Taunya Gren shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Taunya, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
My first 90 minutes of my day are generally pretty consistent. I get up, feed the dogs and cats (a lot of them :p) take the dogs out potty, and then…then I get myself feeling ready for the day with my morning routine.
A hot cup of tea (either jasmine green or Earl Grey) that I drink while I check email and make sure I know what appointments I have for that day. Then breakfast while I play a computer game to wake my brain up.
After that, up and dressed/showered and I”m ready for the day!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Taunya Gren, screenwriter, director, producer, former actress and president of Metal Rat Media. Metal Rat Media is my fourth production company and it differs from the others in the focus on how to tell stories that are more than just entertaining. We specialize in horror, fantasy and science fiction that have a deeper subtext to them. A message to help humanity really look at itself in ways that are easier to take through entertainment.
Currently, we have a feature film “Blood Corral”, a supernatural thriller completed and shopping to distributors, a psychological horror called “Dark Before Dawn” in development and a four quadrant (ie: old, young, male, female) urban fantasy TV series called “Raising Kayn” in development as well as a fantasy short, “La Belle Dame Sans Merci _Hate” doing the festival circuit and another sci-fi short “Chrysaline” that has been included in an anthology feature called “Post Human” preparing for release.
Each of these projects has a message hidden in it’s entertainment that I think will resonate with people.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Two things I believed about myself as a child that I no longer believe, first, that I am always an actress. I would hide in my closet at the age of 3 and read my moms Shakespeare comic books (a real thing) and act out all the parts. It lead to a career in acting that started officially at age 14. At age 60 I gave it up and have turned my focus to directing and writing.
The second thing is that I smarter than other people. I believed that for a long, arrogant time as a child…but then life beat the understanding that I am no more or less smart than anyone else into me.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Recently actually. Being an independent film maker is hard. This last 2 years, broken bones, poverty and more have really given me a pummeling. Trying to be creative through that much pain is really hard and I seriously contemplated giving up.
The thing with creatives is, however, we can’t NOT be creative. It screams for our attention even when we don’t want to give it.
So me and creativity have compromised. I try to do a small film with no budget and take what time I need on post production. I write a scene or a 3 page short or do a small piece of artwork. Nothing too hard…and then creativity takes it and shakes it at me and yells “This could be great if you put just a little more work into it!” and so I do…promising it’s the last one…. Until the next one grabs me and won’t let go. :p
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie my industry tells is that creativity, beauty and success are only for those in their 20’s and 30’s (especially if you’re female). That’s a whole crock of horse s**t if you ask me.
We get better at it as we age. Better at everything we do. My vision and ability to create that vision is MUCH more powerful now than it ever was when I was younger. My understanding of humanity and what it wants and needs is more broad. Older actors are more talented than they were as youngsters.
Give me an older actor, director, writer, producer, any day over a younger one.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m doing what I was born to do.
As a child my mother tried very hard to steer me into writing. My father told me that being a wife was the only thing I should do.
I wanted to be a performer which was hard for both of them to accept. Neither of my parents ever saw me perform, even though I started at 14. I have never regretted it even though it’s been a hard path.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.taunyagren.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taunyagren
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TaunyaGren
Image Credits
Gretchen Faulk (first 3 images)
Beckett Gladney
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
