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Meet Melissa Farley

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Farley.

Melissa, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My story, like most, is ever-evolving. I’m currently in the process of closing one chapter of my life story by leaving corporate journalism after nearly a decade of working for the USA TODAY Network. I got my start at the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com doing data entry for the events calendar and throughout my career there, I wore many hats. Eamanach year, I did something different which kept the job feeling new and exciting. From events planning to managing a parenting website called AlltheMoms.com to social media strategy and joining the innovation team, Gannett offered me a lot of opportunities to challenge myself creatively and professionally and grow into the person I am today.

My most recent position has been to manage a team of 18 wickedly smart and talented digital producers who handle content for 32 sites throughout the network. It was an honor to cultivate their natural abilities and see the incredible things they could accomplish. But, for years now, I have had that little voice inside of me whispering that it was time to bust out on my own and see what I could really do. Unleash all these secret powers I knew I had inside of myself. So, with a lot of excitement and a thin layer of sheer terror, I am finally going rogue! Everybody wants to know what my plan is and the truth is, for the first time in my life, there isn’t one. And that feels freaking fantastic. I hope to finish writing a novel I started a while back over the fall and winter months about a young woman who goes on a roadtrip across the American southwest looking for her father that went missing. There will be classic Americana, aliens, sarcasm, sentiment and a hint of Christmas spirit. I’m also doing social media marketing for several production companies in Arizona and will be working with the Arizona Film and Media Coalition’s legislative committee to bring tax incentives for film back to the state. The big news is that I’ll be launching my own company called “Inspired By…” which is an online marketplace that will tell the stories of southwestern creators and artists through stunning multimedia presentations, powerful interviews and digital storytelling all while offering a seamless shopping experience of unique products and designs.

If you’re a creator, designer or artist in AZ, I’d love to collaborate with you. One of the things I’m most thrilled about this transition is the freedom to dive deeper into filmmaking with my husband and our company Patty Melt Studios. We’ve got a couple of really great shorts up our sleeve that we’re on fire to make after wrapping our first feature film together called “Moving Ashley.” I started as an actor in 2008, and have been granted the privilege to play some remarkable roles and work with everyone from FOX, HBO, Criss Angel and more, but as of late I’ve felt drawn to directing and am pursuing that with curiosity and fresh enthusiasm. Basically, I’m entering a period of exploration and possibility.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh, heck no! Most of the struggles and challenges have been of my own creation. What’s that song lyric from Paula Cole? “And it is me who is my enemy. Me who beats me up. Me who makes the monsters. Me who strips my confidence” I have been my own roadblock for a better part of my life. I struggle with ‘Imposter Syndrome’ gravely and continually doubt myself. I suppose that’s normal for brooding creatives. The truth is that I’ve battled depression and chronic migraines for most of my adult life. With that combo, I can spend days in bed if I give in, but I’ve found that I have the power to control my brain and not the other way around. I consciously choose every day to surround myself with good things – uplifting people, positive messaging, healthy habits and seek out love and joy the way most people ferociously climb a corporate ladder.

There was a long time where I believed my emotions were a weakness, but truthfully, they are quite remarkable. My empathy has allowed me to not only go deep as an actor, but be a better manager and a better person and not in spite of it, but because of it. The second you stop letting other people define you or label you is the second you start living in your own greatness. I wish it didn’t take me this long to figure that out and I’ll probably have to keep reminding myself of that along the way. I’m sure I’ll face many unfamiliar challenges as I become a new entrepreneur and I have all the usual concerns about finances and such, but I’ve adapted this approach to viewing life as an experiment. Now, when I fail, it doesn’t feel so life or death, it just feels like finding one way something doesn’t work. On to the next experiment! But seriously, for someone who is extremely analytical and aware that the devil is in the details, change can feel momentous, even paralyzing. I had a lot of chances to let go a lot sooner and I just wasn’t ready. I kept clinging to the good and missing the best. I think it’s very easy to get comfortable in a place of safety and routine, but when you think about all that you’re sacrificing (personal happiness, passion, time) to stay in a place of mediocrity, it doesn’t make sense. People in your life can be well-meaning and advise you to stay at or take the job that pays well and has medical benefits, but it’s up to you to decide if that’s what is really right for you. It took me a long time to stop letting other people make those decisions for me and I’m still learning about my inner strength each and every day.

What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
I’ve been an actor for the last 12 years. My passion is film but I’d love to end up working as a series lead and doing voice acting for a video game character! One of my favorite roles to play was Anne Boleyn in a period piece and one of the most intense rolls I’ve ever done is in a dark film called “Grief.’ You can check out all of my work on IMDB at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4426539/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1. It’s humbling to bring these incredible stories to life and discover so much about yourself in the process. My time as an actor led to a natural progression into directing. My husband is an Emmy-award winning photographer and videographer so he’s the man behind the camera and together we have a fun lineup of films we will be working on over the next year under our Patty Melt Studios umbrella. Our first feature film ‘Moving Ashley,’ which I always say is a like Rom-Com without the romance, is a story of unexpected friendship and will be making the festival circuit soon. Also coming soon is our ‘Inspired By…’ online marketplace. If you want to get a first look and stay in the loop on updates, check out Arizona.Clothing to subscribe to our newsletter and if you’re a designer, creator, artist, fashionista or influencer, we’d love to tell your story and work together! I am an experienced improv and acting/hosting for the camera coach as part of Fun Sized Production which I founded and have taught at several studios throughout Arizona. Classes can be structured for all ages and levels including new or beginning actors, experienced/senior actors or for corporate team building or professional video hosting and broadcast. We are so thrilled to highlight all of the amazing work that originates from Phoenix and AZ by letting them share their stories and their inspiration and show why they call Arizona home.

What’s your outlook for the industry in our city?
I’ve always thought Arizona is a hidden gem. I have such a deep love for the desert and the people here. There is no other place quite like Arizona and it is the uniqueness of this place that makes it shine. This is the whole reason we wanted ‘Inspired By…’ to focus on local talent and all things southwest. With our unparalleled natural beauty, diverse population, dynamic culture and blooming downtown, we are ripe to explore and show the world who we are. We are so thrilled to highlight all of the amazing work that originates from Phoenix and AZ by letting them share their stories and their inspiration and why the call Arizona home. I’m proud to say that I’m an Arizona native, born and raised. This was a bit of a challenge when I was acting full time and while Los Angeles, New Mexico or even Atlanta might be more obvious choices for actors, there is still a community of dedicated and prolific filmmakers here as well as advocates fighting to get better tax incentives to make Arizona Hollywood’s backlot. There’s so much opportunity here for local businesses too, thanks to organizations like Local First Arizona. They have essentially revitalized whole communities and built such a strong foundation for us to thrive off of.

Pricing:

  • – Social Media Marketing: $30-50 per hour depending on project
  • – To book me for theatrical or commercial acting please contact Debora Maddox Agency at 800-518-8640
  • – Project Management Consultation or public speaking: $125 per hour
  • – Improv coaching or team building classes: $100-150 per hour

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Synergistic Studios, Pat Shannahan, Filmstock Film Festival, Larry Hannelin, Scott Hays Photography

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