I think one beautiful thing that happened during the pandemic was the strong awareness we collectively gained as a society for the importance of the performing arts. For film and for television, for writing and stories, for theatre and music, for beautiful sculpture and paintings to admire. We were reminded that art in these forms shapes our minds, our thinking, and our perception of the world. Film and television shows us possibility, it gives us hope, it gives us escape. We begin to envision that if the characters and hero’s on our screens can exist in that way, so can we. We put ourselves in their shoes. That’s why it’s so crucial that all of us are represented in those roles. When we have diversity in film and television, we are able to more fully understand cultures and religions and races and genders other than our own. We are able to gain perspective and push out fear of that which is different than what we know. A society with less fear is a society with less hate. We are able to create role models for all of our youth in all communities, breaking down stereotypes that are detrimental to our society as a whole. Representation in film and TV can only assist in shaping a more inclusive world providing a safe space for everyone.
As a part of our series about pop culture’s rising stars, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Adriana Leonard. Adriana was born and raised in South Carolina. A woman of varied interests, big passions and a need for adventure, Adriana has lived and studied in cities from London and Chicago, to Jackson, Wyoming and now Los Angeles. Adriana is Lebanese American actor, writer and producer for film and television, and has made appearances on networks including Fox and NBC and alongside celebrity names like Eddie Murphy and Danny Trejo. She loves comedy and can be found doing standup on various stages around Los Angeles. Her past experiences as a strategic partner in providing critical analysis in business development, investor relations and marketing strategy for a major tech company has directly informed her artistic journey. Adriana is President of the production company Peanut Productions, LLC and continues to strive to tell stories that provoke progressive change & inspire higher level consciousness.
Beta is a nominee at the June 1 & 2 2022 www.NewMediaFilmFestival.com in Los Angeles.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
Did I grow up? Most days I still feel like a big child playing who someone let do adult things! Ok, ok…
Southern Belle born and bred, a little bit country red neck with big city energy and stars in my eyes. Does that sum it up? Haha I grew up in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I always had an affinity for the performing arts. I took dance lessons from the time I was 4 and competed as I got older. I went to a performing arts high school in Myrtle Beach, which was the best thing that ever happened to me at that age, as it allowed me to explore that side of myself more thoroughly discover so many of my passions. The oldest of three, I was very lucky to grow up in the household that everyone wanted to be at… everyone wanted to sit around our kitchen table. My parents were amazing cooks and were those parents that friends came to for dating advice, homework help, and always a good meal. I would tell you that the Adriana you see today, while I have grown so much and found my authenticity in a way that is so freeing, the woman you see today is very much the same little girl you saw then. My parents would tell you from the day I walked into kindergarten and told my Dad he could stay in the car because I didn’t need him to walk me inside because “I was a big girl now” (which crushed him by the way — sorry Dad), that I’ve always jumped off the cliff first and figured out how to fly on the way down. I think that’s what I’m still doing… trying to figure out how to fly!
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
I remember one night when I was a kid I was in the car with my dad. I was staring out the window and I remember saying, “Dad, one day I’m going to be the next Steven Spielberg.” My Dad followed up that question by asking me who I thought Stephen Spielberg was and I said, “Well only one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, duh.” It’s funny because I was young enough that I didn’t necessarily know all of Spielberg’s work and I didn’t have a family that was really obsessed with the study of film. We loved movies but no one particularly spoke of filmmakers by name in my household. But I knew that his name was associated with greatness — great art, great direction, great writing. I knew he was great and got to create for a living making movies and that people heard his name attached to a movie and said, “I have to see that.” I knew that’s what I wanted to do. That’s who I wanted to be. I wanted to be great.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Gosh I think one of the coolest things that’s happened in my career is the day that I got a call from a producer friend I’d worked for 5 years prior as a PA. He called and said he was working on a Danny Trejo movie for Sony Pictures and last minute they had someone drop out and needed the fill the roll. 2 hours later I was on set in a scene with Danny. It was a small role, but it was one of those validation moments that remind you of how important it is to show up with a good attitude and a strong work ethic and people will remember you. This career is a lifetime career and sometimes it can feel like nothing you’ve done matters or makes any difference. But then you get these small wins and you get that high of being on set and playing in a new character and being surrounded by people who have such big passions for the same, and you remember. And you keep going. Fostering good relationships and having good character matters. Showing up 150% matters. And when those moments show up, it’s pretty cool.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
This story is insane. When I first arrived in Hollywood I was so bright-eyed and full of determination, straight from the small southern town I grew up in, determined I was going to prove I had what it would take to succeed. I would do anything. I hit the ground on day one going from agency to agency, studio to studio with a massive smile on my face telling people I was looking for two things.
