We were lucky to catch up with Whitni Resides recently and have shared our conversation below.

Whitni, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

There are two moments in my life I always remember when I think back to when and how my love for the arts/entertainment industry began. The first, I was four years old and was casted in my first ever acting role in a play. I only had one line but that’s all it took. I remember stepping on stage for the first time in front of a live audience and giving my all for that line. That one little line. “Why do we always have to go where the boys are?” That was it. I was hooked. I fell in love with performing that day. The second memory is the moment I decided what specifically I was going to do in life. It was a few years later and I was watching the movie, Titanic, for the first time. I was mesmerized. I had a moment at the end of the film (the moment when Kate Winslet is attempting to scream for a lifeboat to come back) where I remember thinking, “This is what I want to do with my life. Whatever this is. This world. This is it.” From that day on, I have dreamed of cinema and lived as a filmmaker.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Originally born and raised in the Chattanooga area, I now reside in Nashville, TN. I am a producer, screenwriter, actor and director. It all started for me when I was just four years old. I started acting on stage and immediately fell in love with storytelling. Any type of storytelling really. From as early as I can remember, my true love has always been cinema. Every year on my birthday, I would always go to the movies. It’s my absolute favorite thing to do on this planet. Grab a frozen coke, pack of sour punch straws (the green apple kind of course) and enjoy the show. Naturally, I fell into making movies. Upon graduation from the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2018, I dove right into the entertainment industry. I got an agent and started off auditioning and acting in various projects around the southeast. I was taking every audition that came my way but found myself waiting around for those auditions to just roll into my inbox… I began to feel tired waiting on opportunities, so I began to write screenplays to create the opportunities instead. What started off as a means to an end for acting developed into a deep love for screenwriting, producing and directing. Since then, I have been recommended by The Black List and have been honored by the Austin Film Festival, Stowe Story Labs, HollyShorts Film Festival and the Catalyst Content Festival. I recently opened my own production company called Incandescent Pictures based in Nashville. At Incandescent Pictures, our heartfelt mission is to illuminate the cinematic world with stories that rekindle the essence of hope, family values, and the pursuit of the greater good. I grew up with films that always inspired and instilled hope in me and grew up believing you can do anything you set your mind to (thanks mom and pops for that.) My goal and mission as a storyteller is to create impactful films that remind me of that and urge audiences to rediscover the power of dreams, vision and unfaltering determination.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is that work never feels like work. It’s play. It’s like living in a dream. Some days I wake up, go to set and have to pinch myself that I’m able to do this. I’m able to do what I love. Of course, you still need to get up every morning and work hard to accomplish your goals but every single second is so rewarding.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My personal mission is to never give up and never stop dreaming. Simple as that!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitnirae/?hl=en
• Other: IMDb: www.IMDb.me/WhitniResides