We recently connected with Tarina Bradshaw and have shared our conversation below.

Tarina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

The biggest risk I’ve taken was deciding to produce my own SAG feature film with virtually no prior filmmaking experience. At the time, I originally set out to create footage for myself as an actor because I was frustrated waiting for opportunities that felt fully out of my control. I realized I didn’t want my career to depend entirely on gatekeepers, auditions, or hoping someone else would eventually “see” me. So I wrote a feature film called Behind Closed Gloves and decided to build the opportunity myself.

What started as an acting investment quickly became much bigger. I founded my production company, SevenByrd Productions, named after my late grandmother’s address, and suddenly found myself not only acting in the film, but also writing, producing, directing, hiring crew, negotiating locations, managing SAG paperwork, and learning every stage of filmmaking in real time. I genuinely had no roadmap and very little film community around me in Los Angeles, so much of the process came down to obsessive research, intuition, resilience, and trusting myself before I fully felt “ready.”

There were moments I honestly didn’t know how we were going to pull it off. I was physically exhausted, emotionally overwhelmed, and constantly expanding beyond what I thought I was capable of. But failure never truly felt like an option to me. I cared too deeply about the story, the company, and what this film represented personally.

The risk ended up changing me completely. We successfully completed principal photography on a SAG feature film, and I walked away realizing I’m far more multifaceted than I originally allowed myself to believe. I discovered a genuine love for producing and world-building, not just performing. More importantly, I proved to myself that I could execute something incredibly difficult under pressure and lead a team through it.

It’s still surreal to process, but taking that risk shifted the way I see myself, my career, and my future entirely.

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

I’m an actress, filmmaker, and founder of SevenByrd Productions, a woman-led production company focused on emotionally grounded, visually compelling storytelling. Most recently, I wrote, produced, directed, and starred in my first SAG feature film, Behind Closed Gloves, which completely transformed the way I view creativity and my career.

Ironically, I stepped into producing because I was frustrated as an actor. I realized I didn’t want to spend my entire career waiting to be chosen or trying to fit perfectly into someone else’s idea of where I belonged. So instead of waiting for opportunities, I decided to build one myself.

What started as an effort to create footage for my acting reel quickly expanded into something much larger. Through making Behind Closed Gloves, I discovered a genuine love for producing, world-building, and leading creative teams. I became deeply invested in every aspect of the filmmaking process: casting, visual tone, production design, locations, emotional atmosphere on set, and bringing an idea to life from nothing.

Before film, I spent years producing nonprofit community events, which taught me a lot about leadership, coordination, and people. Looking back, producing was always naturally present in me long before I formally entered the industry.

What sets me apart is that I approach storytelling both emotionally and operationally. I care deeply about authenticity, but I’m also highly solution-oriented and willing to learn in real time. Completing a SAG feature as a first-time writer/director/producer with no prior filmmaking experience became one of the most transformative experiences of my life.

SevenByrd Productions, named after my late grandmother’s address, represents legacy, resilience, and creating opportunities through ownership and self-belief. More than anything, I want my work to reflect emotional honesty, ambition, and fearless expansion. I’m interested in creating stories that feel human while also showing people what’s possible when you stop waiting for permission and decide to build something for yourself.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think one thing non-creatives often struggle to understand is how much emotional, mental, and invisible labor goes into creating something from nothing. People usually only see the finished product: the film, the performance, the premiere, the photo, the success story. They rarely see the months or years of uncertainty, obsession, sacrifice, self-doubt, research, problem-solving, financial stress, and emotional endurance that happen quietly behind the scenes.

As creatives, we’re often expected to simultaneously be artists, marketers, business owners, strategists, content creators, and emotionally available human beings while still producing meaningful work. There’s also a constant vulnerability in creating. You are asking people to connect with something that came from your imagination, your emotions, and often your personal experiences.

Most recently, I experienced this firsthand while creating my first SAG feature film, Behind Closed Gloves. I was producing, writing, directing, acting, managing logistics, learning filmmaking in real time, and carrying enormous responsibility all at once. There were moments where I was physically exhausted and emotionally overwhelmed, but I still had to lead a team and keep moving forward because the film depended on it.

I think non-creatives sometimes underestimate how much resilience creativity requires. Creativity isn’t just inspiration. It’s decision-making under pressure, continuing despite uncertainty, and believing in something long before there’s proof it will work.

At the same time, I think that’s also what makes creating so rewarding. There’s something incredibly powerful about watching an idea that once existed only in your mind become something real that other people can experience and connect to.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Absolutely. I wish I had earlier access to more transparent, accessible resources around the actual logistics of filmmaking and self-producing, especially for independent creatives without built-in industry networks or mentorship. There’s a lot of information available online, but much of it can feel fragmented, gatekept, overly technical, or disconnected from the emotional reality of what it actually takes to create something independently.

Most recently, while producing my first SAG feature film, I found myself learning everything in real time: SAG compliance, payroll, insurance, contracts, locations, production management, post-production planning, and leading a crew under pressure. I realized very quickly that filmmaking is not just about creativity, it’s also about systems, communication, endurance, and problem-solving.

I also wish I had seen more creators openly discussing the emotional side of building creative work from the ground up, especially as women and artists trying to self-generate opportunities. There’s often so much emphasis on the polished outcome that people rarely talk honestly about the uncertainty, exhaustion, fear, and resilience involved in getting there.

One thing I especially want newer filmmakers to know is that it’s okay to learn while you lead. As a first-time filmmaker, I spent a lot of time feeling like I needed to already know everything before stepping into larger responsibilities, but the reality is that many people learn by doing. What matters most is being willing to stay adaptable, ask questions, keep moving forward, and care deeply about the work.

At the same time, I think learning through experience became part of my journey. It forced me to trust myself, adapt quickly, and build confidence through execution instead of waiting until I felt completely “ready.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sevenbyrdproductions.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarinajbradshaw/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TarinaJBradshaw
• Other: https://imdb.me/TarinaBradshaw

Image Credits

The main picture – Deidhra Fahey Photography