We recently connected with Roxane Dupont and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Roxane, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
Sometimes, the best answers are the simplest ones. And sometimes, all you have to do is give yourself a little kick in the butt.
I spent the first 23 years of my life playing it safe. I lived at my parents’, I made sure I got my License and my Master’s in fields that would allow me to find a job easily, I stayed in the same town for almost two decades… But I always had big dreams. Big dreams that I was always so scared to try to accomplish. So when the opportunity to move and study film in Los Angeles came, I didn’t hesitate and I took it. Coming to LA was what I always wanted to do, and I knew I had to stop daydreaming and start chasing the life I wanted for myself. But it wasn’t an easy road: I’m from France and I had no idea what I was getting myself into, I had never been to the US before, and I had no guarantee of success. I still don’t.
What often prevents us from taking risks is the fear of the unknown, and more importantly the fear of failing. There’s no big secret here, but what I try to do is take one step at a time and focus on the result. The risk suddenly seems easier to approach and worth it. Being surrounded by people who also believe in you helps a lot too! But you’re the only one with the power to actually do things and take these risks, so more than anyone else you’re the one who needs to believe in yourself and your dreams. And to kick that fear away!
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m an aspiring writer and producer from France. I have my Masters in production, which allowed me to produce a few short films in my home country and work in a production company for a year. What is exciting about production is that you can work on many different areas of the filmmaking process, in many various places, and with people from all over the world and from different jobs. Working in production feels like always learning something new. It’s never the same: I have worked on set and in an office, I have read scripts and sent films to distributors, I have worked in fiction and documentary, for both TV and theater.
The only thing that was missing for me was the creativity. The ability to tell my own stories. I came to UCLA to study development and writing, and I got the chance to write my first TV pilot: Narrowbone. I am now working on two feature films, and I hope I will be able to write a short film and direct it during my time in LA. Being able to share some of my stories with people, to make them feel something, to make them think, is a real accomplishment. Writing is very hard – the hardest part being to actually start – but the pride and relief you feel once your story is on paper is worth everything.
Finally, I started to take photography more seriously last year, as I helped friends with their short films. I took a few Behind The Scenes pictures here and there at first, and I got really into it. I love being able to tell another story. The one of the people working to make a film happen. The one of the people we don’t usually see. My goal is to show the essence of what it means to work on a set – passion, community, skills – in an artistic way.
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?
In a world filled with people with the same dreams, persistence is key. Entertainment is so competitive that it can be hard to hold on and keep the dream alive. Sometimes, all I want to do is give up and go home, where I know it’s safe. But to be able to make it in this industry, you have to keep pushing and trying. Even when it seems like a waste of time because it never is.
You never know who will become your new partner in crime. Be social and open to new encounters. In entertainment, sociability is one of the most important things as most of the gigs you get are from word-to-mouth. Meeting new people in this industry is also very fun as you often make new friends who might become future colleagues. By opening yourself to new people, you’re opening up to new adventures, new stories, and new opportunities.
You’re your own person and everyone’s journey is unique, so don’t compare yourself. It’s so easy to look at other people’s careers, skills, and success, and to feel like we suck in comparison. Like we’re not moving fast enough, we’re not accomplished enough, we’re not working enough. But the truth is that everyone’s journey is different, and your time will come when you’ll be ready for it. It’s not a race, and you can be proud of every little step you take.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
The number one obstacle for me right now would be… immigration policies. I’m not American, and I came to the US with a student visa, which reduces by A LOT the things I can do to make a living and makes it harder for me to pursue my dream. As an international student, there are only a few part-time jobs you can do to finance your studies. And although we are allowed to work in the US for a full year, we can only work in our field of study and most companies are not keen on hiring non-Americans. I have seen many of my friends – if not all – struggle to find a job. People who are passionate and talented, hard-working and motivated, and who still can’t find any company that would want to work with them, because they’re international.
I will be in the same situation in less than three months, where I’ll have to find a full-time job or I’ll have no choice but to leave the US. I feel very anxious about it, but I’m still hopeful. I am already interning for two different companies while trying to put some light on my work thanks to articles like this one.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roxangeles_/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxane-dupont-64a0101b9/
- Other: IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13482840/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_2_nm_6_q_roxane%2520dupont
Image Credits
Josemiliano Roxane Dupont
