Sammy Smedley shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Sammy, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Right now, I am currently called to making my voice even louder as an artist, to make my unique perspective heard and seen. About two years ago, I rediscovered my voice as a writer, something that I had sadly tabled after high school. I think a lot of us leave parts of us behind as we get older – the parts that make us who we really are but we’re convinced that we outgrow them, not knowing that they’re exactly the parts that keep us growing. I was at a turning point in my life, experiencing a multitude of huge transitions, and I found myself asking…”what made me happy as a child”? As an actress, whose been relentlessly pursuing finding my place in the Industry, I had already undergone a decade of identity crisis, constantly moulding myself into whatever industry professional told me was what made a successful career. Constantly shape shifting, changing my “brand”, attaining representation, spending countless hours and finances attending workshops, always emailing casting – always following a path that I was told works and from what I saw, seemed to work for some people. But for whatever reason, this path was leading me nowhere and I had no choice but to get the heck off of it! So I started writing again. I had forgotten just how much I loved it. And I very quickly realized, I don’t have to wait, I don’t have to ask for permission to do the thing that I know I am destined to do. I discovered that my dreams of making it as an actress were narrowing my possibilities because I have so much more to offer as an artist. Why not “make it” as a filmmaker, as a director, as a writer? Why not do it all? Since then, my award winning films have screened across the country and I am now in pre-production for my first feature film. Taking this leap back to my inner child is what propelled me forward in my artistic journey, now making my path defined, driven and open to all possibilities. And what’s most exciting, is that it is a path of my own making.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am an actress, writer, director and producer with Blue Plumbago Productions in New York City. My written work has a strong focus on comedy and romance. My hope as a filmmaker is to re-define the Romantic Comedy genre and bring back to focus the real human connection in love stories before social media and dating applications. Most recently my writing has turned darker and more satirical in response to the Country’s current political climate. I’ve found great catharsis and inspiration in allowing my activism play a role in my creative endeavours. Artists are, and have always been, this worlds key to unlocking empathy within humanity. These are unprecedented times and as an artist, I believe it’s my responsibility to contribute to the healing of this world in the best way I can. And being fortunate enough to work within the comedy genre, there’s no better way to fight against oppression and injustice than by rebelling with spreading joy and laughter.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I have always been fairly extroverted and spirited but I was even more so as a child. There’s something to be said about constantly being told to silence those colourful and loud qualities that were always so fun to share with the world. Personally and professionally I have felt the dreaded “you’re too much” notion and each time, a little bit of confidence was chipped away. I became shy, anxious, fearful of new experiences and changes. It makes perfect sense that I wasn’t writing ten years ago, it took time to find my voice again and now that I have it back, I’ll never hesitate to use it again.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes. I almost “give up” every other year or so. This Industry is brutal. When you’ve been working at it for as long as I have, without getting the results you want, it’s only natural to have moments of extreme doubt. But at the end of the day, this is my calling and there’s no escaping that. I can’t imagine myself doing anything else in this life and I’ll never want to. Storytelling is a beautiful and powerful purpose, one that I feel proud to follow, no matter what that looks like professionally.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
I’ve had a very yoyo relationship with social media and creating a public image. For the longest time, I was someone who bought into the whole brand building obsession with having an online presence, which meant posting…a lot. I look back and I can see how exhausting that mentality was, I always felt like I was forcing versions of myself into the world just to create a following, which is sadly, what I believe, most content creation is today. I spent more time “building a brand” than I did actually making any art. I never wanted to be a part of the content machine, I wanted to be an artist. It was as easy as a mental shift, a choice to prioritize my focus on the actual work and not just the idea of it or how good it looks online. I decided, less curating and more doing. And by doing just that, I allowed my most authentic and productive self to be revealed. Today, you won’t find much about my personal life online publicly but you will see my art and all of the joy and passion I feel while making it. That’s the truest representation of who I am.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I was relentless and fearless in my journey. I want to be an example for other filmmakers in my position, working their way from the ground up, to listen to their calling and to not stop pushing forward. No matter how long the journey takes, to keep creating in hopes of changing the world for the better. To remember that every creative act, no matter how small or successful, is meaningful and needed. I hope one day, that my art and unique voice contributes to the film industry in such a way that it inspires more artists to get out there and do it themselves. I would perosnally love for my films to keep bringing humour, heart and human connection to audiences way after I’m gone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sammysmedley.com
- Instagram: sammy__smedley
Image Credits
SubUrban Photography
James O’Conner
Astray Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
