Who Am I?

My entire life, from a very young age, all I’ve ever wanted was to be an artist. The triple threat singer, actress, filmmaker trope that was popular in the 90s was my dream. I wrote my first screenplay when I was 8 years old, and acting was basically the only thing I played as a kid. I sang like my life depended on it(because it did-but that’s a story for another time.) But, I didn’t get to live that dream, at least not yet. I was raised in a high control religion sometimes outright cult, sometimes bordering on it, and I was constantly berated about how artists go to hell, and hell was an inconceivably horrifying place to be.

So, I longed for a new life in secret, and wished I had not been born at all.

Throughout my healing journey, I have fought to find ways to do what I love most. As I grow, I have had the opportunity to work and learn in many different arenas. I have designed patterns and websites, published poetry, been paid for a horror short story, supervised scripts for a faith based whirlwind production, video edited on a MTV stars Quarantine project, won an award for a short film, and more.

https://byjuliaodonnell.my.canva.site/emo-byjuliaodonnell. And I am just getting started.

ActiNg & FiLM

image is a still from Emma, my most recent short film that had it’s debut at IFCKC’s Mise En Scene at the Kansas City Fringe Festival ,

It didn’t matter how hard they tried. Acting was my first love. I took every opportunity I could to ​be in plays, short films, skits, anything I could to just experience a little taste of what I loved. Over ​the last several years (after plenty of therapy) I have begun fighting for what means the most to ​me. I am actively pursuing acting and filmmaking jobs whenever I can work them around my ​parenting schedule, and I am finding creative ways to show those skills in the meantime.

If I couldn’t make blockbuster films yet, I had to ​funnel that artistic energy somewhere. While working ​towards my primary goals of acting & filmmaking, I ​started a business where I create content. I have a ​growing TikTok account where I share my story, as ​well as my journey to doing what I love. I freelance for ​online and local businesses, helping with website ​design, video editing, social media content, and more. ​I treat each project as its own art piece, and I bring my ​unique artistic perspective to each client.

Freelance Experience: Video Editing, Website Design, Content Writing, Creative Strategy

Raw images from “The ​Anatomy of a Miscarriage”

a series shown at the Blue ​Gallery at 2024 Kansas City ​Fringe Festival

impressionist art and intuitive painting

a grungy logo for ​an mj distributor

landscape & nature-inspired art

from a series taken the day ​before COVID quarantine

Writing has always been one of the only ways I was able to express ​myself completely. Whether it was the countless diaries I wrote to ​keep myself grounded, or the hundreds of letters I wrote to ​friends(in class sometimes once I was in school. sorry teachers. ;-)

It has held on to me, and I write the widest variety of things.

Here are some of my writing credits.

My favorite authors and inspiration are Sarah J Maas, Fyodor ​Dostoevsky, Tim Burton, and Charlotte Bronte. If that doesn’t tell ​you everything about me, I don’t know what does.

“I TREAT EVERY PIECE ​OF WORK I DO LIKE IT ​IS A WORK OF ART

Video Editing

As assistant video editor on Friends and ​Benefits, I was responsible for creating high ​energy, professional trailers, organizing and ​managing over 20 hours of film, I also edited ​two full 20 minute episodes alone.

*images link to original content

Current Awards

Good Intentions: A Short Film done in Collaboration with artist Amanda Jolley

Second Place: Audience Choice

Cross in the Sky: “Finding God in Nature”

First Place