We had the good fortune of connecting with Summer Rhodewalt and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Summer, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I think the word “risk” gets a bad rap. It has a negative connotation, but in reality, risk-taking is such an exciting, essential part of life that we all need to undertake. To me, risks are the only way forward in life, we can’t grow or embody our highest potential without allowing ourselves the room to take the jump. Within my career, this has proven true time and time again. In film, all we do is take risks. Are we going to be able to finish this film within our time/budget? Is it going to be successful? Will it make back the money we put into it? Will it translate to the audience well? There are all these risks that should make us terrified to even start a project, but we run straight into them and every time we do, it’s more rewarding than the last. I think that’s how life works in general; If you aren’t a little scared, you aren’t aiming high enough.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Just claiming the title of filmmaker alone was difficult at first when I started my creative career in school. Confidence is key to survival in this industry and being surrounded by so many talented people that know more than you doesn’t make that easy. But over time I’ve learned that if I stopped letting the skills/experience others had intimidate me or make me feel like I didn’t deserve to be in the same room, and instead saw it as an opportunity to learn and further my own skills from them, maintaining that confidence in myself and what I bring to the table is far more manageable. From my experiences on different sets at different levels, I’ve also come to know that we are all still learning, even those who we deem “the best.”
Within film, I lean towards writing and directing my own films. Most of the scripts I write are personal stories that hold a great deal of value to me. It’s vulnerable to write pieces of your life and yourself into stories to share with anyone who cares to see your film, and the scarier part is you want people to see. But reading/watching those real-life stories are what drew me into film in the first place. I’ve come to realize that sharing our stories is such a priceless privilege we often take for granted. Because of that, I strive to make impactful stories that people can see themselves in, and maybe even bring recognition to the everyday things that we don’t appreciate. With my work, the goal is always to reach people and leave them better than I found them in some way, however big or small. That’s a mission I will carry with me into every film.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I can’t say I’ve been in Atlanta for more than passing through (unfortunate, I know), but I can tell you where we’d go if we were both visiting the city! As a coffee addict, we’d have to start with caffeinated beverages at Bellwood Coffee. My go-to order is an almond milk latte with a bit of honey, or a matcha if I’m feeling fancy. Can’t skip the aquarium or the botanical garden! Piedmont Park would also be high on the list. It’s nice to walk through more peaceful settings like those between the hectic energy cities usually offer. We both are avid art museumgoers so I feel like it would only make sense to explore the exhibitions at the High Museum of Art. Grabbing dinner at Gypsy Kitchen rooftop restaurant and watching the sunset before catching a late movie would be the perfect ending to the day!
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Have to start with a shoutout to Jesus, wouldn’t be where I am today without Him by a longshot! Beyond that, there are so many beautiful people in my life that have contributed to where I am today, including my professors and friends, but my mom has been with me through all of it. My mom is the reason I get to do what I love today. She raised my sister and I as a single mom for over ten years now and to this day, she still puts us first. She sacrificed a lot to make sure I got to go to art school and see my aspirations through. My time spent studying film hasn’t come without its ups and downs, but she has been there to get me back on my feet and support me any time I fell. Beyond helping me get to where I am in my career, she’s one of the best people I know, and she’s taught me a lot about how to be a good person and how to hold onto my values/self-worth in a world that can be quite negative at times. It’s because of her that I continue to pursue my ambitions and am the confident young woman I am today.
Instagram: @_rhodewaltfilms
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