We recently had the chance to connect with Juanita Wilson- Rodgers and have shared our conversation below.
Juanita, 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 is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me starts with coffee and jumping straight into filmmaker mode. I’m checking emails, reviewing creative materials, coordinating with cast and crew, and juggling my production work with my business responsibilities. My days stay full and fast-paced, but everything I do is pushing my films and brand forward — and I love that energy.”
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
**“My name is Juanita Wilson-Rodgers, and I’m an independent film producer and the founder of Dalore Studio Productions in Dallas, Texas. I specialize in creating bold, character-driven stories with strong psychological and emotional layers — films that center Black women, complex relationships, and real human experiences.
What makes my brand unique is that I’m building films from the ground up while also balancing real day-to-day life as a business owner and claims professional. My journey hasn’t been traditional, but that’s what makes it powerful — I’ve carved out my own lane by turning my lived experiences into stories that resonate, entertain, and challenge audiences.
Right now I’m completing post-production on my thriller Don’t Answer, developing the erotic suspense film What’s Your Fetish, and adapting the novel Behind the Masque into a screenplay. My mission is to keep creating impactful films, open doors for other creators, and show that independent filmmaking can be done with vision, quality, and heart.”*
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I grew up poor, so filmmaking and the life I live now felt like a fantasy — something other people got to do, not someone like me. I didn’t believe I would ever have access to this world or that I could build something of my own.
I no longer believe that.
Now I know that where you start doesn’t determine where you can go. I turned what felt like a fantasy into my reality through hard work, resilience, and trusting my own creativity. And that’s why storytelling means so much to me — I want people to see what’s possible, even when your beginnings are humble.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
One of the defining wounds of my life was growing up without much. Poverty shapes you in ways people don’t always see — it teaches you to survive instead of dream. For a long time, I carried the belief that big opportunities weren’t meant for people who came from where I came from.
Another wound was feeling like I had to do everything alone. When you grow up in survival mode, you don’t always learn how to trust support, accept help, or believe that people genuinely want to see you win. Those patterns stay with you as an adult.
I’ve healed through growth, faith, and doing the internal work — learning to believe that I deserve good things, learning that my voice matters, and allowing myself to build community instead of trying to carry everything by myself. Filmmaking has also been healing. Turning pain into art, into characters, into stories that touch people…it transforms the wound into something meaningful.
I’m still evolving, but I can honestly say I no longer live from my wounds. I live from purpose
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is real — but it’s not the whole story. What people see is the confident producer, the businesswoman, the woman who gets things done. That’s absolutely a part of who I am.
But the deeper parts of me — the vulnerability, the struggles, the moments of doubt, the healing — those pieces are more private. I’ve learned that you can be authentic without giving the world every piece of you.
So yes, the public me is real. She’s just the version of me that’s built for leading, creating, and showing others what’s possible. The rest of me exists in the spaces where I’m safe, where I grow, and where I’m still becoming.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say I was a woman who created impact—on screen, in business, and in every room I walked into. That I didn’t wait for permission to build my dreams, but instead carved my own lane and brought others with me. I want to be remembered as someone who transformed adversity into fuel, who told stories that mattered, and who used my journey to inspire others to bet on themselves. Above all, I hope people say I lived with purpose, loved my family deeply, and left a legacy that opened doors for generations after me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: juanita_the_producer
- Facebook: Juanita Rain Willis Rodgers
- Youtube: Dalore Studio Production LLC @dalorestudio
Image Credits
Otis Clayborne 11. BTS Kory Williams
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
