibly tough. But every so often, I get a message or an email from someone saying I’ve inspired them. It means the world to me, especially in those moments when I feel like I’m not inspiring anyone at all—when I feel like quitting.

Those words remind me why I started: to inspire others to chase their dreams and not give up. So, in a way, it’s a beautiful give and take.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.instagram.com/smallwonderstudios/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belladontine/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BellaDontineOfficial
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BellaDontineOfficial

Image Credits

Kanoa Wolfe-Doblin, Michael Joseph Pierce, Robert Artz, Kurt Oberhaus, Bella Dontine, Travis Brown