First, an agent. I walked into the biggest name agencies I could find, CAA, WME, Innovative…the works. Some laughed and told me to leave, (I wasn’t sure why but I also wasn’t phased by the rejection at the time. Hollywood is full of rejection I’d been told.). But one of the agency’s actually took my resume (God bless them) looked at me and said “I like your guts. Don’t give up.” And while I left without an agent, it was a moment I’ll never forget. It was my sign that people would say no, but someone would believe in me and someone would say yes.
Second, I needed a job. I thought if I could get a job in any production company, and wow were there more than I ever could have imagined, but if I could just get any job in the industry doing anything, I could make it. Well, I walked myself right into what I didn’t know was a production company… for porn. What started as excitement and thinking I was about to get hired, turned into the realization that maybe I was in the wrong place for the kind of role I was looking to get hired for.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
I’m very excited to be working on a “rom-zom-com” feature film right now called Zombie of Honor. Taking it back to my roots, the film is set amongst the willow trees and marshes and southern plantation homes of the south. And did I mention there are zombies?
A total contrast to that, I’m working on a short film entitled In Dependence that is heavily focused on facilitating conversations around domestic violence that I will be directing. The film asks hard questions. How do we find peace? How do we learn to love? And how do we make new healthy choices to break the cycle of trauma. With this project my producing partner and I are hoping to be advocates for our generation that speak to and stamp out the shame and stigma around domestic abuse survivors and their stories.
You have been blessed with success in a career path that can be challenging. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?
You have to suit up with all the endurance and grit you can find in you and then dive in. Be ready for the rejection and be ready for the failure and get excited, because with each new failure, you are catapulted to the next level. We cannot grow without failure, we cannot find the right way without realizing why the other ways are wrong. You must have the conviction to keep pushing forward. Do not be timid in the pursuit of your dreams and do not be deterred by other people’s opinions! That’s the beauty of art — it’s subjective. No one can really tell you you are wrong. 🙂
We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?
I think one beautiful thing that happened during the pandemic was the strong awareness we collectively gained as a society for the importance of the performing arts. For film and for television, for writing and stories, for theatre and music, for beautiful sculpture and paintings to admire. We were reminded that art in these forms shapes our minds, our thinking, and our perception of the world. Film and television shows us possibility, it gives us hope, it gives us escape. We begin to envision that if the characters and hero’s on our screens can exist in that way, so can we. We put ourselves in their shoes. That’s why it’s so crucial that all of us are represented in those roles. When we have diversity in film and television, we are able to more fully understand cultures and religions and races and genders other than our own. We are able to gain perspective and push out fear of that which is different than what we know. A society with less fear is a society with less hate. We are able to create role models for all of our youth in all communities, breaking down stereotypes that are detrimental to our society as a whole. Representation in film and TV can only assist in shaping a more inclusive world providing a safe space for everyone.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
-Don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s. There are no rules for this path and you will drive yourself crazy trying to “get it right.” The best thing you can do is let your individual passion drive you to keep working hard, learn all sides of the industry so you have a deeper understanding of the team it takes to make it happen and don’t let failures and roadblocks tear you down along the way.
-Don’t wait until “you’re ready” I always had an obsession with learning and thinking I had to study and learn every part of the job fully before I could execute. As a filmmaker, especially an independent filmmaker, you’re wearing a lot of hats. Often times, you’re the writer, the producer, the casting director, the wardrobe stylist, the meal coordinator, etc. But you can’t be perfect at all those things. What you can do is surround yourself with smart driven people who do some of those things well. You learn to delegate along the way. You fail, and that is the biggest way to learn how to do something “the right way”. Most likely you’ll never feel completely ready — do it anyway.
