Ryann Liebl: The Beauty in Hard Work

Ryann Liebl is an award-winning director who shot her first feature film in 2019. She was able to finish it and release it during the pandemic despite the barriers of no film festivals, closed down cinemas and no live events. Her short films, music videos and commercials have won numerous awards and been screened in over 20 film festivals. Her first feature under her own production company REL Films is a comedy, about two best friends who go on a road trip gone wrong and find out what friendship means along the way. She has deep Midwest roots and finds humor in the most unlikely places. She works hard to bring intentional imagery and beauty to all of her projects and is grounded in a hard work ethic and focus. She has 3 other feature films slated for 2022-2024.

Episode recorded September 12th, 2022

Find out more:
https://www.instagram.com/ryann.liebl/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/ryann.liebl/?hl=en
https://www.magsandjulie.com/

If you are enjoying the show please subscribe, share and review! Word of mouth is incredibly impactful and your support is much appreciated!

Transcript

Lisa Hopkins: 0:23

This is the stop time podcast. I'm your host, Lisa Hopkins, and I'm here to engage you in thought provoking motivational conversations around practicing the art of living in the moment. I'm a certified life coach, and I'm excited to dig deep and offer insights into embracing who we are and where we are at. So I'm super excited to get to know my next guest. She's an award winning director who shot her first feature film in 2019. She was able to finish it and release it during the pandemic despite the barriers of no film festivals, closed down cinemas and no live events. Her short films, music videos and commercials have won numerous awards and been screened in over 20 film festivals. Her first feature under her own production company, Arielle films is a comedy about two best friends who go on a road trip gone wrong and find out what friendship means along the way. She has deep Midwest roots and finds humor in the most unlikely places. She works hard to bring intentional imagery and beauty to all of her project, and is grounded in a hard work ethic and focus. She has three other feature films slated for 2022 to 24. And I'm thrilled to say she stopped for a moment to be here with me today. Please welcome Ryan legal Ryan, welcome.

Ryann Liebl: 1:51

Thanks so much for having me.

Lisa Hopkins: 1:53

You said you're calling in from Florida today. Is that right?

Ryann Liebl: 1:57

Yes, I'm in Florida.

Lisa Hopkins: 1:58

Have you been been there for quite a while or

Ryann Liebl: 2:00

I've been here sort of part time for about two years. And then when COVID happened pretty full time since that point forward.

Lisa Hopkins: 2:11

Cool. But you're a Midwestern girl. Right? So it must be a very different vibe for you. Yeah.

Ryann Liebl: 2:15

Yeah, I was born raised in Wisconsin. But I left Wisconsin. I was 18 and then went to LA. And was there most of my life. I was in LA.

Lisa Hopkins: 2:25

You got it. You started out as an actress. Is that correct?

Ryann Liebl: 2:28

I was studying I was at USC. And I was getting a BFA in theatre, and a minor in film. Oh, cool. And then about two and a half years in, I started working in the industry. So I started booking jobs and commercials and TV shows and stuff and, and then I basically left school and I pursued that full time.

Lisa Hopkins: 2:50

Very cool. So did you ever go back and finish or? I didn't. I love that she's smiling, by the way, for those of you who are not watching? And does there is there any regret of or, you know, talk to me about that for a sec?

Ryann Liebl: 3:04

You know, I think for me, because I was doing a BFA in theatre, and I knew I would never really teach theatre, it didn't make a lot of sense. And I started to get more and more interested in film and filmmaking, and screenwriting and production and all of that. And so that was really sort of what I ended up doing. And so I kind of wish I had I had actually studied film, or done that full time, not as just a minor. Yeah, I think I would have gotten more out of the filmmaking. But it's okay. Like, most I feel like what I learned was just from being on set, and actually doing it, you know what I mean? Yeah, rather that you're studying it and studying the theory of it, which I had, because I had been acting since I was a freshman in high school. And so I had been studying theatre, and all of that for many years before then. And I even did professional theater when I was in Wisconsin. So I knew about Yeats and Shakespeare, and, you know, I had gotten those sort of fundamentals already, which I think are really important for anybody in terms of storytelling and all of that. So I don't know, do I regret it? No, not really, because the most I ever learned was just actually from being on sets and observing, and going through the process, and then, you know, failing, and, you know, shooting stuff and failing and doing it and failing and getting better and better and better. As I, as I sort of taught myself different aspects of production, you know? Yeah, no, that makes a lot of sense. And it so it was an apprenticeship in a way, right. I mean, it's sort of a self designed, independent study, let's say, completely. Yeah. It's amazing because a, I get the impression that you are not wanting to slow down much and that's okay with you. Would that be true to say? Yeah, I'm, I'm, I mean, you know, again, my, I think my my upbringing and my parents influenced me a lot in that way. My parents are very active and they're very productive and very industrious, and they don't really sit still. So you know, we didn't really chill a lot so I don't know how to explain it, but like, I was out mowing the lawn. And or cleaning the gutters or cleaning windows and my grandfather lived with us for a long time. And I was out doing stuff with him too. So I'm busy, and I'm active and I'm productive. And that's where I'm happiest. You know,

