Meet Renee Ross | Writer, Actress, Educator

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

Hi Renee, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I’m a Baltimore girl at heart! It’s been all I’ve known until I made the big move to LA three years ago. It’s often labeled as a tough place to live but in my experience, there is such a beauty in its spirit. The people of Baltimore are funny, talented, creative, hardworking, and resilient. All qualities that I believe I possess as well. So much of my comedy is rooted in its unique culture. I’ve written two comedy pilots that take place there because I think the world would have so much fun taking a glimpse into our city.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I love to create art that makes people feel something. When people read my work or see me perform I want them laughing, or crying, or crying because they can’t stop laughing. I want people thinking deeply about their lives and asking themselves the hard questions. While most of what I create is comedic, I tend to focus on themes that explore how people typically are the biggest antagonists in their lives. My characters are messy and complicated. I’m incredibly vulnerable in my work. Every story that I’ve written, or character that I’ve performed speaks to some part of myself and I think that that sets me apart. It’s not always easy sharing your flaws, fears, mistakes, and losses with others but that openness makes space for connection. On the flip side, I also enjoy writing stories for and about brave kids with big dreams. I’ve worked in education for over ten years so I know the importance of representation in children’s media. When I write for kids, I’m writing for my former students.

I’m most proud of being part of the 2022 Writers’ Access Support Staff Training Program with The Writers Guild Foundation. One of my big goals is to be a television showrunner and this program has helped me lay the foundation for that to come to fruition. I’ve gotten to learn from tons of showrunners, writers, and support staff and that’s priceless to me. I remember just a few years ago I had no clue what writer assistants or script supervisors even did and now I’ve been trained by two of the best in the industry.

This journey has been an interesting one. I find myself straddling in between two worlds; film & television and education. For some time I felt I needed to give one up in order to thrive in the other, but I’ve realized that my experiences as an educator have given me inspiration for many of the stories I’ve written, and my creativity has allowed me to be a phenomenal teacher. The lesson I’ve learned from that is it’s okay to be passionate about more than one thing.

I’ve also learned that consistency goes a long way and the small actions you take each day will ultimately lead you to your dreams. When I first started improv in 2018, the thought of living in LA, performing in Hollywood, and writing scripts seemed farfetched, overwhelming even. I had no clue how in the world I was going to make that happen but I kept taking classes, reading pilots, performing in free shows and now I’m here doing all those things and more. The path for me to get here revealed itself after each small step I took. When I look back I’m always amazed by how far I come. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me.

What I want the world to know about me is that I am “doing it scared.” So much of my journey to this point has been me forcing myself out of my comfort zone and doing things that terrify me. It’s been me tuning out imposter syndrome and working hard to gain confidence and trust in my gifts and abilities. It’s not easy and some days I struggle with it but I deserve to have the life I dreamed of and I’m more than equipped to make it happen. I hope my story gives people the audacity to dream big too!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
To start we’re going to some museums. The artsy girl in me can’t have my friends pulling up here and not experiencing firsthand the works of artists like Basquiat, Mickalene Thomas, Andy Warhol, etc. So I’d take them to The Broad and on another day we’d go to the Mr. Brainwash museum which is a lot more interactive.

Then, we have to do some window shopping on Melrose. The strip is filled with shoe stores and cute boutiques. If there are any sneakers you’ve been unlikely to find, I guarantee you’ll spot a pair there. After we’re done, we can head to Happy Ice, a Black-owned business to get some delicious Philadelphia water ice. My favorite flavor to get is the Rainbow!

To experience some good LA vibes I’d take them to Black Market Flea. This is one of my favorite recurring events that has a little of everything for everyone. There’s music, vendors, food, and drinks.

Lastly, we have to see some shows! I’d take them to UCB to catch an improv show, then we’d go next door to Birds to get dinner and drinks. To close out we’d go see stand-up at the Laugh Factory during their Chocolate Sundaes show. They always have a fire line up and the comedians there will have you rolling. If we’re lucky enough a big name might come through.

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?
My family, friends, mentors, and improv, sketch, and screenwriting teachers all deserve recognition for affirming and supporting me on this journey. It truly takes a village, and over the years, their belief in me has helped me remain focused and persistent. I wouldn’t have made it this far without them.

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-ross/

Other: https://linktr.ee/reneeross

Image Credits
Jasper Lewis