We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Allison Volk. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Allison below.
Hi Allison, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
I’ve always been an optimistic person, but during the pandemic lockdowns I doubled down. Seems like a strange time to get more optimistic, I know! But a couple things really shifted for me while we were all trapped in our homes watching the country struggle: I started deeply reflecting on what I’m personally putting out into the world, and I watched others go through transformations that I admired.
During lockdown, I was working on a script about a woman with a tireless need for revenge. It was vengeful and reflected the frustration I had been feeling with the political landscape at the time, as well as a sense of powerlessness I felt against COVID. But as we all buckled down and in many ways came together to take care of each other during lockdown, I contemplated what it means to put particular stories out in the world. I thought about how I’m impacted by the stories I read, listen to, and watch, and considered how my work might be received by audiences. That’s when I decided that I only want to make films that leave people feeling better when they walk out of the theater. I want to make people feel good, to laugh, to see good, to strive for good, in a genuine way. That will be my contribution.
At the same time, I witnessed a couple people experience downward spirals during lockdown. But their stories end in an amazing way: both of these friends had deep realizations, similar to mine, about wanting to find the good and be part of the good. It was amazing to watch other people go through this, and deeply inspiring.
I want to be part of a movement for love, for goodness, for empowerment, and strength. One person does make a difference, and each of us creates a powerful ripple effect into the world. That’s a wellspring of optimism 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 am a Denver-based screenwriter and filmmaker, with a focus on comedy. I love filmmaking because it’s like a giant puzzle: how to get this big project done within a certain timeline and budget, and still make sure that the film has the desired impact. It’s challenging!
One very special thing about making movies is the sheer number of people involved. In my experience, when you bring the right people on board, the film only gets better as each person has their hand in it. I write the script, but my trusted colleagues give notes, which makes the script better. The actors bring their own zest to the screen, as does the cinematographer, sound designer, editor, colorist, composer, costumer, makeup artist, and the entire crew! Choosing the right producers is also key because so much of the flavor of the film is dictated by what and who comes to set. The right people make filmmaking magical.
My most recent short film, ALL CHOKED UP, stars Siobhan Fallon Hogan (Men in Black, Forrest Gump, SNL, Seinfeld) and Bodie Newcomb (LA Confidential, Revenge, Deany Bean is Dead). It’s about a woman who must decide whether to save her husband when he starts choking on a sandwich during lunch (a comedy).
The film premiered at Aspen Shortsfest in April, and went on to play at Palm Springs Shortfest, Indy Shorts International, Odense International Film Festival, Edmonton International, Catalina Island Film Festival, and later in October, The Newport Beach Film Festival. It won Best Comedy at San Diego Comic Con 2023.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I think above all, tenacity and the willingness to continue learning and growing as an artist despite challenges has been the most important. I’ve received so many rejections, like most people do who are pursuing their passion. When you can cultivate resilience and find a way to learn from the rejection, to become better at the craft, and dig deep for the determination to keep going no matter what, that’s when some real magic starts to happen.
I also found that when I connected more to the process than the results, things started to blossom. When the fulfillment of making the project became more important than whatever accolades it brought, my work got better. It seems obvious in hindsight!
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when staring down the barrel of a big project, particularly when there are unknown factors involved.
I always find it helpful to step back, even if it’s just for a moment. Deep breaths, and thinking practically about the very next, small step, is a winning strategy. It’s like the old saying, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3121574/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonvolk/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ActressAllisonVolk
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonvolk/
- Twitter: @allisonvolk