Lisa Hopkins: 5:41

it sounds like it was really modeled, right. And you by your family, right, by your grandparents and your and your parents. And what's interesting about that, too, is that, you know, it sounds like there was a variety of things. It wasn't just one thing that we're focused on, right. Sometimes we have parents that are really driven, but they're they're only focused on one thing, right? But it sounds like it was really everything they did, they applied the same kind of work ethic.

Ryann Liebl: 6:07

Well, yeah, and they're very interesting people. And I mean, my my mom's an interior designer, she sold real estate for a long time. She loves beauty, and making things beautiful, which influenced me a lot as a filmmaker. So every frame when I when I when I do movies, or I do music, video or do commercial, the framing is really important. To me, the art direction is really important to me, the way it looks is really important to me. My dad's a musician. He plays piano in Oregon, and he now runs the company that my grandfather started in the 1940s. Yeah, I mean, they were both artists in their own way. Right? Yeah. Oh, yeah. So they never really distracted me or discouraged me from trying to pursue anything in the art field. Because they were doing that themselves. So they always like, Yeah, go for it. Have fun. Try it, do it.

Lisa Hopkins: 6:59

I like, yeah. Do you have siblings?

Ryann Liebl: 7:03

I have two sisters. And they're both pretty creative, too.

Lisa Hopkins: 7:07

And where do you fall in that? Are you the youngest, oldest or middle?

Ryann Liebl: 7:10

I'm the middle. Child.

Lisa Hopkins: 7:13

That's interesting.

Ryann Liebl: 7:14

Yeah, it is interesting. Yeah. And it's funny. There's a lot of performers I know who are middle kids, and I think it's, they want attention.

Lisa Hopkins: 7:23

Is that true for you? Do you think Did you feel that? I

Ryann Liebl: 7:25

don't know. You know, I'm funny. I'm actually like, for somebody who's sort of in this field, I'm a very private person.

Lisa Hopkins: 7:34

What were the breadcrumbs that you followed that led you to where you are today?

Ryann Liebl: 7:40

You know, I had always considered myself somebody who wanted to perform. from a really young age, I was into musicals and music and acting and I loved movies like Yentl movie, there was something about that story. That really struck me and that was you. I was young. I was seven years old. I think it came out. And I could sing every song in that movie. Yeah. And my parents were so sweet. They would like be like Ryan sing Yentl. Like sing it for them. So I was always like a performer, but I was very shy, I guess. And, and then in high school, but my freshman year, I started to go, you know what, I think I can do this. I think I can try this. I think I can have an audition. I'm going to do it. And then I did. And then I got I got a part in the play still magnolias, which people know is made into a movie. But it was originally a play. And but I had seen the movie with Julia Roberts, right. And so I kind of knew the story. And I was like, Oh, I like that story. It's fun story. And that was sort of the first thing that I did. And I was hooked after that. That was in me. That's cool. It's

Lisa Hopkins: 8:56

funny, because I had a second part to that question, which was, you know, again, my instinct, again, not not really knowing you, like, Did you follow or forge your way?

