We recently connected with Melanie Reese and have shared our conversation below.

Melanie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I try to see every project I work on as meaningful in some way. If I’m not learning from each experience I have, what’s the point? Artistically, one of my most meaninngful projects was making a web series that I co-created with a group of friends. We then produced and made the entire first season in a year. It was so special because it was ours through and through. From the inception of the idea, financing each part of the project, hiring and casting the crew and talent… I woke up everyday day that year being excited. What else could you want from life?!

Because we were responsible of every aspect, we had to be creative on how to get things done with the little money we had, the time frame we had, and the knowledge we had of filmmaking at the time. We were learning on the go. The two week filming process was stressful, but we had such a cool team that even the sticky situations seemed fun in retrospect, and made us have to be even more creative when something didn’t work the way we had planned it.

Seeing the final product at our premiere, in an awesome independant theater in downtown Los Angeles, packed with our friends, families, and industry contacts proved that our efforts were worth it. Hearing the constant laughter and reactions, sharing our vision with the people we respected was one of my favorite nights ever. Working with my best friends and making people laugh was always my dream, and with the project I got to do it.

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

I’ve been acting since I was a kid. I started dancing at 4, then found community, church and school theater in Maryland where I grew up. I studied theater and acting through college, and have taken almost every style/lineage of training since coming to L.A. 15 years ago. Being in Los Angeles, with access to some of the best acting schools and coaches has been a gift. I continue to train as well as create my own work, theatrically and on film. Collaboration is key for me, acting doesn’t happen in a vacuum, it’s about connection. Physical theater is my favorite, informed from my dance background, I love that the body is my tool.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Go watch movies! And local theater! More government funding for the arts is necessary. Society needs it to thrive, and understand the world around us, and each other. It creates conversation, understanding, collaboration and care.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

The Creative Act, by Rick Rubin, is the most inspiring book I’ve ever read on being an artist. Of all kinds. And even if you don’t consider yourself an artist, read it for his insight into the human condition. It’s based in much eastern philosophy and spiritualism, which I think is the basis to being a human being.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @mel.makes.moves
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDS6dhFf2Mxeeal7Ff6pvLQ

Image Credits
Joanna Degeneres