We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Destiny Soria a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Destiny, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I think I get it from my Kickapoo ancestors. I have their blood in me, in my veins. I was born resilient. Also, from my mother. My mother was a warrior, never giving up on what she believed in and what she knew was right. Like her, I don’t give up. If I know what’s true and righteous, I will fight for it, no matter what the cost. I will always fight to win my power back, my freedom back, my reputation, and my beliefs. I fight for what is mine, what I have earned through determination and hard work. My resilience is the heart of my people and my mother’s blood. Some may think my spirit is too loud and blunt, but it’s the way my passion and love express themselves. Passion and love for my career, my acting, my directing. To show the world what I am capable of, as only a learning-disabled ADHD, Autistic, and speech disorder Native American can.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Destiny Soria, award winning Native American Kickapoo filmmaker, director, and owner of Lady Destiny Productions LLC, an emerging production company that made its debut producing several films. One of which, VHS Violence: Bootlegged, is on Tubi, along with my short films. I’m really proud of “Christmas Slasher,” which is the company’s first feature film, and it’s already earned multiple accolades and awards. I have brought my wonderfully horrific vision to life by taking the helm as director, producer, writer and lead actress. I portray the film’s lead, the emotionally distraught and confused Alita. As well as being a talented and accomplished actress with nearly a hundred productions to my credit, I’m a model, dancer, and singer who has always had an affinity for storytelling.
Some of my defining qualities are my ADHD, autism, and being me. My learning disabilities often get in the way of my work and my creative ideas. But I love the way I am and who I am. I’ve adapted by asking for help when I’m stuck or don’t understand something. I try to write things down to not forget and make a To Do List. I’m really proud of myself and my background. I’m a Native American from the Kickapoo tribe. Kickapoo means wanderer. We are also a wolf clan. I think I can be very fierce and passionate about my art and career. I’m a very spiritual person and believe that magic is out there. I’m blessed to have it. Right now, I am getting ready to film my second feature film, “Blood from Snow”, and I’m directing a human trafficking feature film at the end of this year. Currently I’m finishing up my short film, “Deliverance of Mother Nature”. Also, I’m a lead in a horror film called “Grey Forest-The Calling” that is finishing up this November! What a great birthday present to me.
My production company is special, not only because it is owned and run by an autistic person like me, but I also hire and work with people with learning disability talents, just like me. No one gave me a chance because I am different and have different learning skills. I determined I was going to make my own movies, in my way and my time, with others that are just like me. I’m giving them the chance to be what they want to be and what they love. And now I am making my own movies as an award-winning actress and director!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
It’s important to seek out learning opportunities, and to be open to them, whatever they may be. Going to school, going to classes, especially improv classes, training was and is number one priority in qualities, skills, and knowledge. Getting training in acting and in films. I learned from going to school that you don’t always need to go to school. The internet alone has multiple ways to educate yourself. Youtube, or similar media, has “To Do Training” or how to videos. I learned about editing and filmmaking in this way..
Now for acting, I go on sets as a background actor, learning from being on set. Not just acting, but how to interact with other cast and crew. How the crew works, how they set it up, and see how the talents work on set. I do recommend Improv classes, it helps with memorizing and adapting on the fly, and some acting classes too. With my Learning Disability, I had a hard time memorizing, my mind drifts and I forget things. Acting classes saved my life, they taught me how to be a better people-person. I was very shy (autistic tendency), I found it hard to speak to others, even making eye contact was a challenge. Still is a bit due to my autism. Going to acting classes, it helps me remember things better, and how to communicate with others too. The best part is there’s affordable to free classes out there to join. Even Jeremy London’s classes are great to join in. It’s good to go to acting and improv classes every year to recharge your skills.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Life is always moving, and so different events can be overwhelming. I meditate, usually listening to music. I’ll lay down and just listen to music when I get overwhelmed. I also like to play video games or claw games to calm my nerves. If my friends are around, I’ll get a hug from them. They basically know when I’m going through one of my episodes. It helps me calm, it’s always so nice to get hugs. I love hugs. Or I take a nap to sleep it off.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://destinysoria.wixsite.com/ladydestinyprod?fbclid=IwAR3Fg_tGFDghNaNAxVgXIjMSwEozkJKACWn0pSlk6VT2XkecpmoWnRh2yMI
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/destinysoria/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ladydestinyproductions
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ladydestinyproductions2383/about
Image Credits
Christmas Slasher poster by Simon Pritchard No Promised Land posters by marc echo light media Headshot by Salvador Salcedo Blood from Snow poster by me Destiny Soria Photos inside a cottage by Rosy a simply rosy productions film
