We were lucky to catch up with Aimee DuFresne recently and have shared our conversation below.
Aimee, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I had never really thought of myself as resilient. Courageous? Perhaps. Bold in following where my heart led me? Absolutely. Then, in 2008, my father lost a long battle with cancer. A few months later, my 30-year-old husband was killed in a motorcycle accident. During that period, I felt anything but resilient. Courage and boldness drained from me as well. One day, a friend said something I will never forget. “It’s terrible what happened,” he started, “But look at it this way: This is the hardest it will ever get. You get through this, you get through anything.” His words ignited this glimmer of hope, this feeling of freedom. So, I kept going. Sometimes slowly, but it gained momentum. Running a marathon, moving countries, changing careers, falling in love and getting married again, writing a book, spending four and half years criss-crossing the country on an unconventional book tour and living a nomadic life while housesitting and petsitting, settling clear across the country from where we started. I pivoted during the pandemic to writing screenplays, and recently I started acting. Looking back, I guess that’s resilience. Life is this grand experiment and it goes by fast. Why not try what you really desire doing? It might not always turn out as you thought, there are unexpected turns and plot twists, disappointments. losses, and failures. Yet on those curvy roads, I’ve made amazing memories, met amazing humans I love, and get to play with some on a new comedy series I wrote. Life is a wild ride. Why not, as much as possible, make it a JOYride?
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My focus at the moment is on screenwriting and acting. Storytelling is my happy place, whether it be on the page or portraying it through a scene. Most recently, I’ve written a comedy series and we have an incredibly talented and fun cast. We’ve just finished filming the sizzle reel for this project titled, Cut, Color, & Blow Me, about a 40-year-old woman starting over after separating from her husband and moving from Michigan to Palm Springs, California. It’s been such a fun ride and we are just getting started. The creative collaboration is something I deeply love and appreciate. A character written by me can take on nuances and go in an unexpected direction given the actor, and the costumes and makeup. Camera and crew make this story you had in your heart and head come to life. It’s fascinating and beautiful.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Tenacity, Curiosity, Enthusiasm
Having the determination to go forth and the curiosity to try new things, see different perspectives and be open up to new experiences..
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I love connecting with fellow creatives in the film and television industry. You can find me on Instagram at @aimeedufresne
Contact Info:
- Instagram: aimeedufresne
Image Credits
Sherry Kear
Aimee DuFresne
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