We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Claire Louise Huder a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Claire Louise thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

While there are quite a few projects that are near and dear to my heart for a number of reasons, the most meaningful project has to be my participation in the “Define Your Narrative” Documentary with Project Human (PHinc.). Mental health is such an important topic and prevalent issue that affects everyone—of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds—and has been becoming a more open and accepted conversation to have in society. Now, as people are realizing its importance they are also realizing its uniqueness among individuals, and I believe that it is just as important to show that the road to recovery is just as unique as the individual (or, as we at Project Human say, the “human”). This documentary has given me and other humans the opportunity to contribute both behind the scenes with the Project Human team and in front of the camera by sharing our own stories and insights. As this project has been years in the making (and is currently in post-production), I had the unique opportunity to not only personally tell my story but to also visually portray it—as those involved and those who will eventually view the documentary can directly witness my personal growth over the years as I unwittingly but willingly embarked on a personal journey of growth and healing as a part of Project Human’s project. Participating in important conversations and sharing my story has meant so much to me both as an individual and as a professional artist. By being a subject of the “Define Your Narrative” Project Human Documentary, I aim to be an example for those wishing to embark on a mission of personal growth but are unsure where to start—sometimes we just need a little inspiration. I am honored to provide such through my direct participation in meaningful projects such as this and also through my other creative endeavors in film and art that highlight mental and emotional health.

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?

I have always been creatively-inspired, whether it be musically, dramatically, or artistically. I initially intended to utilize such talents and inspiration on-stage for opera, and set off on my journey to become an opera singer at Miami University (OH)—with unique and wonderful opportunities to sing both at Carnegie Hall and in Arezzo, Italy—but life had other plans and I found myself both relocated to Florida and refocused on acting for film and television! I ended up not only refocusing the application of my craft due to certain life-altering experiences at university, but also what ultimately inspires me; I nurtured my passion for not only creative expression, but also a newfound passion for mental and emotional health awareness. These two passions now intertwine with most (if not all) of my projects, and I aim to push the boundaries of personal and societal thought when it comes to addressing mental health as well as the underlying societal causes of certain mental/emotional issues. Thus far, I have had the honor to be a part of projects addressing LGBTQ+, human trafficking, suicide awareness and self-harm, drug abuse, relationship abuse, sexual assault, grief and other important issues and topics in some truly creative ways. Some of these projects are more personal than others—such as my debut short film “Perception” where I addressed fighting to change your inner and outer perception as I acted across myself in a doppelgänger-esque situation—but all of them are so important in that when people see my work, I want them to be able to identify with it in some way and I would like it to influence them to be able to see the light in the darkness, see another view they never considered before, feel something they hadn’t felt in a long time or ever before, experience another life (if even for a little bit). As Claire Louise Huder/Claire Louise/Cinderedhead/Cinder Pictures, my mission is to always have the flame lit; it can grow, it can lessen, but it can never go out.

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

The most rewarding aspect is seeing my message being received and the effect that my performance, creation, production can thus have on someone. I was initially inspired to become a performer and artist due to the immense effect that artists have had on me—how they have made me feel and influenced the way in which I see the world by broadening my horizons—and I am now inspired to provide the same service for others through performing and even through my writing. Personally and as an artist, I believe that it is truly rewarding to know that not only your artistic vision has come across to your audience but also the deeper meanings and issues that you wished to highlight.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Watch. Listen. Invest. Don’t dismiss the arts as simple entertainment because, while another purpose is to entertain us, they share valuable insights into our thoughts and the state of our current society. I believe that the arts are our purest form of communication and the basis of human expression; they are especially valuable in a day and age where so much of our communication can be misinterpreted and censored. What society can do instead is to foster and engage both with the arts and with one another in order to bring forward important conversations, and we will all be all the better for it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.clairelouisehuder.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/cinderedhead
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/clairehuderactress
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CinderPictures
• Other: Project Human, Inc.: https://www.phinc-ing.org/

Image Credits

Personal Photo – Captured by Tome
Butterfly Tears – Virgin Sea Photography
Sanguine Bride – Mario Scott (Madhaus Studios)