Ryann Liebl: 9:07

Definitely forge because I, you know, I'm, it's never come easy for me, I have to say that, like the art world, and creating in the art world and the industry and sort of playing that game of trying to be liked or admired. That's never been something that I've done a very good job at. Does that make sense? Like a lot. A lot of actors I know, are performers. I know, they're very good at sort of putting on airs almost. But they're very good at playing the game. Right. And I've always been very much myself, and an individual. And I knew what I wanted and knew how I wanted it to go. And that was intimidating to people, and they didn't always understand it. And I had a lot of agents and people in Hollywood sort of say to me, Well, you're too mature or just funny things. They would say funny things. And I was like, yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever. So I think the driving force for me was always that I cared about it enough. And for me, the purpose behind it was more important than if people liked or admired me. Hmm. You know, because I wanted to help, I wanted to make art that helped people and affected them in a positive way I wanted to uplift people. I wanted to add to the culture, and make the culture better. And I wanted to bring beauty. And those are very big ideas and very big concepts. And, you know, I knew other people who were happy just to get a credit. And that wasn't me, I wanted to do something that was going to matter to people, you know, and make their life better. I wanted people to walk away, see something they did walk away and feel better about their lives, or feel like they could go and do something that they couldn't do before. But now they could, because they saw it, you know? So it was, you know, so forge it, it's been me sort of constantly putting it there saying, Okay, now I'm going to do this next thing. Now I'm going to do this next thing. And now I'm going to do this next thing, and not always having support along the way. A lot of the stuff that I've done, has occurred, because I've decided that it was going to occur.

Lisa Hopkins: 11:35

Literally more. Yeah. Tell me more. Yeah, I believe you.

Ryann Liebl: 11:39

Yeah. And I think I mean, I think ultimately, that's what I think anybody sort of has to do that or, or, or deal with that in their own way. But yeah, I think if you're ever trying to do anything big, or the anything that matters, or that's going to have a positive impact, the driving force has to be. And that's what I started to look at to sort of as my as my career evolved, and I was sort of going, Okay, now, I'm in this phase of my life, what am I going to do now? I really want to make movies. So now what am I going to do? I had to look to other people and go, Well, how did they make that happen? And what I sort of started seeing over and over again, was that people were producing their own material. They were writing their own material. They were sometimes like Kevin Costner, he was putting his own money into things to make a movie happen, because he couldn't get a studio to give him the money to make it happen. So he had to use his own money. And I was like, even when you're a name, and even when you're a brand, you still have to be the person who says, Okay, well, I really want this to happen. So I guess it's gonna be me. And that's actually what a lot of people do in the industry, it's not talked about a lot. There are a lot of artists who think that everything is going to be handed to them or given to them, or that everybody's just gonna fall over and roll out the red carpet and the dreams just will occur. And that's actually a very much a false truth. If, if, if I could explain it, it's usually like anybody who's doing anything big, is doing it because they're making it happen. Yeah. But it takes brass balls to do that. Because it means that you have to convince people, you become a very large salesman, you have to convince a lot of people. You say, Okay, you're worth it, you can do this, you know?

Lisa Hopkins: 13:34

Yeah. Well, it's interesting, because it sounds like if I'm hearing you correctly, that you are leading by example, meaning that rather than you sort of fighting the system and saying, oh, and or, you know, going along with the system, you're kind of acknowledging and saying, or hating the system for the way it is, I'm hearing you say, this is the way it is. I still want to do it. There are other ways of doing it. It would be nice if this system would allow us all to do it, you know, because we're all talented. And we can all you know, there's we all have something to say. But so so therefore I am, I am going to do that. I'm going to be the one and the word that I was hanging on that you said was convinced because I don't I don't feel like you. You needed to convince anybody because you're not playing the game. Right? So you only just have to live into your own beliefs. And that's what I meant by lead by example. Does that make sense to you? That's kind of what I'm hearing.

Ryann Liebl: 14:29

Yeah, it's a it's an integrity point, I guess. Yeah. But I think any, any artists that I've ever met in the industry that I really admired, or was sort of impressed by because I've worked with a lot of different celebrities, and I've been around a lot of different celebrities. They've got a lot of integrity, and they're very present. And they acknowledge everybody around them. And they work hard to make people feel good and feel accepted. And I think there are there's other kinds of celebrity or there's other kinds of people in the industry who don't really care about that. No, you know, and they are sort of they're doing fame for the sake of fame, and I've been around that too. And when you're in LA long enough, you see both, you see both of them.

Lisa Hopkins: 15:17

Yeah, and everything in between. The flip flopper ya know for sure I mean, it's literally talking about what lens lens you're looking through, right? So, but it's it's literally like life, right? How you lead your life we all want to live a good life. We all want to make a movie, let's say right as the microcosm. Totally so then it's like how are you going to do that there are many different ways many different and that's that's where I go like down the rabbit hole of like, of energetic you know the the lenses we look through and how we approach each situation, you know. Thank you for sharing that I really love that. Yeah, I mean forging I'm not surprised that you answered as Forge. Hey, I came, I came across something that you said in an article, do you mind if I share it? Go for it. Actually, this fits in beautifully. When someone when someone tells me I can't I say watch me. I'm a firm believer in standing up for what's right. And I find if you can communicate, you can fix anything.