-Don’t let other people’s bitterness determine your state of mind: Look, this is a hard industry. And people always say if there’s anything else you can do and be happy, you should. I don’t know if I necessarily think that’s true. I think anything worth working towards in life, any big dream, is going to require effort and include a good amount of failure. I think if this is what you chose to do and you really want to do it successfully, then you have to do it all the way. You have to be realistic and know that it’s not an “overnight success story” and it’s going to be a long road. You have to find fulfillment in telling your stories to the world in a way no one else can, whole heartedly, raw and unafraid. Keep believing. Keep hoping. Keep going.
-I wish people had looked at me and said “Yes you can.” I don’t mean I didn’t have support from loved ones and friends- I did. But the reality is when you’re young and you tell people around you that you want to direct like Stephen Spielberg and act like Meryl Streep, they hear a childhood dream. What I wish more people said to aspiring actors and producers and writers and directors is yes, you can. Go do it. Do it the best you can and love it and believe in it. There’s enough darkness and rejection and doubt in our industry that we will encounter along the way… be the light.
-You are your own business! This is SO important. We dive so deep into being great in our art, but our projects can’t be as impactful if the world never sees them. Find a team that believes in you and your vision or mentors who can guide you along the way on the business side of things. Things like brand and marketing matter and can help you have a clear, specific approach when pitching projects. I read a lot of books, which I find very helpful as well.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
Be intentional about who you spend your time with. This industry can wear you down if you’re not consciously surrounding yourself with people who share the same level of excitement and vigor for life and for the work. Spend time working with people who are great communicators, can think outside the box, and who can face any obstacle not as a hinderance to the journey, but as the journey itself.
Oh and don’t forget to meditate and get out in nature every chance you get! 🙂
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I believe large impact start with small movements. I always laugh and think of the quote, “If you think you’re too insignificant to make a large impact, just stop your car on the 405 in LA.” But it’s so true! If we all focused on positively impacting a small amount of people in a profound way, the world would be a significantly better place. That’s what I keep as a constant guiding principle as a creator and in my work. If I can change one heart or inspire one mind… well, it’s ripple affect. That person goes out into the world better than before. And who knows how far that impact will reach!
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
I have had so many mentors and “pushers” along the way and I am so grateful for the enormous amount of support and unwavering confidence the people in my life have continually shown me through every season of my life. I have to give a shout out to my two college theatre professors, David Britt and Robert Richmond. I always had my eyes set on this industry and wanted to do big things, but I didn’t always have the vision to know how. That can be a scary feeling when you’re graduating from college feeling like you’re deciding the rest of your life. I’ll never forget meeting with them both right before graduation. My plan was to stay locally for a few years and “learn more about the biz” so I was braced with the knowledge to go to LA or NY “when the time was right.” But they looked me in the eyes and said, “Go, and go now.” 4 months later I packed up my car with everything I owned and I went. I haven’t looked back since. I’m not sure I would have made it if I hadn’t gone when I did. It changed the course of my life and I’m grateful for the conviction they had in me. So hey guys, if you’re reading, thanks. 🙂
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
I’m going to turn to Tom Hanks here on a quote that has recently been a huge daily, grounding reminder for me. “This too shall pass.” It’s so simple, but it’s so important to check in and make sure you are presently living your life, because good or bad, every moment shall pass. Life is short and things change in an instant. Sometimes you’ll want to pinch yourself because you can’t believe something so amazing is happening, and other times you’ll feel like the weight of the world is too much to bear. All these moments alike shall pass. Nothing stays forever, so all we can live for is the present moment.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
Dear Vince Vaughn, Are you ready to make a movie together? I won’t let you down. And I’ll buy lunch. Love, Adriana
How can our readers follow you online?
Find me on instagram @adrianaleonard or subscribe to my personal website for all new and fun things happening! www.adrianaleonard.com
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
Rising Star Adriana Leonard On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Entertainment Industry was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.