Meet Ariel Finks

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

Hi Ariel, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I have a deep passion for the arts. I started at the age of three as a ballerina and completely fell in love with being on the stage and performing for others. I unfortunately have weak knees and had to end my dance career much earlier than I wanted. My first ever artistic dream was to dance in a ballet company in Paris. It’s something that I literally still dream about to this day. Though that dream has gone I have pivoted into filmmaking. Film is an experience that you can share with the audience to convey messages of love, horror, action and more. I have always been so fascinated by film and now I am pursuing a dream of directing films. The reason I have pursued a creative career is because of how much my soul longs for artistic expression. I have such deep love for the arts and I don’t think I could be doing anything else in this life. I am here to inspire others and create beautiful art. At first it was through dance, but now I show expression through my films. It is my calling and it’s all I have ever wanted to do. I know it’s a tough road and it has been but I am hopeful that my talents and passion will help me go far and surpass my wildest dreams.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am still finding my voice as an artist. An artist’s work is never finished and that is true. I have created two films so far and have worked on various independent films and a few Tyler Perry productions. The biggest takeaway from all of my experiences on set is that I am a leader. I have become a strong leaders because of the people I surround myself with. Good people that are there to help me reach the goal of finishing the project. It is so important as a film director to inspire your crew to have the same passion about your film as you do. You’re all there to create a fictional world and make it believable to your audience while also communicating the messages of the story. The very first short film I directed is called Two Souls. A film I wrote during the pandemic when life was uncertain and scary. My heart longed for human interaction and I found inspiration from my loneliness. The main character in the film longs for her husband who she lost and cannot go on without him. I have faced many challenges to get to where I am and to be honest I am not where I want to be yet. I am constantly working on myself and my art. It has not been easy as a black women in the south I have faced various obstacles but I use it as motivation to keep going and to make myself proud. I want the world to know that I am a fighter. I am passionate about life and art and I will never give up on my dreams. I am eager to share my talents of storytelling to inspire the world. I have so many stories to tell and I have always wanted to work with the most talented people in the world to help tell my stories. I am strong, I am a fighter and I am woman. I will always create art even in my darkest times I turn to art. It is who I am and who I have always been. No matter the obstacle I will overcome because I believe in myself and I know I am destined for greatness. My time will come and I know that. I want to be an inspiration for young black girls and black women all over the world. We can do anything we set our minds to. Never let anyone discourage you from your calling. It is so important to fight for your dreams and never give up on yourself. I have to tell myself that each day and I believe it with my whole heart. I am excited about the future I am working on a few films right now and I know they will make a huge impact. One film is about black ballerinas and their constant fight for equality in the dance world and the second film is a period piece about a black woman in the south. That’s really all I can say but stay tuned because I am for all women but I am especially here to tell stories about black women through their good and bad times. It is important to me to tell those hard stories but also highlight black joy. We deserve a spotlight and I am here to shine it as bright as I can for the world to see.

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?
I am a foodie because food is art and I LOVE a good food and drink combination. The main places we would go would be restaurants. I frequent Barcelona Wine Bar on North Highland Ave to eat charcuterie and tapas paired with wine. That is such a fun spot to enjoy great food and enjoy the company of friends. I would take them to Yebo Beach Haus, a South African Inspired restaurant. They have a scallop dish with risotto that is divine and pairs beautifully with their Chardonnay. I also like Puttshack for a Porn Star martini and a few rounds of mini golf. They always have great music playing and it’s a blast with friends. Right across from Puttshack is Holiday Bar which has great drinks and even better music. I would take my friend there to end the night. The High Museum of Art has High Frequency Friday each first Friday of the month and it’s a really fun event with drinks, music and art. They also offer free admission on the second Sunday of each month which is amazing if you want to experience the exhibits at no cost. Less than fifteen minutes from the High is Le Colonial in the Buckhead Village. It’s a Vietnamese restaurant with amazing service and some of the best food I’ve had in Atlanta. My favorite dish is the shaking beef with garlic noodles. A great brunch spot which is actually across from Barcelona Wine Bar is Beetlecat. They have great service, strong cocktails and the best lobster roll in the city. Their lobster roll comes with huge chunks of lobster meat and has a wonderful garlic aioli. I squeeze that fresh lemon juice on it and I’m in heaven. I really like fresh pasta and Bastone has some of the best. They have the freshest ingredients I have ever tasted, their parmigiana cheese is imported from Italy and has a variety of flavors of nuttiness and slightly sweet and a bit tangy. The service is great because the servers inform you about the meal and ask what you are in the mood for to create an enjoyable dining experience. In the morning for the best baked goods we’re going to Little Tart Bakeshop. They have fresh pastries baked to perfection and various drink options that pair nicely with their baked goods. One of my favorite sushi spots is O-Ku. They have fresh sushi and wonderful sake to pair with their rolls. I always get their crispy rice which has diced spicy sashimi on top of crispy rice. Their signature nigiri is also phenomenal. On a nice summer day I like to walk the Beltline which you can get to through Ponce City Market. There’s so much to do and see in this city and I haven’t even scratched the surface. These places are a foodie’s heaven and I hope you and your friends enjoy the city as much as I do when you come visit!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicate my shoutout to my parents Adrian and Shana Finks. Without their constant love and support I wouldn’t have the courage to pursue my dreams. They have always been my biggest supporters throughout my life. I can’t thank them enough for their sacrifice and constant support for me. A career in the arts is not for the weak believe me and I have needed their support each day to get through the tough times. I also want to dedicate my shoutout to my sisters Syd and Alexis Finks. They are my best friends in this life and I can’t imagine doing it without them. They have always been my personal cheerleaders and encourage me to stick with my dream of being a film director. I also want to thank my amazing grandparents Glenda Finks, Richard Finks, Jean McIntosh, Randolph Martin and Charolett Martin. They have always supported and loved me and even though we don’t live in the same city I always feel their love and support surrounding me. Finally, I want to dedicate this shoutout to my boyfriend Rosean Majors. He is also an artist and understands me deeply. He has helped me through long night shifts at Tyler Perry Studios and has stood by me through the toughest times of my journey as an artist. I cannot thank him enough for his constant love and support of my dreams. All of these people mean the world to me and I wouldn’t be where I am today without their support. Thank you so much I love you all deeply.

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariel-finks-3b3559138/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@arielfinks

Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IJXgyIp9Rw&list=PLTY4ByuOz7juE5eKxO2w2KFiIIbccZ9Sf 

Image Credits
Rosean Majors Isaac Diaz Addison Nielsen-Lentz Ryan Cameron