Meet Riley Rudy | Writer/Director/Actor

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

Hi Riley, we’d love to hear more about your end-goal, professionally.
I used to think the end goal was accolades. I used to think the end goal was a picture on a piece of paper. A house, awards, freshly watered plants. It’s taken me years into my artistic journey to realize the end result doesn’t really matter. Candidly, it’s something I often have to remind myself. A mantra I repeat in my head as I get denied from festival after festival. The only thing that matters is the process of making something. I cannot tell you how depressed I get after I finish shooting something. It is the worst feeling in the world. It quite literally feels like a piece of my heart has been ripped out. I feel empty after making something and high while making it. My end goal doesn’t look like anything in particular. My end goal is a feeling. A feeling of constantly being creative and never feeling that emptiness. Always getting to create and work on something. By the end of my career, my goal is for that creative feeling to be present always. It’s an honor to be creative and one we take for granted. One that gets bogged down by shiny, pretty things.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My mom was an agent and my dad was an actor. It surprised nobody that by the age of three I told people I was going to be an actor. It was in my blood. There isn’t a memory of mine that doesn’t involve acting. It was never something I questioned. I had a psychic tell me acting was like breathing for me. Although I rolled my eyes in the moment, I think there’s some truth in that statement. So for about twenty five years I was a self titled actor. I took classes and classes and more classes. For years I sat in a chair watching scenes and monologues and plays. I think this is all helpful context because without countless hours of listening behind me, I would never feel the need to shout as much as I do.

Once I discovered that I could write and direct it was like the flood gates opened. My art became so inherently personal because for twenty five years I felt silenced. In school, I would get in fights with my professors. I was always silently directing. There was something in me telling me that this wasn’t it for me.

I thought actors had a voice. And they do, to an extent. If you have a great director, you get a voice. But, that’s not always the case. Once I realized that I could write my story, and tell it exactly how I wanted, I never wanted to stop doing that. My art feels personal because I’m writing, directing and acting in everything I do. I’ve gone back and forth in my head about this. Maybe I shouldn’t do it all. But, I don’t think I will ever be the most talented director. I actually know very little technically. I will never be the best writer, I still don’t know how to spell most words. But, where I shine is doing all of the things. Being a leader. A title I’ve always shied away from. But, it’s a skill in it of itself. I know it’s what sets me apart. It’s really vulnerable because if your art is bad there’s nobody else to blame besides you. But, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m an east side girl through a through. We wouldn’t even touch the westside. I would do a day in Los Feliz. We’d start the morning at Maru and people watch. The line is so comically LA. Then, we’d head to courage bagels for another ridiculously long line, but it would give us time to catch up. I’d force my friend to order the tomato bagel. They’d become addicted and we’d probably go two or three more times before they left. Then, we’d go the Los Feliz 3 to catch a movie at the American Cinemateque. I’d take them to a cool, old movie that was showing. They would be charmed by the decor and smell of popcorn. We’d conclude the night at Little Dom’s where we’d order two espresso martinits and the spaghetti and meatballs.

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 someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
When I thought I was only meant to be an actor, I would keep every rejection letter on my computer. It was properly titled, “no.” I would send hundreds of emails begging agents and managers to look at me. I’d send silly, goofy, quirky emails pleading essentially for them to grace me with one minute of their time. It was a really confusing period of time for me. I studied at USC and Columbia University. I was trained. Too trained. Overly trained. I thought people would be knocking down my door. They’d be begging for me. But, no. They’d ask what I’d been in. To which I would respond, “school.” “Anything else?” “More school hehe.” It was a dead end. It sounds silly to thank all these agents and managers. But, if it weren’t for all those no’s I would’ve never known I had a voice beyond acting. I was so frustrated that nobody would look at me that I gave up trying to prove myself. Instead, I focused my energy on making something. If one of those agents and managers had taken me, I might still be auditioning. I would’ve never started writing and directing. So, I’m thankful for everyone who passed on me because it lead me down a path that changed my life forever. And, for the better.

Instagram: @riley__rudy