Meet Ayron La’Vell Walker

We recently connected with Ayron La’Vell Walker and have shared our conversation below.

Ayron, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I am 22 years old, and I can confidently say that my purpose in life is to create and tell stories that influence a positive shift in how we view ourselves, and the world. I think deep down, we all know what our purpose is. We’re just too afraid to grasp it and do something with it. I believe we fear the risk of owning what it is that we want to do with our lives — it feels too exposed, raw, and honest. This is something I struggled with throughout my entire life, it wasn’t until my latest film SOUR, –which was literally last year– that I was able to truly embrace my purpose and path as a creative.

I believe that our purpose in life is the very thing we used to do for fun as a child. For me, that was daydreaming, creating fantasy worlds, alternate realities, and faux adventures in my head. Then, put them on paper. I remember being 10 years old, scribbling on notebook paper for hours about time traveling and magical relics. Then at 13, writing dystopian novels on Wattpad under an anonymous name. I was afraid that people would doubt my creativity, brilliance, and determination to make it happen. I think the turning point for me was the summer after my first year of college at the University of North Texas at Denton. I was studying Journalism and English at the time, and soon realized how much telling other people’s stories wasn’t for me. I will always have respect for the art of Journalism, it’s needed and valuable, but what about the fantasies I dreamed of to fall asleep? The ideas for novels and movies I get when walking on campus? If I made Journalism my focus for the next 4 years, I would have to sacrifice that part of myself. I couldn’t live with that. It was time to shit or get off the pot. So I dropped my Journalism major and decided to pursue a degree in Creative Writing and Film. I am blessed to say that I now have two Bachelor’s degrees!

This decision was rooted in my loyalty to the little girl who spent hours in worlds that weren’t her own. She demanded to be heard and seen by the world. The dreams I have are so vivid, that it feels as though they have no choice but to come true. That is what pushed me to block out all the noise and doubt from others and go fully after what I want. No plan B, no nothing. I was either going to be the best writer and director of my generation, or I was going to die trying. I’m still on the path too. With every project I write, direct, or even have a hand in, the fruits of my labor further solidify that this is the right decision for me. This is my purpose.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a writer, director, and photographer, but above all else, I like to describe myself as a Storyteller. The term encompasses everything that I am as a creative. I love turning mundane moments into something deeper, and otherworldly. These mediums allow me to explore my love for stories in many ways. For the last two years, I’ve been immersed in the film industry as a Freelance Filmmaker. My latest project is a proof of concept for a TV series titled SOUR. The series follows three characters, Mossie, Nikolai, and Venus, freshly 20-somethings living in Dallas, TX. What makes the series unique is that each character can break the fourth wall and directly communicate with the audience. It creates a never-before-seen dynamic between the characters and the viewers. It’s like Issa Rae’s Insecure meets Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag.

I shot the condensed 10-minute version of the pilot episode last March, and it’s received positive reactions! It was selected for the 2023 Topaz Women Film Festival by WIF Dallas and the 2024 Denton Black Film Festival where it was nominated for two awards. Currently, I’m in the process of finding the right platform and production studio for SOUR to thrive. This project is my baby, it’s every part of me put into one story.

My intention for this series is to put Dallas on the map for filmmaking. Dallas is so rich in culture and history. The South is practically the blueprint for so many trends, yet there are no mainstream TV shows or films that embody that. SOUR will be the first of many series showcasing Dallas culture. SOUR is currently featured on the Sundance website. You can watch it at https://collab.sundance.org/catalog/SOUR-2024-02-12-195838

And you can keep up with the journey of SOUR to the big screen on Instagram, @sourtheseries

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think the three qualities that have played a big role in my journey are my willingness to be uncomfortable, my passion, and my ability to never take no for an answer.

For people early in their journey, you must accept that you can’t and will not grow into the person you want to be if you aren’t willing to be uncomfortable. If it’s worth having, if your dream is worth achieving, it’s worth being rejected, or feeling foolish your first time doing it. Being afraid of doing something is not a good enough reason to not do it. So get used to being in uncomfortable situations, and watch your confidence grow! 17-year-old me wouldn’t believe how effortlessly I can navigate unfamiliar experiences.

I think it’s equally important to be passionate about everything. And if you’re not passionate about it, don’t do it! I believe that if you’re willing to slack in one area of your life you’re willing to slack where it really counts. Your passion will take you further than any resume or skills you have. Looking good on paper doesn’t mean shit if your work ethic (which directly stems from your passion) is passive.

Lastly, I never take no for an answer. This is a quality that comes to be when you believe so deeply in something, that it not manifesting feels impossible. My mom drilled this quality into me as a child — she believed in me so much that she refused to let me quit anything that I started. For example, I actually finished Girl Scouts, like graduated. I was an active member until my freshman year of college. I went to the meetings every week and she pushed me to get the Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards. There was no such thing as quitting when it came to my mom. And now I am the same way; I have an undying thirst to succeed in whatever I pursue. You won’t always be motivated, so you have to be disciplined. You have to be resilient. Find a loophole. When someone tells you no, ask again. If they say no again, ask somebody else. Make a way. By any means necessary.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My parents have played a huge role in how I navigate the world. It’s hard to only name one thing when they’ve poured so much into me and my dreams. They have always been my biggest supporters. No matter what I said I wanted to do, they were ten toes behind it. They would search and plan out ways for me to achieve whatever I wanted to do in that era of my life. When I decided I wanted to pursue a creative path, they gave me the gift of unwavering support. Which, as an artist, is something so invaluable. They could have easily dismissed the book and movie ideas I’d tell them about as a kid. They could’ve done what unfortunately many parents do, and told me to get a “real job”. Instead, they empowered me and gave my creativity a place to thrive. They sacrificed so much for me to live my dream, I don’t know if I could ever truly repay them. My parents are my biggest blessing, and I thank God for them every day. I literally couldn’t ask for a better support system, everything I do is for them!

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Image Credits
Ayron La’Vell Walker Kevyn Crosby

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