Meet Ashante Lanay | Filmmaker and Photographer

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

Hi Ashante, how do you think about risk?
Risks are everything, I took a risk by moving to LA in a van, by myself with less than $600. It wasn’t the easiest but it was fun and everything worked out, I think you just have to trust yourself completely.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m at this stage where I’ve kinda just started becoming confident in creating art because I used to just keep everything in and be scared to experiment, so I’m experimenting and finding myself but living in LA as a young adult and experiencing life definitely helps me as an artist. I am excited to see what type of artist I bloom into and what I contintue to create. I dont know whats next for me, my mind changes a lot and I am a bit impulsive so some of my art will reveal that. I am nowhere near where I want to be in terms of professionally but where I am not didn’t come so easily, it wasn’t the hardest either though, it’s honestly just about putting yourself out there and getting out of your comfort zone. I want the world to know that I literally started from nothing. I put myself out there and moved to LA at 19 because there was so much I was missing out on living in East St.Louis. I am constantly working towards finding myself and my art will be forever evolving as I am alive.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Theres such a great community in LA and since my friends and family are from the midwest, LA has so much to see. I would take them to the hills to see all the nice houses, venice beach to ride bikes, leimert park on a sunday, the farmers market in DTLA on a Sunday morning, and Palos Verdes to see the views.

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 would like to give thanks to my family of course, they’ve been as supportive as they could since I’ve moved to LA. I also just had a niece so welcome to the world Ayah. Of course I have to thank my dear friend Idris, he has taught me a lot about photography and I think we’re a great team when it comes to filmmaking. Thank you to Justice for my sister for allowing me to get my first PA gig, that was really big to me. It’s really exciting to be on set, I love it. Thank you to Art Division and my instructors Joe and Leopoldo y’all are great. Thanks to my girlfriend Deb for keeping me sane and inspiring in new ways that others cannot. And of course thanks to myself because she deserve a thanks as well.

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/

Youtube: https://youtu.be/sopO6T_kNH4