Meet Elaine Roberts | Executive Producer & Co-Founder

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

Hi Elaine, how does your business help the community or the world?

Chase Your Dreams Productions believes social responsibility is what allows for society to strengthen and improve towards a better future. Our company is committed to creating positive impacts in all sectors and feel this should be the standard way all businesses should perform. 

Being based in Miami, Florida allows us to be close to the ocean and along with having the access of enjoying beautiful beaches, we engage in the responsibility to keep our oceans healthy by applying sustainability methods in-house as well as for our film productions. 

Our films include important themes regarding climate change in order to help voice this critical matter through our entertainment platform. “O2 Negative: Death and Rebirth of Seeker 4143” is our award-winning sci-fi feature film about a girl who survives an atmospheric event and is captured and placed in a training center for elite soldiers known as Seekers. This film was inspired by the global warming events occurring today and to bring about awareness to the important matter. 

Our upcoming CYD Foundation creates opportunities for the young and diverse generation  to dive into their passion, learn their selected trade with firsthand experience, and use them to create a positive social impact while rising to attain their dreams.

Our commitment expands to environmental sustainability, wildlife conservation, and human rights on a global scale. Chase Your Dreams takes pride in partnering with local and international organizations to aid in having a positive impact in the global community. We welcome organizations to join us and establish ventureships to support valuable causes for the greater benefit of the world.

Please tell us more about your art. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

I grew up loving the arts. My mom loved performing and encouraged my sister and I to do so. My dad loved filming and editing and I took after him. While growing up these were hobbies while attending school which later I continued pursuing in a freelance manner. When Chase Your Dreams Productions was incorporated that allowed for things to be more at the forefront. I entered the world of filmmaking and as any independent filmmaker would know, making your first film on any level is a challenge on its own and the only way to overcome it is by finishing the film.

I’m mostly proud of our short film “One Last Breath”, which was selected to be a part of the Paterson Falls and Flathead Lake International Cinemafest events. It also received a screening invitation by the Miami Indie Film Festival and was officially invited by HollyShorts. I’m also very proud of our first feature film “O2 Negative: Death and Rebirth of Seeker 4143” which I co-wrote and produced to critical acclaim. It won the Calcutta International Cult Film Festival and was nominated at the Golden Fox Awards. It was also officially selected in the Prince of Prestige Academy Awards and Auckland International Film Festival and received an Honorable Mention at the Silver Scream Film & Comic Festival.

I’m also proud of “The Pill”, a short film we managed to do last year in the midst of the pandemic with an international team. It is currently in the film festival circuit and will premiere at the San Jose Film Festival October 22, 2021.

I’m excited for our latest feature film “The Woods Encounters: The Movie” which also faced challenges throughout the pandemic, but we had a great team that managed to pull through. The film is currently in post-production and being distributed by HPD Media.

I think the most important lesson I like to pass on to other filmmakers starting out is that it’s okay to start at ground zero, meaning a no-budget film. Make a passion project, develop it and produce it from start to finish. Only then will you know exactly what it takes to be a filmmaker. 

I’m prominently a writer/producer. I write my stories that take the audience on adventures but will always contain themes with positive messages no matter the genre. I also love producing because I love helping others bring their dreams and creations to life. 

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. In your view what are some of the most fun, interesting, exciting people, places or things to check out?

There’s always a few things I think everyone that visits LA should do. I love the beach so that is always a must. I love taking others to the Santa Monica pier. I love cruising the PCH. And I love theme parks so I’ll always try to squeeze in Universal Studios and Disneyland. 

Alright, so let’s jump right in! The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there a person, group, organization, book, etc that you want to dedicate your shoutout to? Who else deserves a little credit and recognition in your story?

Rick Roberts-Kercheff, the founder of Chase Your Dreams Productions, is a writer, director and producer. He was my first partner in the film industry and a highly talented filmmaker who not only strives to chase his dreams but believes in helping others do the same. I learned a lot and am grateful to have gotten the chance to work alongside him for many years.

Tina Imahara has been a film editor in the business for many years and she created a Facebook Group called “The Entertainment Industry Collaborators” which is a great space to receive mentorship. 

Kaia Alexander, who was a development executive and a business counselor, has many years of experience in the industry and recently created “The Entertainment Business League” cohort for anyone interested in learning about the business side of the entertainment industry.

Lastly but not least, I’d like to give a shoutout to our friends and family who always support us in all of our film projects which make the experience and journey that much more special. 

Website: https://chaseyourdreamsinc.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laineycyd/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elainerobertscyd/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/elainecyd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laineyro

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1hK_JOtH8OEJXGLOyIlsMA?app=desktop

Other: https://www.facebook.com/chaseyourdreamsinc

Image Credits
David Verjana Elaine Roberts Monika Frias