Meet Rebecca Forrest | Film Student & Creative

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rebecca Forrest and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rebecca, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
My favourite quote is “Sometimes, the wrong train takes us to the right station.” from a TV show called Crash Landing on You. For me, it resonated a lot with my current difficulties in life. Reaching my mid-twenties I’m witnessing others in my life begin to get into relationships, get engaged, have children etc. As someone who has done none of that, I’ve felt my pathway hasn’t been the correct one. That I’m going the wrong way through life, that I made the wrong turn at some point during my teen years. However, I have now begun to explore new opportunities that I wouldn’t have been able to do if I had succeeded in those other things. I’m finishing my degree, and I’ve travelled to places I never would have dreamed of. I have met people I’ve known for years through the Internet and gained opportunities I never thought I’d have. Experienced feeling free. I’ve worked on myself and my mental state before putting anyone else first, which I believe is the best thing I could do for myself. My current journey is taking me to the right station. Where I need to be, not where I want to be.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Growing up I always gravitated to some form of art, whether it was (badly) sketching trees and plants with my granddad, to painting cartoons during school. I experimented in most fields, from fine art to graphic design, photography and eventually into the film field. I enjoy the freedom art tends to let me express. I get excited while delving deep into my own imagination. Analysing, and appreciating all forms of art. At first, I wanted to just keep it as a hobby, but as Youtubers and Social Media Influences began to appear during my teen years I realised that there was a way to create art professionally.

At 14 I began to post fanart I drew online, but with the amount of hours it took me with each piece, and constantly losing interest in those I would draw, I realised that route wasn’t the way to go. I posted youtube videos, but struggled with inspiration, especially with how heavy dominating it became – I needed something new, and fresh. That’s when TikTok came around. I watched my cousins create dancing videos, and overall just have fun, and at first I didn’t see the point in it, but realising how easy it was to just hit record on my phone camera and upload short bursts of videos, I knew I had to have a go.

Needless to say I fell in love, spending hours creating videos, following the latest trends and overall just being myself. Not the version I wanted people to see through fanart and youtube videos. People enjoy me being myself, and sharing my interests and travels. It isn’t easy to grow a following though, with keeping up with posting regularly and interacting with followers. While also constantly coming up with new ideas and watching what trends are hot right now – but for me, I have decided not to worry about that too much, to go with the flow and understand why people are beginning to enjoy what I do. I am far from being an influencer and having my own brand surrounding my persona, but I enjoy making the art I create, and I hope those following me do too, with my easygoing, realistic, everyday content.

I still have many more ideas of what I want to create in the future, as well as other artistic pathways I want to explore, and I’m excited to expand my platform and show more of the real me, behind the camera lens.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Honestly, it may sound cheesy but as I’m not from Atlanta (UK born and bred) I really enjoyed living up some of the tourist spots. Spending the day around the Olympic Park area and catching some of the rays out on the grass near the Cola Museum. I’d take my best friends to those spots first. The Georgia Aquarium is now one of my favourite places – going in the evening when it began to quieten down, and enjoying watching all the sea life. Especially the Whale Sharks. I’ve always had a fascination with Sharks, but seeing the Whale Sharks in person blew my mind. Knowing this is probably the only place I’d be able to see them in person, it truly made me enjoy their beauty even more.

Another place I’d take them would be to the Koreatown area just outside of ATL in Duluth. The Coffee By Hand, hands down has the best Shaved Ice and Boba you could dream of. With multiple seating areas, from tables to do work on, or little nooks with couches, you could really relax and spend hours in there enjoying the day. (My recommendation is the Melon Boba and Strawberry Shaved Ice. Super refreshing and amazing on a hot day.)

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The main person I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to is my Mentor, who has guided me through my degree, daily life, and some of the most challenging decisions I’ve had to make. She’s supported my ups and downs and listened to me when no one else would. Giving the much-needed support I hoped for during my struggles. Second, would be my mum. Who has experienced the difficult childhood I’ve had, and stood by me no matter what. Giving me the blunt reality I’ve needed to see without sugarcoating it.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outerspacebecca/

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@outerspacebecca

Image Credits
All of the images taken are my own, or have been taken by family members. I certify I have the rights to each of them.