Meet Chase Torrence | Award-winning Story Filmmaker

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

Hi Chase, how does your business help the community?
I have one mission when I am scriptwriting: underrepresented characters will always drive the narrative. I aspire to amplify and celebrate underrepresented voices and communities with my work. My goal in life is to change the world and make it a more compassionate and inclusive place. I actively find ways to incorporate my life experiences, skill sets, and background into my work in order to challenge society and rewrite what is considered “normal.” I want to challenge the status quo. I have committed to creating content and telling stories that are real and unapologetic. I believe that telling your truth and doing so boldly can be the most revolutionary and socially impactful forms of art. It is in that approach that one can disrupt norms and spark conversation. To put it simply, my storytelling will strive to break through the antiquated standards of artistry and does so from a place of authenticity and truth.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Growing up in a small conservative town I always felt out of place and different. I am a gay Black man of mixed race and never really fit in with the people and environment around me. I also grew up in a single-parent household where my mother was a waitress which resulted in us living off her tips and very small wages. Due to this circumstance, I had to grow up very quickly and did not have much time for my childhood. However, when I found time to be a kid, I found myself making up and creating magical worlds, characters, and creatures. As a child, I thought I was just having fun, but as I grew up I realized I had a gift of storytelling and a vivid and wild imagination that needed to be explored.

In the 11 years since I have lived in Los Angeles and worked in entertainment, I started to realize was that there were not many characters for me, or about me, on the screen. There were a few anomalies, but nothing that had longevity or spoke truth to the many layers and facets of my identity. That is when I decided to write characters and stories that look, feel, and think the way I do. In that discovery, I realized that other underrepresented folks probably felt the same way. That is when I made it a priority to always have someone from an underrepresented community be the protagonist in my stories. These characters are not just supporting characters, but characters that drive the plot and push the narrative.

What my life journey has taught me thus far is that if a queer Black kid raised by a single mother in a small conservative town can make it this far, then anything is possible. That if I can make it this far with having so little, the only thing that can hold me back is myself. I am an activist, an artist, a social justice warrior, and a soon-to-be culture changer. I hope that when my time comes to leave this earth that I am remembered as someone who used his story, his traumas, his life experiences, and his point of view to change the world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Even though I have lived in Los Angeles for over a decade I am still learning all of its beauty and culture. However, I have found some gems and would take my friends too. We would have to try Broad Street Oyster Company and get some delicious Lobster Rolls and walk down to Malibu beach and enjoy them by the ocean. At night we would then go to rooftop bar EP&LP to enjoy cocktails and the outdoor summer nights. Other times throughout the week would go on the Pasadena waterfall hike at Eaton Canyon, dance the night away at the Queensbury, and make multiple trips to Tsujitia Annex and get some of the most top tier gourmet ramen.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be where I am without my mother, my sister, my best friends, and Emmy-award-winning writer, Lena Waithe. My family established the values I have of hard work and chasing your dreams. From a young age, my mother always taught me to never settle and to shoot for the stars. My sister has always been my biggest cheerleader which helped me develop a sense of courage to keep going. It is them that I have the fire and drive to keep going and never stop. As for my best friends, they are the support system and loyal base that catch me when I fall. They give me honest feedback, brush off the dust when I fail, and pick me back up when it is time to keep going. Lena Waithe is the reason I am a storyteller today. To see a fellow queer person of color succeed and strive for greatness was the final piece of the puzzle for me. She provided a path that I never knew existed and has been a champion for folks like me. After being accepted into her Hillman Grad Mentorship program she has provided me with resources and classes to sharpen my skills as a storyteller – something that I eternally grateful for. It is this circle and network that has got me to where I am today. I am nothing without them.

Website: achasemproejct.com

Instagram: instagram.com/xchasemichael

Twitter: twitter.com/xchasemichaelx

Youtube: achasemproject.com