Meet Ava Davis: Duchess of Grant Park

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

Hi Ava, career-wise, where do you want to be in the end?
Oh wow! We’re starting with the big questions of life first! I won’t lie, my goals for the end I’ve given some thought to. And they are certainly ambitious. I hope to give back to the trans, queer, GSM community, especially those of color, in the same way that Dolly Parton has given back to Tennesseans. When I speak of dreaming about a duchy, I hope it can be a physical space, one of peace and comfort and respite for LGBTQ teens, young adults, adults, and elderly looking for family and community, whether rejected by their own and seeking a new one, or those looking to expand their idea of family and community. I gave a speech earlier in the summer in response to protecting Black Trans Lives about this duchy I dream of, and at the end, I said I will dedicate the rest of my life to making this happen. I still passionately believe in creating a safe and affirming space for my community. It is where I see myself putting my time and energy that doesn’t go into filmmaking or building a family. And I hope, after a very successful entertainment career, I will be able to “retire” to this community. To have done some good in this world and left at least one place in this country, in this state, where my people can feel safe. 

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
God, it feels as though I’ve already talked so much! But my art! I come from a background in poetry, and up until I graduated I thought I was going to be a poet. But, things change. The wonderful thing about being an actor and writer is that it all still feels like poetry, but with different end goals. Because, in the end, my art is storytelling, no matter the medium. And I’m most interested in telling stories that speak to the universality of human experiences. Stories that highlight how different and unique we all are, but how common so many of our experiences are. All with the hopes of inspiring, or ensuring that someone watches feels they are less alone or that others have gone through their experiences. And hopefully do these things in an entertaining and consumable way! So, with that said, I’m most interested in telling the stories of gender and sexual minorities, or queer and trans individuals, especially the stories of black, brown, and beige queer and trans individuals. I’m most proud of not only making The Duchess of Grant Park, just a short film for now but also becoming the duchess in the process. It feels good to have an alter ego who wants to do good and can use the power of sparkly tiaras to raise awareness. But I’m also equally proud of what Studio Vosges is becoming. Our next film, The Waltz, has already become an award-winning script, and as the new year approaches our team is going to tackle the seemingly high task of raising funding to make this film happen! This year in itself, 2020, has been a series of challenges to overcome – how to stay relevant and sharp as an actor? How to create art and film and entertainment in these times, and how to bring it to an audience? The pandemic disrupted our hopes and dreams as The Duchess entered festival circuits, but it has also forced us to become creative and adapt as we try to bring new films to life! This past September we hosted a virtual staged reading of the script to get initial audience feedback for the story, and that has served as an incredibly motivating factor. And, because of the challenges of the pandemic, and wanting to keep my skills sharp, I started an online daily talk show, The Ava Davis, as a way to connect with others. Just producing the show daily has taught me so much about a quick turnaround, letting go of perfection, and time management! I’ve had to quickly learn or sharpen my skills in lighting, editing, cinematography, framing guests, recording audio, and so many other things that go into producing not only a video version of the show but a podcast of it as well! It’s been kind of a crazy year, but I’m also incredibly proud of the way I’ve met these challenges! I’ve learned so much of what I’m capable of and overcoming problems. I really am proud of myself for the output of work this year, given how it has decimated the industry especially at a local level. Now I just need to find sponsors for the show and hopefully bring on a business manager so I can focus more on the creating side!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ok, being the Duchess of Grant Park, I’d start them off with a walk through Grant Park. It is my favorite park in the United States and North America! I’d show them the newly renovated Lions Bridge and Erskine Fountain thanks to the Grant Park Conservatory. I’d show them the spot of Constitution Springs, one of my favorite parts in Grant Park, and the fields among Cherokee. I’d point out the newly built pavilion and parking deck, but also point out the new hall that has been turned into an event space and overlooks the elephants in the Atlanta Zoo! Next, I’d probably take them for a ride down Cherokee. Quicky pop over to the Beacon and visit my dear friend Orran Booher at BakerDude, and ensure they tried the tuna fish salad, the quiche, and a cupcake! Then I’d take them for a ride down Cherokee Street, past the park and point out Grant Central Pizza and Mezcalito’s (be sure to tell Neil the Duchess sent you!) and down by Grant Park Market (again tell them The Duchess sent you). Because we’ve already walked a bit, I’d ride them through Oakland Cemetery and point out notable spots, like the paupers’ graves and the field of African slaves. Then, we’d hop over to Cabbagetown, and we’d park. I’d give them a quick walking tour of Cabbagetown, including Carroll Street Cafe that has one of the best bloody Mary’s in town along with divine steaks, delicious salads, and just