Meet Monét Ravenell | Filmmaker & Entrepreneur

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

Hi Monét, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I didn’t pursue a creative career because it felt safe or glamorous — I pursued it because it was the only way I knew how to make sense of the world and myself. Storytelling has always been how I process identity, power, and freedom — especially the invisible prisons we build in our own minds. As a filmmaker, I’m drawn to characters at breaking points — people who are stuck, manipulated, or trapped by belief systems — because I’ve lived that tension myself. Creativity became the place where I could interrogate those inner conflicts honestly, without pretending everything was fine or neatly resolved. Over time, that instinct expanded beyond film. I realized I was just as interested in helping real people rewrite their internal narratives as I was fictional ones. That’s what led me to build tools and systems that help creatives — move from confusion to clarity and action. Whether I’m directing a film or building a product, the goal is the same: to help people step out of who they think they’re supposed to be and into who they actually are. Choosing a creative path wasn’t about chasing a title. It was about choosing transformation — for myself first, and then for others.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My work centers on psychological transformation — specifically, the moment when a woman realizes she no longer wants to live inside the version of herself that was built by fear, expectation, or inherited belief systems. When someone watches one of my films, I want them to feel empowered to take action: to advocate for themselves, to gain clarity, to push past fear and do the thing they’ve been avoiding.

The question I return to again and again is: How do I become the best version of myself without becoming something I’m not? That tension shows up across my work — whether it’s The Outside, Shine, or Unauthorized — stories about women navigating identity, power, and the mental prisons we create in order to survive. I’m interested in what transformation actually costs, and where the line is between evolution and self-betrayal.

Professionally, my path has been nonlinear. I started as an actor, but I was consistently uninspired by the material I was auditioning for. That led me to teach myself screenwriting so I could create work I actually wanted to perform. As my scripts began placing in competitions and gaining recognition, I considered focusing solely on writing — but I realized I wasn’t willing to hand my stories over and lose creative control. Directing became the natural next step, not out of ambition, but out of necessity.

It wasn’t easy. The biggest challenge I had to overcome was self-trust. Early on, I relied too heavily on outside opinions, assuming more “seasoned” voices knew better. After a few outcomes that didn’t sit right with me, I learned that my strongest work comes when I bet on myself. That lesson reshaped how I move — creatively and professionally.

Along the way, I also had to unlearn the idea that success is purely monetary. I now define success as doing the thing you’re afraid of anyway. Good or bad, if you followed through, you moved forward — and that matters.

What I want people to know about my work and my brand is that transformation is possible when you learn to deprogram yourself. My films, and the tools I create outside of them, are ultimately about agency — reclaiming authorship over your identity, your choices, and your future. Right now, I’m focused on expanding that vision into a feature film, and continuing to tell stories that challenge women to stop shrinking and step fully into who they’re becoming.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were visiting, I’d give them an LA week that feels equal parts inspiring and grounding — very art-forward, very intentional, with room to breathe.

We’d start with The Getty. I haven’t been in a while, which honestly makes it even more special — it’s one of those places that recenters you creatively. The architecture, the light, the quiet… it’s the kind of space that reminds you why art matters. I love taking my time there, letting ideas marinate instead of rushing through.

From there, we’d head to the Downtown Arts District. It’s one of my favorite pockets of the city — murals, galleries, music floating out of unexpected places, and restaurants that feel creative without trying too hard. It’s a great place to wander, grab food, and soak up that raw, experimental LA energy.

Of course, we’d do the beach — specifically Manhattan Beach. I love it because it’s peaceful, clean, and surprisingly practical… there’s parking, which already makes it elite. If you get there early, before the surfers fully take over, it’s calm and grounding. Later in the day, we’d walk toward the pier where there’s always live entertainment, music, and a fun mix of bars and restaurants. It’s lively without feeling overwhelming.

If timing works, I’d definitely end the week with a concert at SoFi Stadium. There’s something about live music on that scale that feels cinematic — it’s one of those moments where LA really shows off. Art, energy, spectacle — all in one place.

That’s my ideal LA itinerary: culture, creativity, ocean air, and moments that feel inspiring rather than exhausting.

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?
I’d like to give my shoutout to Women of Color Filmmakers. Before becoming part of that community, I was at a real turning point creatively. I knew that if I wanted more creative control over my work, I needed to step into directing — but I didn’t yet have the tools, resources, or confidence to fully make that leap.

Through Women of Color Filmmakers, I was granted a directing fellowship that changed everything. Not only did it give me hands-on education and support, but my short film The Outside was developed through the fellowship, went on to win Best Film, and received a film grant. The founder, Landi, has built an incredible ecosystem of resources for women of color — whether you’re just getting started or looking to deepen your craft — and that kind of access and mentorship is truly transformative.

I also want to shout out the book Find Your Purpose, Change Your Life by Carol Adrienne. I read it at a time when I was feeling deeply lost, and it helped me put language to something I’d felt since childhood: that creativity wasn’t just something I enjoyed, it was central to who I am. If anyone reading this is questioning their direction or searching for clarity, it’s a powerful place to start.

On a more personal note, I’d be remiss not to acknowledge my mother — a single mother who built a life on her own terms. While our paths look very different, her resilience quietly shaped my own.

Website: https://www.monetravenell.com/

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

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