Ryann Liebl: 16:14

Yeah, I mean, I think I think we're living in very interesting times right now. You know, I was born at a time when there was no Internet, and no social media. And I knew all my neighbors, I biked all over town. And I talked to everybody. And, and then even when I went off to college, like I still, you know, computers were a thing at the time that I didn't really use them, I was still handwriting my papers. And I was very much like, I don't know, I want to I don't want to say anti technology. It's just, I didn't care about it. I cared more about reading books and interacting with people and creating and, and I think right now in the time that we're living, I worry sometimes that that basic fundamental of conversation and communication is lacking in a very real way, we've got to get back. And I think it comes from artists, and I think it's the responsibility of artists got to get back to the point where we talk to each other and communicate. Because when you do, you actually talk to somebody and you get to know them and their story, you'll find that you have common ground, even though you thought you didn't. And and also at the same time, you'll find that every single human being on this planet is totally different than the other human being that's sitting next to them. And they might have different viewpoints about the environment. And they might have different viewpoints about family, and they might have different viewpoints about food, or how to drive a car, or whatever it might be, but none of us is identical. And I think what social media is trying to do is make us all think the same and act the same and look the same and be the same. And we aren't. And that's not real civilization. That's not real culture. That's not real communication. And so I find that if you can sit down and talk to people and really communicate with them, not only do you, you know, create great interaction, and great empathy, and great love for your fellow man. But, um, you can fix anything, you can fix anything. And I think it's lacking. I think it's lacking, and I think we need more of it. So that's what I mean by that. Hmm.

Lisa Hopkins: 18:50

I'm just gonna sit in that for a moment. Yeah. Well, it's beautiful to hear you're so you're so passionate about that. And so committed and so resolute, it's really wonderful to see. What stands out to me is you can fix anything. I love that because I'm really I'm a bit of a geek when it comes to words, right? The words that we use. So when you say you can fix anything, does that imply that there are things that are broken, that you can go and fix? It becomes a forward motion? Or is it anything that comes that comes out? Me that is a problem can be fixed with communication? I'm just curious to dig in there a little more. We're always forward. Yeah.

Ryann Liebl: 19:30

Because I think as a society, and I think as artists to art, I think I think it's the responsibility of artists to shape and shift the culture. It's our job and present it in a way that is honest and truthful and helpful.

Lisa Hopkins: 19:50

What is your definition of living in the moment?

Ryann Liebl: 19:55

Being present and enjoying everything that is there, right there, no matter what it might be. You know, if you're hanging out with your kid and having a conversation with your kid, if you're throwing the ball for your dog or talking to your neighbor or cooking a beautiful meal or it's been there with it, and then making it the best that it can be every moment because ultimately Isn't that all we have, we only have The moment. So that's what it is. To me. It's just, I don't know, I guess I look at life almost like any artist would. And if it's art, it's good.

Lisa Hopkins: 20:37

Or everything is art. Right? We could just go there. Well, it is it. Yes, yes, I believe so.

Ryann Liebl: 20:44

And shouldn't it be? Yeah, I mean, that's, that's what makes life fun.

Lisa Hopkins: 20:48

Exactly. And the thing is, it is, it's just that everyone can't see it. And that's, again, where our work comes in to us to sort of allow them to see it, to give the you know, through the lenses that you use as a whatever you're doing, because you're certainly multifaceted artists, you know, you use different ways, just as I now use, you know, coaching to open up people's what they already know, it's not like I have all the answers. I don't have the answers the answers were there. I just know how to ask the right questions. So that you realize that, oh, it's there. I didn't notice that.

Ryann Liebl: 21:19

That's right. And that's also that talks to how much we need each other. You know, by communicating with each other and engaging with each other, we get bright ideas, and our world expands. And our community expands, and our ideas expand, and and then we can come up with solutions. And we can help each other more. We can fix things, not just fight

Lisa Hopkins: 21:43

about it. Totally. Well. And that's interesting, because that's a great distinction. Because it's not the it's not that we mind things that need fixing, or things that stop pause, right, because as I'm getting this sense from you, the problems aren't problems, they're just opportunities to learn that didn't work, I'll go in a different direction. Right? So, you know, it's kind of like that. The the, you know, it's just a different mindset, right? The infinite mindset really, versus that. What happens to so many is that the problems come and then it and then it's over. It's so it's binary, right? It's like, win lose. Dover, it failed son fixable or worse. Let's just ruminate here. And then it just becomes fighting. And then you forget what you're fighting about. And oh, my lord, right.

