We recently connected with Brittany Devon and have shared our conversation below.
Brittany, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
Being human, we are creative beings. My creativity is what has kept me alive in many ways. I spent over half of my life as an actor trying to be what other people wanted me to be, say the words they wanted me to say. Founding my own production company allowed me the creative liberty to become the person I wanted to be on screen. It has helped me reclaim my voice. I have many outlets I use my creativity in: stand up comedy, modeling, content creation, developing tv shows and short films, my podcast, Adult Orphan, and then writing my memoir. My whole life has become a testament to the choice I have as a creative soul and entrepreneurial spirit.
A main way I keep this alive is making sure I connect to my essence and life force within. I do this through body movement, daily meditation, journaling, and prioritizing my non-negotiables every week which include therapy and body work.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I grew up on a 200 acre farm in Ada, Michigan. I was a horse girl, taking after my father who was a professional polo player. I won high point rider for the state of Michigan in high school. After my father passed when I was 15, I slowly started to leave the horse world. I became a model and an actor, and finished my senior year of high school online to pursue acting. I quickly gained representation in Chicago at 16, and spent my time auditioning and traveling for gigs. I pursued this until I was 19, and then I went to Aquinas College in my hometown where I spent the next four years receiving my BSBA. After graduation, I couldn’t give up my love of the craft, so I auditioned for a local play. Upon being cast, I was asking to start a theatre production company with a friend. I directed, wrote and produced a dozen plays over the next 18 months. A few of my plays were produced in Chicago, and won awards in Grand Rapids.
Shortly after, I fell in love with stand up comedy. I began to do open mics about 10 months before I moved to Chicago in 2018. After my move to Chicago, I trained full-time. I was enrolled in Second City, iO, and Annoyance improv programs all at the same time. I was accepted in to the Second City Conservatory and continued straight through to graduation. I had the most written pieces in the final show. I trained Meisner and Viewpoints at Black Box, and gained representation in Chicago again. I was modeling and performing in comedy theaters.
During the changes of 2020, I was in a virtual writing room put together by Cathy Reinking in ATL. We created a concept for a show called Breakout, and filmed the pilot in 2021 with our team from NYC, Chicago, and Atlanta. I was auditioning full time and during 2020, starred in Total Catch, a short film written and produced by Sarah Cayce of Compass Casting. We submit this film and it was accepted into over 20 film festivals around the world, winning awards.
I continued on the path of content creation after Breakout and Total Catch. I found She Them Productions, my production company focusing on following our joy and creating queer content.
I wrote, produced, directed and starred in Falling. I wrote, produced, directed and starred in my original show, Platonic Girlfriend.
My company wrapped production in 2024 on Trailer Broads, an original comedy filmed where I grew up.
I am currently pursuing my stand up career in the midwest. I am working on writing season 3 of Platonic Girlfriend and arranging a fundraiser for She Them Productions. I am writing my memoir based on losing both of my parents by the age of 27. I am auditioning and following my joy.
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?
Resilience in facing rejection. View rejection as redirection.
Focus on what you can control, and release the rest. When you walk out of a job interview or an audition, allow yourself 5 minutes to think about it and see what you would change (what you can control), and then let go of the rest.
If you can’t let it go, let it be. Normally there are walls within to show us what we need to work on within ourselves.
Stay curious, stay playful, stay humble. This all creates connection and that’s what will move you forward.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My mother would always ask me, “If I wasn’t here, what would you do? How would you get it done?”
This has allowed me to be a problem solver. I have had to think outside of the box many times. This has crafted resilience and set me up for a life of adventure.
Chase the unknown and follow the adventure. Be brave. You’ve got this.
And when you feel like you don’t, you’re on the edge. Keep going.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.brittanydevon.com
- Instagram: @brittanydevonofficial
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzijNvFd_s57m4cS6IGRGyg
Image Credits
Bekah Wreidt, Kenny Boos, Tyler Triemstra
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
