Meet Lisa Bolden | Filmmaker, Photographer, Writer, Actor and Editor

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

Hi Lisa, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk has been a consistent force in my adventure with filmmaking. I think I’m a risky human, but without the need to skydive or gamble. My risks come in the form of instability. Picking up and moving cross-country on a whim, spending my last dollars on a new camera without the promise of new work, shooting on the back of motorcycle in the middle of a thunderstorm. I think there is a trust inside me, that I am doing what I’m meant to be doing and so I follow the call wherever it is. Sometimes the call tells me to bring my gear white water rafting, sometimes it tells me to buy a camper and live on the road, sometimes it asks me to please mud wrestle in the dark in a forest with only flashlights and a go pro to illuminate the memories. I love risk. It makes me feel alive, and when I get too far from it, I become thin and disconnected from who I am. Risk reminds me to keep moving. To never feel too satiated with where I am, to slow or stop completely. I know there is more possibility for failure or success or the many shades in between, so I keep it moving.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Hi! My name is Lisa Bolden, I’m a filmmaker, photographer and very active creative person. Art is fulfilling to me, so I am constantly working on something new and strange. I have a lot of living to do, so I’m keeping it busy, passionate and moving! I’m proud to be so genuinely dedicated, almost involuntarily, to creating. I’m a DIYer, do-it-all from concept, to set design, to wardrobe, to shooting, to acting to editing. I love being so involved in projects from start to finish. I started when I was a pre-teen, obsessed with using our family video camera to shoot and edit weird skits, and I’ve had a camera in my hand since. About 12 years ago I left my hospitality job to pursue video fulltime. There has been a lot of hard work, time, relationship building etc., but it hasn’t felt *hard*, if that makes sense. It has been the greatest and most consistently gratifying effort of my life. It feels easy for me to love filmmaking, and any obstacles I’ve come up against have paled in comparison. Money has been hard at times as a freelancer, but the ebb always flows again. My biggest challenge has been fear. Fear of not being “good” enough. Fear of not knowing things in front of people. BUT! I’m finally pushing that fear aside and moving to Los Angeles this fall! I really feel it in my soul that I’m meant to work on films with creative teams.
Over the years I’ve learned many lessons, but the most important of all has been trusting my vision. There are a lot of voices in this world, and even some in your own head that can topple your confidence. My vision is strong. It is good and striking and powerful. I am powerful!
And for people to know about me- I’m sincere. My very favorite thing is moving people with my work. The best videos are always sentimental in some way. I love to observe people and then show them how I see them. People, animals, the world is beautiful and I’m here to reflect that back to people.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite spots in the city are anywhere my friends are. And they have shown me incredible things in the city. -Walk around Highland Park, Pasadena, Eagle Rock, many neighborhoods on the east side. The fruit trees, gardens, cacti, tropical flowers, dogs, birds- all incredible and entertaining.
-Eat at Joy, a Taiwanese restaurant in Highland Park that has consistently shattered my reality
-Huntington Gardens- Absolutely stunning.
-Griffith Park for hikes and views
-Donut Friend for yum doughnuts
-Taco truck in Boyle Heights- Not telling you which one, you must go have a journey

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to my friends. I could’ve never dreamed up the gossamer web of love I find myself floating in, resting on, bouncing up to the highest of heights from. My friends (my brother included) have bolstered me with such a force of love, compliments, critiques and reflections of who I am and the art I’ve produced. I believe in love because of them. Real, true love.

Website: www.lisabolden.com

Instagram: @lisahoneybee

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lisahoneybee.tiktok