We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Laura Cassidy. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Laura below.
Laura, looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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.
Laura, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I believe that cinema is the very best way to hold a mirror up to society, incept compassion by allowing people to walk a mile in another’s shoes, and incite change in hearts and minds.
I started in the industry via a love of acting, and after achieving a degree in theatre I moved out to Hollywood to pursue my dream. When I struggled to find gigs, someone gave me the advice “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door” (Milton Berle), and I started my first production company with two friends and we started making webseries and short films. I realized I was better suited to be behind-the-scenes than in front of the camera, and my love for producing was born. I love taking a seed of an idea all the way from script to screen, seeing it birthed into the world and impacting its viewers.
I’m most proud of the feature we just completed and sold, a fictional crime road trip comedy about two Juggalos (fans of the horror rap duo Insane Clown Posse) called Off Ramp. It is a wild ride but has an underlying message of unconditional acceptance and loving the family you choose. The film has done really well at festivals, and I’m always so proud when someone comes up to me and has enjoyed the experience, but has also gotten the heart of the film and its message.
I’m also extremely proud of the community of writers we are building in New Orleans! I helped start a writers group (even though I would never deem to call myself one!). It’s called Write or Die, and we meet weekly to do an hour of silent screenwriting. The group has turned into a really fabulous cadre of writers of all types – from professional screenwriters making their living at it, to ones just starting out (like myself!).
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
Holy cow – so many. The first that comes to mind is Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People, essentially a road map for working with people. The next is a TED Talk (and related book) Start with Why by Simon Sinek about how great leaders inspire action, by starting with what they believe and attracting others who believe the same thing to do business with them. Basically any leadership book by John Maxwell – I must have read 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership 10 times.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
In my opinion, the best way to support artists and creatives is to consume art constantly. Go see your friend’s open mic night. Watch a play. Hang real art on your walls. Read paperback books. Go see movies IN THEATRES. I recently heard someone say “tell me what’s important to you by telling me how you spend your money.” Spend your dollars on the art you want to see persist for the next 10, 20, 100 years.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.indiedarlingfilms.com
- Instagram: @toora.loora.laura
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-cassidy/