a friendly European vibe and cafe culture that reminds me so much of my beloved Paris. Cabbagetown holds special memories for me as my partner was born and raised there, and we’re lucky enough his daughter was able to get a house one street over from where he was born! I’d be sure to point out the Queen of Cabbagetown, Lynne Splinter, and the memorial for Judy Staples, and the amazing house that David lived in, with its whimsical garden and a half remodeled house that was indicative of the character of Cabbagetown. Finally, we’d walk the Beltline, from Cabbagetown to Ponce City Market. There is so much to see, and it is so unique to Atlanta. The vibe all along the main corridor of the beltline shows a wonderful crosssection of Atlanta, from people to restaurants to shops to sites. And especially the murals in Cabbagetown, the spray paint of Krog Street Tunnel, and the artwork and graffiti along the Beltine. Ending at Ponce City Market is just the perfect cap to the tour, which starts out hyper-local but ends in a very broad overview of the best feature of Atlanta, its vibrancy and joie de vivre!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First shout outs have to go to my parents, my brother, my uncle and aunt, and my partner. Without their love and support, I wouldn’t be the person I am today, which sounds so cliche to say, but it’s true. While we all don’t necessarily see eye to eye, they have loved, respected, and accepted me. I remember my very conservative parents coming to my first poetry reading with the Atlanta Queer Literary Festival and sitting through a slew of poetry about all sorts of subject matter just to hear me read. And, years later, coming out for my first sketch show with Critical Crop Top, as we performed very provocative comedy, including me wearing a Hannibal Lector mask in a sketch called slave race! As for others along the way, the list is long. But two who have been most pivotal in my career are Nicole Kemper and Dominic D’Andrea, with Critical Crop Top and the One Minute Play Festival respectively. I didn’t decide to truly pursue acting and filmmaking until I graduated from college. And I remember the early days, after graduating, in trying to figure out what classes to take, where to take them, how to work on my craft. I looked into graduate studies but not only was the cost prohibitive but I would have to invest heavily in something I had just decided to do. But then, I was introduced to both Nicole and Dominic via Grant McGowan at Pinch n Ouch Theatre. Nicole, because we were both in Meisner classes there, and Dominic because Grant had recommended me as a writer to the One Minute Play Fest. Dominic has made me feel like a real actor and writer. He validated me at a time when I was so very insecure. He started the One-Minute Play Festival, and it takes place all over the country. And here in Atlanta, I’ve been lucky enough to have written for and performed with them since 2013. He’s a New York director and producer, and he believes in the power of art to influence change. The One Minute Play Festival is about creating one-minute plays to help condense an idea and help deliver it in a memorable way that prompts people to think. The collection of them takes a pulse of a city or community, and the chorus of them helps raise awareness and start conversations. I am lucky to call him a friend, and I remember the moment he told me he was going to be a father to getting to spend time with him and his family in New York. Even more so, I was honored and emotional when he invited me to perform with the One Minute Play Festival in collaboration with Queens Theatre in New York for a series of one-minute plays as part of Pride 50, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the New York Pride March. I was honored not only that he invited me, but I was able to portray Marsha P. Johnson in a series of moving and wonderful plays, in the first year coming out as a transwoman! Not only that, but we were then invited to speak on the event on NPR, and I came out publically as trans on The Takeaway with Tanzina Vega. Dominic is an incredible mentor, and has given me countless opportunities I am so grateful for but more grateful to know that he’s in my life! And Nicole Kemper! Nicole graduated with an MFA in Editing from Columbia College. She was passionate about film and art and acting, and she was about to make her own web series. I admired her from day one. And, when we both “graduated” from Pinch n Ouch and started making our own way, she invited me to become a part of Critical Crop Top as a sketch show member and a writing member, and … I honestly would not be the actor or filmmaker without her. She gave me a chance when I had literally decided to quit acting and she asked me to be a part of their inaugural sketch show. It rebuilt my confidence, gave me stage experience, and just allowed me to watch her produce live sketch shows, put together writer rooms, produce short films. I credit her as the doula who helped me give birth to The Duchess of Grant Park, and she agreed to help me produce my next upcoming project, The Waltz, about a trans woman who wants to learn to dance and meets an unlikely dance partner. I’ve told her as long as she’s willing I would love to have her a part of any project I do. I value and admire her experience, intelligence, kindness, editing, acting, filmmaking, and producing skills so much. I’m truly honored to have met her.

Website: www.thewaltzfilm.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_ava_davis/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avadavisactor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/the_ava_davis
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avadavisshow
Other: www.duchessofgrantpark. www.theavadavis.com www.theavadavisshow.com

Image Credits
Studio Vosges Photography Lola Scott Photography