Meet Steph West | Author, Producer, Director

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

Hi Steph, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
My vision at both my production and publishing companies is to act as a catalyst in changing the narrative of women’s lives by helping them own more stories in this world. My mission is to serve women and provide them opportunities to tell stories that entertain, excite, inspire, and make people think. This support cuts across the entire cycle of learning for women from development and education support to offering opportunities for industry pros. At any level, the mission is to help women strengthen their voice and opportunities in the film and publishing industries and partner with organizations who offer the same mission.

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 think the hardest part of being a creative is finding your voice and then standing behind it.

Creative people are the most vulnerable people in the professional world because what they bring to the table comes from a very personal place. When you see a design or a story or a video or a painting or a sculpture, etc., it’s personal to the artist because it is a piece of them. It comes from their background and their stories and who they are. It’s a point of view. So when they put it out into the world, they open themselves up to criticism that is not just about the piece itself, but about them as a human being. That kind of criticism can either make you stronger or shrink you back into your shell.

For me, it took a while to first figure out what artistic medium I wanted to work in, and then once I found the two I was passionate about, I had to figure out what kind of art I wanted to create. Drama or comedy? Nonfiction or fiction? Documentaries or narratives? Which genre? And then, did I want to make a statement or did I want to entertain? What was my philosophy around the purpose of art? I had to walk through those phases like every artist does. Some can do that quickly, but not me. It takes me time to get to those final answers. I like to explore and try new things until I find what fits. And that’s not easy or comfortable. I had to be okay with a lot of uncertainty, making a lot of mistakes, and bearing a lot of criticism until I found my way. And the only way to get to good is to go through it, not around it.

For me, I landed on the singular goal of creating opportunities for other women in film and publishing, which includes the act of story creation as a writer, director, actress, editor, etc., but also behind the scenes as well, in crew positions and office positions like producing, financing, distribution, etc. Women need to own more stories, period. It is an indisputable fact. Women do not, still to this day, have nearly as many opportunities to own storytelling as men do. You can view a more specific report here: https://womenintvfilm.sdsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2022-23-Boxed-In-Report.pdf

From a content perspective, I landed in the drama space with focuses on sports, crime, action/adventure, and science fantasy. Think Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Reacher, true crime. I’d like to explore the dramedy and romantic comedy space in the future. My philosophy is to entertain. I think art is at its best when the audience enjoys the ride. If you can also make them think, then you’ve added a cherry to the top.

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?
In Columbus, there are so many hot spots, depending on what you love to do. For me, because I’m a sports fan, I would direct people to the Arena District and then the five mile stretch of High Street that extends from German Village all the way through the University District. I think Experience Columbus calls it Five on High. But I’d start at Nationwide Arena for a Blue Jackets game or Huntington Park for a Clippers baseball game or Crew Stadium for an MLS game (Memorial Tournament in the spring!), then head to RBar, owned by Michael Darr, for a beer and wings. I’d hit the North Market for a variety of foods, flowers, and other artisan items and maybe cruise to the Columbus Museum of Art. The King Lincoln District is a must-see for art and the Book Loft in German Village is just a fantastic book store to wander around. You can follow that up with Jeni’s ice cream. And while it’s not in the Five on High, Grandview is a pretty awesome place to park your car and walk around. There’s a little indie theater, Stauff’s coffee shop, and a Jeni’s there, too. Plus, you’ve got the big stuff like the Columbus Zoo up in Powell and you can grab Graeter’s ice cream after that (which you have to get the chocolate chunk of any flavor, just for the chocolate chunks. I like the Black Raspberry). And after all that, hop on Riverside Drive and just drive, baby. It’s beautiful if you pick it up from downtown and drive it all the way to the Zoo. I know there’s more, but those are my favorites.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I can’t think of anything I’ve done that didn’t involve the support and mentorship of other people. My faith is also a huge factor in my ability to get things done. Obviously my daughter and my mom are huge supporters, but it’s also former editors and coworkers, very good friends, and other mentors. If I named one, I’d have to name them all and the list is too long. And I mean that in a sincere way. I’m humbled every day by the number of people who have supported, mentored, and believed in me. Because of them, I strive to do my best every day to make something of myself and to move the needle for others, especially women.

Website: https://stephaniewest.org/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieannwest/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorStephWest

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@elevenoneproductions

Image Credits
Images provided by Eleven One Productions