Interview with Riley Weston
Written by: Elisa Balabram
Please tell us about your Education/background
I finished high school and tried college for a short time. As soon as my parents realized I was using it as an expensive hotel, I was done! I knew I wanted to be working so thankfully, it all ended well. Professional experience
I started at the very bottom, underground even! I was just an actress trying to get a job on a sitcom, not really caring about the project, people or the role. After a few years, I started thinking bigger and now I am a multi-hyphenate doing many things I never thought possible.
And how did it help you to build your business?
I believe all the hard work is now paying off. Finally! I simply never stopped trying out new things and seeing what worked. Fortunately for me, I’m a Virgo, and rarely do we try something just to try…we try something to succeed. I will always attempt the so-called impossible, knowing I will prove it to be very possible.
- How did you spot the opportunity to start your business?
It came down to control. Especially in the entertainment industry, women have to be responsible for their future, and not rely on a single person or company to make their dreams a reality. For me, it was about being involved in projects I felt passionate about. Whether I was the writer of those projects, or an actor in someone else’s project, I wanted to have that control.
- Tell us about your business and the products and/or services you provide.
Skippy Dog Productions is a production company. We produce feature films, movies for television, television shows, and most recently, a web-based internet series. Again, it’s all about the passion and excitement for a specific project.
- What were/are the most demanding conflicts or trade-offs you face as a business owner involved with entertainment?
When you’re trying to get projects in production, or finish a script, or get attached to someone else’s show/movie, there is simply no such thing as a weekend or a vacation. Very few people understand that. I’m lucky to have a very supportive family and a close bunch of girlfriends that do get that, but it’s hard when I don’t see my nieces as much as I would like to.
- What are your plans for the future?
There are a few projects that are in pre-production right now. One is a thriller called Stay and another is a family comedy called Summer at Dad’s. Both are out to directors right now. There is also my “Rocky” called before i go. A web-series I created called Being Bailey is headed to a website soon. Also, there’s a television movie I wrote called Black Widow that will be airing sometime this fall on Lifetime.
- What inspired you to write before i go?
The entire story for before i go came to me in the middle of the night. I was in some weird half-asleep, half-awake mode. I saw the whole movie play out in my head. It became a script first, then a book!
- Who do you consider being your audience?
My audience is mostly women, ranging anywhere from 18-84! I also have heard from many teenage girls which is awesome. And surprisingly, a decent amount of men have read it and hopefully now have a better understanding of the mother-daughter relationship.
- before i go has won literary awards, congratulations! What is the next step for the book?
The next step is seeing it get made into a movie. I have had a few offers but I know it’s going to take a special producer/production company that sees it as I do. And I am attached to play the role of Madison, which adds another level I think to the project.
- Have you started working on your next book?
Well…good question. Are my publishers reading this I wonder??? I actually have not started the next book yet. I have two I am deciding between. I just think about both until something happens where I just KNOW that is the story I am supposed to be writing. Same thing goes for my feature films.
- Does your business (or documentaries/movies/books) have a social purpose? If yes, what is it?
The biggest thing I try to incorporate is making readers/audiences, especially young adults, more aware of issues, without being preachy and uninteresting. Issues that include problems or topics in today’s society but also things that exist on a personal level. For example, in before i go, the main message is do not waste one single moment of your day. At any age, you don’t know where your life will take you on this journey so make the most of every minute, doing what you want, and doing what you love.
- Does it have a concern for the environment? If yes, how?
I just do what I can each day to make our world a better place than the day before. In the office and in my home, I am a little over the top with recycling. To the point people might want to physically harm me! I also buy organic/green products whenever possible.
- What advice would you give an aspiring filmmaker/author/artist?
In any area of entertainment, you must decide whether or not it’s worth it before getting into it. Meaning, you must decide whether the rejection and the struggle is something you are comfortable with for the rest of your life. It’s about never giving up and that is a huge commitment to make. I do think without it, this is not the best industry for you! If it’s the only thing you can think about, if it’s the thought that gets you up in the morning and it’s the last thought you have before you close your eyes, read the first part of this answer again! If you’re an aspiring author or writer of any kind, write something everyday. Do not edit yourself! Just keep writing in any form, whether it’s in a journal, a song, poetry, a short story. Just write. If it’s about acting or filmmaking, study everything you can. Any show, any movie, any actor’s performance. Simply put, it’s about never giving up. Ever.
For more information about Riley Weston, please visit www.rileyweston.com.