Ryann Liebl: 22:30

I mean, it's totally. And I think a lot of artists get caught in that too. A lot of people who are creative, like, they'll hit barriers. Yeah. And they stop then creating in the direction they want to go in. Because they feel like there's, you know, artists are sort of superstitious, which I don't think they should be. Because they get into this weird, and I've talked to so many artists. And they go like, well, you know, just wasn't meant to be. And I'm like, no world is designed to create barriers, and to present you with barriers. Because it's not a game unless you have barriers, it would be boring. If every door that you walked into was open and wide open and you got a new one every single time. That would be boring. It's not a game. Well, there'd be no growth. None. And also just no challenge. Like how boring. So you know, I always say to artists, like Yeah, so what so you failed, so you do it again? Or you didn't get an agent? Great. Get another one. Keep creating, keep writing letters, keep communicating. Like it just it's superstition, which doesn't belong in the world anymore. Well, yeah, I mean, science and reason and enlightenment now. So, you know, just, you know, you don't, don't be superstitious. If you want to create and you want to go expand, and you want to create some art and communicate to people about art, then go do it until you've done it. Hmm.

Lisa Hopkins: 24:06

I believe that curiosity is one of the biggest tools that we have to interact with everything. It's fear that comes up that shuts us down and gives us an excuse, we can understand why it happened. Right? We go no, I it was just meant to be that's better than saying I failed at least. Right. Whereas curious if you came in with curiosity, you come in and go Hmm, well, that didn't work. I mean, it's a lot lighter initially. Right. And then I wonder why. And then you start exploring, and then you start learning. Right, and you you disempower the thought you disempower I mean, that's the work I do, right? Literally, because you're right, as we as artists, we do that, because we're so passionate, and we're so driven. And you know, I talk a lot about how are our strengths and we and we all have a lot of them right and we feel right where's our strengths, so are often our Achilles heel, because when they don't work and they so often do, it sets us up for an even bigger a bigger fall. So even though it feels like it's always working, then when it suddenly doesn't you go shit, you have no practice. Yeah, you know, so that this sort of acknowledging that this works, but maybe I should try a different way even though this is working. You know, like, I have CLI sorta like, you know, who do things the same way? Because it works ugly have you? Have you tried something different? Just so you have another tool, think of it as a tool, not a way of being right.

Ryann Liebl: 25:32

Yeah. And the thing is that about, you know, artists, the Witch, which is so annoying to us, when the thing doesn't happen is that we see it, we can see the whole thing, we can see the whole universe, it's already in our space. And so when other people don't duplicate it, or they don't understand it, or they don't get it, it kind of blows you away. You're like, What do you mean, you don't get it? This is like, so simple. It's like, I can see it, all of it. But but a lot of the time, the world doesn't get it. They just don't get it. But it's not your job to convince people of it. No, it isn't, it's your job to just make it happen. And the thing is, like, you'll meet enough people along the way, who will support that vision. If you're if you communicate, really excitedly, and with a lot of enthusiasm, people will come on board and help you to create a vision. Because they'll be excited to you know, so it's your job to sort of take that fake world that you have in your mind, and then somehow translated into the real world. And when you get it, it's awesome. And when you don't, it's like, oh, God, what am I missing here? What what happened? Okay, well, whatever. Next time, I'll have more money or more time or whatever, right? And that's it, I experienced that with my with my own movie, like, you know, there are things I would do differently. Now, I can look back at that movie, and I go, I would do more of this, or I would change this or change that. But in the moment as I was creating it, and taking it from written word, to reality, it was like magic. It was like, Oh, my God, and then and so many things about it were better than I thought it was going to be. And that happens too, right? You're like, Oh, my God, this is better than what I saw. Well, good. Well, great. This works awesome.

Lisa Hopkins: 27:25

Totally. And it's funny, because you're talking about virtual virtual reality, right? When we create something, it's virtual reality when we have it in our head, and we want to bring it out. But then there's another virtual reality, which is the story we tell ourselves about the story that we want to bring out into the world. And that's the dangerous story, not the one that you're creating this beautiful forever, but, but the one that you're creating for yourself about how no one's understanding, and it needs to come out. And then that's, that's what blocks us. And exactly what you said is that, you know, it's not even that you need to try harder, smile bigger, or knock on more doors so much as you just need to know that if you just keep connecting to who you are, and why you're why, let's say is that the the people, the right people will find you.

