We recently connected with Devan Renea and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Devan, thanks for joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?
Asking if I am happy as a creative is such a layered question. It is one that I’ve often thought of, along with what else I would possibly be doing if I wasn’t committed to earning a living as an artist. I naturally think I would have become a fulltime teacher because I’ve grown to immensely enjoy teaching through my work as a filmmaking and screenwriting instructor. I remember getting the advice when I first landed at film school, over a decade ago now, that I needed to decide what type of artist I wanted to be. One of my professors would say, either you’re an artist for “the man” Art, one collecting dollars behind a desk, or you’re an artist for the art itself. That is to say, either you become an artist by way of being married to the idea that you will make money—by any means— so you generate your art for the mere purpose of feeding the trending machine; or you are truly devoted to your craft, because it is something you would do for free. So, whether you make money or not, you’re committed to the pursuit of creating and expressing your art, often at the sacrifice of your own financial prosperity. For some, it is a difficult choice and for others the choice is easy. For me, the election to fully dedicate to my craft without the invisible, but almost palpable, expectation to be invested for the benefit of notoriety, success, and currency, was a decision I labored over at length. Any true artist will tell you that no one willingly wants to live check-to-check, gig to gig, project-to project, but that can often be the vicious cycle of an artist. Likewise, it takes a tremendous amount of commitment combined with just a twist of crazed madness to go after your dreams and pursue your art against the backdrop of numerous disappointments, countless rejection, and parade of comparison. So am I happy as a creative–to be honest, not always. Are there days I wonder why I didn’t choose a more consistent career path, yes. Have I ever wanted to just give up and try something new altogether, absolutely. However, what I know is this…I wouldn’t be living MY truth. I wouldn’t be the best version of myself wearing any other hat, and ultimately the thought of that notion makes me know I chose the right path, regardless of the adversity. As my grandfather would say, you can’t go wrong on the right road. You might sit down and rest, you might get turned around when it gets dark, but I believe when you’re walking in your true divine light, you’ll always be exactly where you need to be.
Devan, 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?
I was born to be a creative. I practically came out of my mother’s womb reciting monologues. As a kid and eventually a teenager I wanted to be an actress, so I was a natural drama geek with an unyielding passion to be an over achiever. Growing up, most teenagers covered their walls with hip-hop posters, mine were covered with certificates and achievements of both my artistic and academic accomplishments. By the time I was thrust into adulthood and went to college, my passion had risen to writing—which eventually led to a natural aptitude for producing. I conquered receiving a theatre arts A.A. and bachelor’s degree in film, and quickly gained entrance into the real world of entertainment by way of induction into the prestigious Emmy’s Television Academy Internship Program. I was fortunate enough to intern for Warner Horizon Television, which at the time was the subsidiary cable division of WB TV. To say I worked hard that summer would be an understatement. In short—I worked my ass off knowing I only had two months to make something shake in L.A. So, by the end of the summer, I had two job offers, one of which was to remain at Horizon in an entry level office position. I was thrilled, and for the next three years I was indoctrinated into the world of Warner Bros.; learning the players, the protocol, and strategic positioning which would be required to take my career to the next level. I simultaneously obtained my M.F.A. in creative writing while working at Horizon, and shortly after was granted my first seat in a Hollywood writers’ room. I left Horizon to take a position as the showrunner’s assistant on the hit long running OWN drama serious, “Queen Sugar”, which was produced in conjunction by Oprah Winfrey and Ava Duvernay.
