Thanks for having me and allowing me to talk about myself in a setting that isn’t a first date.

I am doing quite a bit of script-writing and grant applications. My producing partner at 180 Sisterhood Productions, Rebeka Herron, and I have multiple projects in the works. 2020 should be a very busy year for filming. We’ll announce some exciting co-collaborations in the New Year.

I started out as an actor but I wanted to make connections in the industry so I worked as a Production Assistant. I learned a lot about the behind-the-scenes process and really fell in love with that process. I learned a lot of lessons the hard way, but now I feel like I’m hitting my stride and understanding the business now. I started writing because I had stories to tell and now script-writing is something I do everyday. There’s a great app for the script-writing program, Final Draft, and I have it on my phone. If I’m on a streetcar, in my room, on a plane or on my couch, I’m usually writing. I think it’s important to make your own work because if you’re sitting around waiting for opportunities, you’re putting someone else in charge of the wheel of your vehicle. That’s putting a lot of trust in someone else and also, it gives you no control. I now see this business the same as I see any business. I come from a family of business-owners and I’ve learned a lot about how to run a business through them. I did the waiter/actress thing in the past and felt like I wasn’t moving forward as quickly as I wanted to, so I started writing and producing. I began writing and producing my own material to move my career towards the direction I wanted it to go. Business is always unpredictable, but if you’re putting in the work everyday and build a phenomenal team, you will eventually yield results.

When I wrote that, I was thinking about why I do what I do. I do it because I have goals and stories to tell and I want to learn and grow. I don’t think there’s ever a destination because we’re always setting new goals and meeting new people to collaborate with. There is no “I’ve made it, now I’m going to sit on a beach somewhere.” I mean, trust me, I love sitting on beaches for a couple of hours, but I’m not looking to retire. I hope to always tell stories. I think it’s important to see life as an ongoing journey of growth, collaboration and adventure. A writing partner, Daley Blake Smith (formerly known as Tyler Blake Smith) recently passed away. He was also a brilliant actor and human being. We wrote a feature film together, Not All Who Wander Are Lost, that was filled with life-lessons. He was the kind of person who talked about life-lessons in his daily life. I strive to be like Daley and look for the deeper meaning and the bigger picture every day.

Acting is a weird thing. We’re all people yet we sit in classes and learn how to be people in front of an audience or a camera. I think it’s because we often have walls up in our everyday lives. We have to try and tear those walls down and be vulnerable. I love acting, and I’ve met some really great people through it and been to some really cool places for film festivals. What I don’t love about the business of acting is the lack of acting jobs available. We don’t always get the opportunities that we hope for and sometimes we do. Sometimes we get a ton of auditions, but that still doesn’t mean we’re booking any work. That’s why I create! Creating roles for others whose work you admire is the fulfilling thing for me. I think that’s why I’m writing and producing now more than I’m acting. Acting will always please my soul, it’s fun…but creating with others, writing, building worlds and making characters come to life is where I find true joy.

“Kick it to the boot!” My Grandma Sutherland said this about something that wasn’t serving me in a positive way, and I’ve always remembered her saying that, and air-kicking something imaginary while saying it. She was a strong and hilarious woman who taught me how to be patient but then also showed me when it was appropriate to say, “Enough is enough.”

All of the guests have! I am so impressed by how much I learn about life and people from doing each episode. Every guest has opened-up so much. I can’t believe how brave they are. By sharing their voices, who knows who they’re helping? It’s really important to me to share women’s voices, because we were oppressed for so long. Everyone has a cool story if you give them a chance to tell it.

I think we shot that four years ago and it’s been the gift that keeps on giving! I met two of my best friends through that project, Matthew Sauvé and Voitek Pendrak. (Voitek is shooting my Directorial-debut: MILK in November and Matthew is like a solid rock of wisdom and advice in this nutty world.) I remember being nervous for the auditions, because I didn’t know the filmmakers going into it, but I really liked the script. I love that Travis, played by Matthew, has a big moral decision weighing on him. We all make these decisions regularly, not to the degree of his, necessarily, but it is a very relatable theme. I was thrilled to book the role and it has brought me to some really great places since, like Milan, Italy and Sudbury, Ontario! I love travelling and meeting new people and I’ve made some really great friends from these festivals. A couple of them have been guests on the Kickbutt Ladies Podcast! It’s been screening word-wide and has opened a lot of doors. Fusion International Film Festivals have been really great to us, and we also recently received a CTV: Best in Shorts award here in Canada, which is a huge honour.

Yes! We have feature films in the works. Christmas movies, comedies, thrillers. We’re hitting all the bases. We’re very excited about this new venture and about our upcoming projects. If you think you might want to collaborate with us or ask for any advice on producing and writing or even submit a reel and headshot for upcoming projects, feel free to reach out. Our email is: 180sisterhoodproductions@gmail.com. I email people in the industry for advice sometimes, so I’m happy to also give back any advice I might be able to give.

On the screen: My Roommate’s an Escort and V-Wars which I believe both release before year’s end. In real life: you can probably find me in a coffee shop or jogging outside while I can before the snow lands or on my instagram, @trishrainone1 posting daily stories and photos. I’m a social media person. I’m on Twitter, Facebook and have instagram pages for most of my projects, including the podcast and 180 Sisterhood Productions.

Ah thanks so much- that was great fun.