Ryann Liebl: 28:10

I really believe that story. Well, and artists are infamous for just invalidating themselves consistently. Yeah. And that's something I had to unlearn. Because it's all I did, I would just spend my time going, Oh, I screwed this up. Or I didn't get that. Or I tried, or I got so close. And then I failed. And then oh, they don't like me. And oh, what did I do? Did I make them feel weird? Or what? Why happened? I guess. Okay, and I'm not worthy. Like it was it's just, it's a horrible game to play. Yeah. And it's just, there's no, there's no point in it. You know what I mean? Because if you're a good person, you're down to earth, and you give a crap about people, you will find that's another thing too, you'll find your people, which I have consistently over and over again. But also you'll find your audience. Like, create art. That's, that's great and fun. And you will find the audience, you know, you'll find your audience. That's the thing is, there's all kinds of people out there. So don't doubt yourself. Just go and create and then get rid of it and be done with it and create again, and then get rid of it be done with it and create again.

Lisa Hopkins: 29:17

Well, if you had to choose one, highlight one low light from your life journey, what would those be? And why do you think?

Ryann Liebl: 29:23

You know, I think one of my highlights, I think was probably the first job. This was the first TV show that I ever booked. And I wasn't expecting to get it. And I got to set and I got to work with Dennis Farina, who was a Chicago guy. So a fellow midwesterner and he was just so awesome with me. He was so nice. And he talked to me about stuff when we reminisced about the Midwest and, and then I got to meet Beth Grant, who was she's a known character actress, and she was also just super awesome. And it was my first time on set and they were they they put me at ease, and they made me feel good. And they were complimentary. And they were some of the most lovely people that I've ever worked with. And that was my first job. Wow, that was a big highlight. It was such a nice introduction to the industry. Yeah, I was like, oh god. I get to be around these awesome people, and they're just like me, this is great. You know, Lo, you know, there was a time when I was when my son was young, maybe about three or four years old, where I really thought about giving up acting and filmmaking. And I was like, Maybe I should do something else, you know, I decided to sort of take a break from it for a little bit, just withdraw from it and take a break from it. And I took about, about a six month break, where I wasn't auditioning, I wasn't creating on it at all. I wasn't writing, I wasn't trying to do anything. And in that six months, what I realized was that I didn't like giving it up. One thing, but also, I had, I realized that I had stopped enjoying it, because it wasn't fun anymore. The joy of it had gone for me, and I wasn't, I wasn't doing it. From the viewpoint of I'm doing this, because this is fun. And this is exciting, and it makes me happy. And I love it. And this is fun. It shouldn't be fun. So in that six months, I was like that, I sort of realized that. And I was like, Okay, I'm gonna try again, this time, I'm gonna make it fun again. And I'm gonna just have fun with it. And I'm going to do these auditions, I'm gonna show up, and I'm gonna talk to everybody. And I'm not going to care if I book or if I don't. And then literally, I started booking again. And I, when I started again, when I decided that this was going to be something that was going to be pleasant and fun, and I could enjoy it again. But that's what I realized, I realized I gotten too serious. And that's a real killer for any artists or creative, getting too serious about it. And significant. It's really difficult to create, when you're too serious. It's really, really, really hard.

Lisa Hopkins: 32:27

It's interesting, because it sounds like actually your low point really created a true high point. What's ahead for you? Is there something out there that you sort of maybe toyed with at the back of your mind that you haven't actually sort of put out in the universe, but that you've really, like, really liked to do that maybe just seems crazy or exciting? Or is there anything there?

Ryann Liebl: 32:49

Yeah, I think for me, I think what I'm looking at now, sort of because I've accomplished certain things in my life and in my career that I'm proud of, and I'm like, okay, good. I, I've written a novel, I've made a movie, I've done commercials, I've done music videos, I've won awards, I've worked with these kinds of people, I've worked with those kinds of people. I was in LA, I did that. But now what I'm looking at is just more training and education, actually. So I want to learn other skills that I can then use and apply to this thing that I do in my life. Right, so I'm looking at rappelling, I'm looking at stage combat, I'm looking at martial arts training, horseback riding, I'd like to learn how to do stunts, driving, you know, like with cars and stuff like that, because I have a few friends who do that. And they're really good at it. And I'm like, Oh, that's a skill I can learn. Yeah, just sort of upping the ante just becoming really, really, really competent in a bunch of different areas. So when it comes time to create, or if I want to write something and I want to put that in, I could and then I could do it. You know?

