We were lucky to catch up with Paige Parnell recently and have shared our conversation below.

Paige, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

When I was a kid living in Jamaica, my father was a theatrical actor and singer. I remember watching my father perform on stage, and I was fully transfixed and captivated by his performances every single time. I remember being maybe six or seven years old and thinking about how amazing it is that my dad can get on the stage and become another person and be transported into another world. When I was in middle school in the U.S., I joined community theatre, and I think that’s when I decided, when I KNEW, that I wanted a career that would allow me to a be a creative. In college, I switched from focusing on theatre to focusing on film, and I’ve been doing that ever since!

Paige, 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?

Although I come from a background where my father was an actor, he passed away before I could really ask him everything I wanted to know about pursuing acting as a career. I got into an acting school in NYC, but my mother was adamant that I study something “practical,” so I attended the University of Florida and studied Journalism instead. I had a brief pivot away from acting, but then I ended up joining a film club on campus called Novel Concept, and doing my first short film. I, honestly, have been lucky enough to network with/get to know the right people in regards to getting into this industry. I was able to produce and AD (Assistant Director) for the first time in 2022. Since then I have been an executive producer on two feature films, but I feel as if I’m still just barely at the tip on the iceberg. Acting is still what I love to do the most, but I have been so lucky to learn more about what it takes to make a movie, and I’d love to continue to be on the production team. Joining Labyrinthine Pictures with my friend Daniel Stearns has taught me that I want to spend time creating with people who I admire and respect. It sounds so simple, but this is a difficult and sometimes cutthroat industry. Daniel and I (together) have worked with Freeli Films to produce two films so far, and I can honestly say that I work with the best people. I think what sets us a part is the way we support one another. We want to create something amazing with people we respect and care about, and I do think you can see that in our product and in the way we work together. Currently, I am most proud of our latest project, “Written in Blood,” which was written and directed by Daniel Stearns. Not only am I proud to be a part of the production team, but it’s my first feature as a lead actress. I learned SO much. I hope that when it’s available on streaming platforms that people really see the hard work that we pumped into this movie!

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

Being able to look at what I’ve helped to create and taking ownership of that creation. I’ve worked in Corporate America for years, and at no point did I feel like I could take ownership of the contributions that I made. It always felt like it was for someone else. I love being able to stand in awe on set and think, “Wow, we went from a script to creating an entire world, and I am a part of this really amazing thing.” I never felt that way at my 9 to 5.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I remember speaking to an old friend about “still” pursuing a career in film, and I think she struggled seeing it as a career versus just a hobby. I think non-creatives often look at creative jobs and struggle with fully seeing it as a legitimate career path. But creatives do necessary work – non-creatives still get excited about going to the movies, or visiting a museum, or seeing a live show. So why would creative work be illegitimate? As far as I’m concerned, we need art for survival. It is a medium for catharsis. We experience art and it causes us to laugh, to cry, to be moved. If creative jobs weren’t legitimate, then picture your lives without that art – without the painting on your walls and the songs on your radio. We deserve to be paid and respected, because even if our careers started off as just a passion, it is still hard work.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @paigee79

Image Credit:
Barbara Beneville