Meet Paula Rhodes

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Paula Rhodes a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Paula, so great to have you sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our readers and so let’s jump right into one of our favorite topics – empathy. We think a lack of empathy is at the heart of so many issues the world is struggling with and so our hope is to contribute to an environment that fosters the development of empathy. Along those lines, we’d love to hear your thoughts around where your empathy comes from?
I was so very torn when it came to picking which panel discussion question to choose, as two for me are so entwined. This one, and the one involving how I found my “purpose.” The journey of finding purpose I think is continual and ever-evolving, but one of my loudest ones now is to grow empathy in others, to weaponize it if I could, as that would solve so many of this world’s problems.

But how does one develop empathy? As a parent, I had to discover that though the seed of it exists in all of us, it’s not a flame that grows naturally unless it’s nurtured. As far as I can tell, empathy requires at least two main things: a certain amount of security (as if you’re fighting for your life in any sense you don’t have the luxury of caring beyond your own skin) and someone you look up to (a parent, a friend, a character in a story, a teacher, a leader) asking you or inviting you to imagine.

That act, if you’re in a safe enough state to receive it, of inviting you and bringing you along on an exercise of imagination where you get to put yourself in another’s shoes, feels very akin to magic. It has the power to change hearts, and in doing such, change minds.

So my own empathy is thanks to the luck of being born into a loving supportive family in a relatively safe time and space, and in a steady diet of stories and questions and travel. I cannot do much to change the first ingredient required for so many humans, but I can amplify and increase the second for many others. And in doing so, maybe change enough hearts to make some future generations a bit more safe and ready for the power of story too. That’s become a clear purpose for me.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m an advocate for not having to pick a lane. Early in my career I’d hear far too often that I shouldn’t write roles for myself or try and wear multiple hats, and it always rankled me, but I tried to play “by the rules” for a while. However, it wasn’t until I decided to ignore that “advice” and start making my own content embracing all the hyphens (I mean, come on, women are hardwired to multi-task) that I started to make real strides.

My first calling was as an actor, and I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of some wonderful stories. I’ve played two of Barbie’s sisters, Resident Evil villains, Wendy Darling, Lady Door in Neil Gaiman’s universe, and around 100 others. It’s always a joy to get to play in someone’s sandbox.

But lately, I’ve really relished writing and directing. My feature directorial debut, Delicate State, was shot over the course of my actual pregnancy with my husband and myself as leads and entire production crew. It’s set in an alternate timeline where the US breaks out in civil war, and though we didn’t intend for it to veer so dangerously close to documentary when we began in 2015, it’s now solidly a cautionary tale. It won Audience Choice at Dances With Films, got global distribution and is now available in 37 countries via all On Demand outlets and for free on Tubi and Roku.

I find writing and directing really feed that purpose I’ve discovered of helping to grow empathy in others. I love big issues examined through a whimsical lens and tend to pepper in humor as my natural seasoning of choice.

My newest film-baby is Burned. I wrote it after learning of The Malleus Maleficarum, a book only outsold by The Bible, that for hundreds of years served as a guidebook for how to identify, torture, and murder 100,000+ people (mostly women) as witches. Yet the book itself was written essentially as a rage post by a guy who can only be described as a troll. I mean the book was taken seriously despite having whole sections and illustrations where women are keeping dozens of male genitalia in nests and feeding them oats! Well, shortly after learning about this book, I had a dream where I was introducing my new film “where the witches burn back.” It’s a little Princess Bride, a little Drunk History, and all to reclaim the narrative and have the last laugh.

Some of the biggest names in VO have been attached (Cissy Jones, Neil Newbon, Steve Blum, Tara Platt, Julian Richings, Noshir Dalal, Sarah-Nicole Robles, Yuri Lowenthal!) and now we’re inviting an audience to join us in burning back. We’d love to have you join us too. Check out how at www.seedandspark.com/fund/burned

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
3 skills that have been key for me: being kind, being reliable, and typing fast. Everyone’s journey is going to require different ingredients but I’d bet those will come in handy for many.

In the arts, it’s never a clear ladder as it can be with other professions, we just get a jungle to which we. have to bring our own machete and no promised destination, but as long as we enjoy the journey (and re-choose it over the ladder daily), it’s a wonderful ride. So my advice if you feel called to the arts? Keep your eye on the journey and plot your next step not your destination. That way you’ll be delightfully surprised and more likely to keep your mental health.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
As mentioned, I am firmly Team Don’t-Pick-A-Lane. I love helping someone shine in an area they don’t often get to, so when I meet another director who wants to act, or a voice actor who I know could be riveting on screen, or an actor who wants to show they can compose, I am THRILLED to encourage them or give then an opportunity to do so. I love that Burned has so many teammates playing in areas they don’t always get to. I’m a big fan of The Chimaera Project and other people and organizations that help champion others, especially women and underrepresented groups, to do so.

We each are such unique instruments, and letting all of your colors show makes you more memorable and inspirational.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Jackson Davis Photography, Kenneth Dolan Photography, @beauryan (rad nerd), @darika.w.art

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