Lisa Hopkins: 34:08

Are you someone it sounds like you're someone that you are someone clearly that that likes to be able to do all the things right? Just because you write she's laughing. But yeah, so is there a lot? I'm just curious, like, is there an Are there any areas that you might consider sort of saying, no, no, no, even though I could do that. I'm gonna hire someone to do that so that I can put more my energy here. Like, do you ever feel like you get spread too thin.

Ryann Liebl: 34:37

I mean, I'm pretty good at delegating. I mean, this last movie that we did was a it was a micro budget film. So a lot of people don't know about it, but I handled a lot of it. I did all the pre production basically all on my own. So all the fundraising, the location scouting, the casting, the costuming, the props, the art direction, all of that I did all on my own. And I gave myself six months to do it. I said I have six months and so that's all I get. The shoot is going to happen in July. So I have six months to do pre production and and that's how I sort of stretched my main budget and then I used a about a like a quarter or have the main budget on the shooting schedule? Because we did everything in. What was it? 17 days, we shot the whole damn. cut in two days. Yeah. Wow. And then I had a little bit left over for post, but I did some of the post I edited the movie, the main movie, the main structure, did color correction and stuff like that. And then handed it over to another editor who sort of finalized and tightened and but I don't know I like I like that. I like that aspect of it. But you know, when we were doing the main shoot I had, I had a great DP I had a few grips and Aedes and I just had a really good competent team. I mean, we were still a tiny team though. We made that whole movie with just 10 crew 10 crew for that whole film well, which is crazy. Yeah. I mean, it's it's like unheard of. Yeah. But I find that really exciting. I think all of that's really exciting. But again, that comes from my theater background. Right? Because it's the same thing with theater, you have to it's a small amount of people who's doing something very extraordinary.

Lisa Hopkins: 36:40

Totally. But it's interesting that you said that because I was just going to ask you the question, Where does that come from? But I, I would wager that it comes from way deeper it comes from you. And I was getting like, Yeah, I mean, for sure. Like was modelled by theater, that kind of thing. But you lit up. I mean, you positively lit up when when I said when I said the right thing said, What did I say? That's unheard of you said yes, it is. That's unheard of. It was beautiful. But where does that come from? Where does needing to do things to astonish people? It's not like an ego thing like, but it's like this, this this, this showing how capable you are. And but where does that come from?

Ryann Liebl: 37:23

I don't know. I think it comes out of necessity. You know, because I've always kind of done that. I've always done that. I don't know, I don't know where it comes from. It's just It's something I've been in the industry so long. I've been around it so long that I just know how to do all this shit.

Lisa Hopkins: 37:43

Yeah, but no, because I'm gonna challenge you on that, because everybody's not like that. Nor would they want nor they want to be you know what I mean? It is amazing that you can and obviously, you're someone who's going to I mean, when I asked you what your biggest dream was, it was to learn more. So you could do more. So that's, that tells me something. There's no right or wrong answer. But it teaches me a lot about you. Right, by the way you answer. So so that's really interesting. When I offered you what if what if you had the means to say, you know, you guys do this? Because I really want to focus here. You're like, yeah, I can delegate. But you know, I was so curious. And maybe this is another call.

Ryann Liebl: 38:22

No, I think, you know, when I was just acting like when I like, like, I'll give you examples. When When, when I was working in the industry in LA and I get hired just as an actor, right? It was really boring. I found it really boring.