From there, my career was a whirlwind of writers’ rooms on various shows, which forced me to work even harder. I learned the realities of creating television shows and my acumen subsequently grew. After laying the foundation as a support staff member of a slew of writers’ rooms, the universe provided me with the chance to write for another OWN Network drama series, entitled “Delilah”. Overnight I was upgraded from just being the script coordinator on the show, which was in itself also a difficult job, to writing two episodes of the show, including the season finale. Seeing my name within the top of show credits was an unbelievable feeling, and a reminder that the metaphoric blood, literal sweat, and countless tears had not been in vain. My career shifted when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and like most people, I was forced to pivot. That is when I grabbed myself by the bootstraps and became the CEO of my own company, Boss Up Production. I launched a multi-platform production company that ultimately allowed me to monazite the various skillsets which I had become expertly skilled at executing. My company offers luxury event planning for industry events, script and story development, and in house producing of low budget content creation. Thus, the Devan Rene brand was born and stamped when my company launched in 2021. My clients depend on me to provide them with expert evaluation of their material, plan their next Hollywood event with seamless ease, and even produce and shoot their next big project. In a nutshell, I wear several hats, and my brand is reflective of my multi-hyphenate talents and gifts. What sets me apart from other business owners and fellow artists, is my ingenuity, resourcefulness, and my unyielding passion for always representing both my clients and myself with the utmost class, creativity, and commitment. I may not always have every answer, but through my wealth of experiences, I’ve learned to master the art of commanding the space while navigating the ship with a seasoned acumen.
I am most proud of being rewarded for my years of excellence and commitment to one of my alma maters, Full Sail University. In April of 2023, I was inducted into their prestigious Hall of Fame, and this achievement has consequently allowed me to be a beacon of hope to so many creative hopefuls. When a student reaches out to me to congratulate me and ask advice on the cultivation of their career success, I feel the most immense fulfillment knowing that my journey is a testimony to keep the faith.
Having recently added the hat of director to my resume, along with writer, producer, and instructor; I now feel an overwhelming sense of pride knowing that the brand I’ve been working to build my whole career has inspired others, and no amount of money could ever produce this sentiment. I want my fans and followers to know that my humble beginnings combined with my willingness to tenaciously pursue my dreams, have made me a force to be reckoned with. There is no imitating this level of passion and no faking this amount of talent and energy. I am the REAL deal and I’m only just getting started!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding part of my journey has been my philanthropic endeavors because I believe in giving back to others, the way so much was given to me. I had the pleasure of residing as the Co-Chair President of the Black Employees of WB, where I worked tirelessly to aide in strengthening diversity throughout all of Warner Media for nearly seven years. I’ve had the pleasure of being a mentor to organizations like WB Mentoring Program and HBCU in LA Internship Program. I was fortunate to discover my talent for teaching through my work as a filmmaking and screenwriting instructor for organizations like Kids in the Spotlight, Hurston Wright Foundation, and EmpowHer Institute. In addition, to my tireless commitment to volunteering within the walls of creative academia at alma maters, Full Sail University and Morgan State. These opportunities have allowed me to discover the priceless gift of teaching others to “fish” for their dreams by providing them the invaluable knowledge, which has been bestowed onto me throughout my career. No amount of money or high praise could provide me with the feeling I get from being an inspiration to others, and I believe these efforts have given me divine purpose, which I can only hope I will be remembered for when I’m gone.
Have you ever had to pivot?
My career shifted when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and like most people, I was forced to pivot. That is when I grabbed myself by the bootstraps and became the CEO of my own company, Boss Up Production. I launched a multi-platform production company that ultimately allowed me to monazite the various skillsets which I had become expertly skilled at executing. My company offers luxury event planning for industry events, script and story development, and in house producing of low budget content creation. Thus, the Devan Rene brand was born and stamped when my company launched in 2021. My clients depend on me to provide them with expert evaluation of their material, plan their next Hollywood event with seamless ease, and even produce and shoot their next big project. In a nutshell, I wear several hats, and my brand is reflective of my multi-hyphenate talents and gifts. What sets me apart from other business owners and fellow artists, is my ingenuity, resourcefulness, and my unyielding passion for always representing both my clients and myself with the utmost class, creativity, and commitment. I may not always have every answer, but through my wealth of experiences, I’ve learned to master the art of commanding the space while navigating the ship with a seasoned acumen. After all, a great leader shall be defined by how they govern when their ship is sinking, not when the world is at their feet. However, the world can be yours when you master the art of balance, self control, and step with purpose, and after birthing Boss Up during the height of a global pandemic, I now know—the world is mine–I just have to go after it with everything I’ve got!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.JustDevanRenea.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justdevanrenea/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drenea1
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devan-renea-44b5b537/
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5339362/
Image Credits
Photographer & Creative Director: Igumbi https://TheCreativeDirector.mypixieset.com/