Episode #26
Forging Your Own Path in Filmmaking
In this episode, Jennifer talks to Lauren Noll about her transition from theater into film work, acting/writing/producing/directing her own work, defining your goals, and how to surround oneself with other artists who can lift you up and teach you on the job. Lauren shares her experience with her first short, Honor, and the projects that have come after. She is candid about her learnings, tools she has found helpful on the way, as well as helpful mindset practices to keep you honest with yourself throughout your journey creating.
About Our Guest
Lauren Noll is a Los Angeles-based actor/director/writer/producer with a Master’s Degree in Acting from the American Repertory Theatre/Moscow Art Theatre Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University. While at A.R.T., Lauren was a cast member of Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, directed by Tony Award winner Rachel Chavkin, which went on to a Broadway run and garnered several Tony nominations. Since arriving in LA post-grad school, in addition to acting in various films, commercials, and music videos, Lauren’s curiosity around other roles in filmmaking led her to write, direct, and star in her award-winning short film, Honor (2020). She is thrilled to have followed that filmmaking debut with two collaborations with producing partner, Dalia Rooni: Gen V (2021) for which they were granted a development deal with Adi Shankar's Bootleg Universe, and Clean Slate (2022), for which they were awarded a grand jury prize at the Collaboration Filmmakers Challenge. In addition to being in development on her first feature film with Dalia, Lauren is also in pre-production for a short film with co-writer and producer Gregory Kasunich after their script won a production grant in the screenwriting competition at Deep in the Heart Film Festival this summer. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Lauren seeks to tell all stories through her inherent queer lens and particularly gifts her projects to her own community.