Lisa Hopkins: 38:39

Yeah, yeah. Like

Ryann Liebl: 38:40

it was like you, there's a lot of waiting and sitting and waiting. And you don't really have much of a say, and you kind of gotta fit into the story. And either you're going to deliver what they need, or you won't, and I never been fired, thank God. But I'm sure there was a time where I probably got close to being fired. Because I remember one music video I did. And the director was really mad at me. It was magic hour, and they were trying to get the last shots. And I didn't hit the mark on the first thing, and he just railed on me. And he didn't rely on anybody else. And they were all screwing up because I was watching everybody, you know what I was like, Oh, I better get my stuff together better. The mark that second day, or I think I'm gone. But it was just it's boring. It's very boring not to, to just sit there and wait. So I think I find a lot of joy in the creation of bringing something visually together. I guess. That's that's really that's where where it comes from is like, because I have high standards. You know what I mean? Again, this was a micro budget movie, people thought that we spent millions of dollars on this movie, they thought we spent millions of dollars on this movie and then and then a few people are like, I don't I'm not gonna even tell you how much money we had because it will be so unbelievable to you. But I have those highest standards and so I know what I can do. And so it's just more fun. Just more interesting, more fun. And that's kind of how I see myself like I'm like a storytelling filmmaker, you know,

Lisa Hopkins: 40:11

ya know, for sure. So how do you how do you re energize yourself like how do you recover? Because as we all know, as creatives you know, when when we birth something, there's the postpartum right You know, the adrenaline can take you so far right? capability can take yourself, how do you how does Ryan take care of herself?

Ryann Liebl: 40:33

You know, especially movies, it's such a long process, right? Because from shooting it to finishing it, to then promoting it to getting it out there to doing media is a several year process, first of all, so you have to have enough enthusiasm the whole time to be rah rah rah, even though it's two and a half years later. I think it's the getting back on the horse and doing that process again, right. It's a sort of saying, okay, great. So I have to do another two and a half year process, especially if it's my own project. Now, it's one thing to like, do somebody else's project a lot easier. Yeah. But it's sort of saying, okay, okay, you've got to sort of, you know, power yourself up like the Energizer Bunny, you know,

Lisa Hopkins: 41:27

yeah. Like, how do you how do you do that, though? Like, it's interesting, because I'm interested in the in the place between the two, the two projects, like when when something is, quote, unquote, undone? Is something already been started? Or do you ever create space for yourself? To get that? And if not, then how do you do it?

Ryann Liebl: 41:46

Yeah, I mean, that's a good question. I mean, I'm always working because I even when I'm not working on a movie, and I'm producing and directing commercials, company videos, you know, I do voiceovers, like I'm, I'm, I also have to pay the bills, right? When everything. You know, for me, like, there are certain things that I like to do to get in the headspace of the different hats that I wear. So like writing, like when I want to write or have an idea or bright idea, it helps me to be in nature, places that are quiet up in the mountains out in the country, where I'm not sort of going to hear the neighbors or lawn mowers or people yelling, or whatever you heard me or traffic. So it helps me to sort of get out. And then and then it's easier for me to write, I'm the kind of person who will get in a car and drive out to the mountains and hike for like an hour or two, it'd be in the middle of nowhere. With nobody around. That's like my happy place. Okay. And that's how I breathe, and sort of get space. And I find that when I do that, then it's easier for me to go back into things and to get energized again, and to want to write and want to create and want to get into the nitty gritty of stuff. You know,

Lisa Hopkins: 43:11

it's perspective, too, right? Yeah. Yeah. It's interesting, too, because the boredom piece, you know, when you talked about acting, being boring, it seems like that actually motivated a lot of stuff to being bored. So maybe maybe just going away and not doing anything is enough? Like, maybe it is the outdoors. Maybe it is altruistic. Or maybe it's just that when you stop doing it, you get bored and that energizes.

Ryann Liebl: 43:37

Yeah, but I do love nature, though. Either person, it's easy. But you know what I mean? I do.

Lisa Hopkins: 43:46

I do. No, I totally do. What what do you not want people to know about you

Ryann Liebl: 43:53

not want people to know, yeah, that I can get very lazy. I can give very lazy. Sometimes I get to the point where I hit the wall, and I don't want to do anything. I don't want to do anything. But I'm not very good at not doing anything. My my husband and my son will attest to that. They'll be like, Mom, please sit down and watch this movie with us. And I'm like, I don't know, dishes need to be done. Things need to be handled. I don't think I could sit here for two and a half hours not doing anything. But again, I think that's where nature and getting space comes in. Because if I'm out in the middle of nowhere, I don't have a choice but to be out in the middle of nowhere.

Lisa Hopkins: 44:37

What do you what do you know will stay true about you no matter what happens,

Ryann Liebl: 44:41

that I care about people that I really want people to do? Well, I think that's fundamentally what I care about. Most people deserve to have really happy lives. And if they work hard for it, they should be able to flourish and prosper. And that's really important to me. So

Lisa Hopkins: 44:58

that's what I care about. Hmm, that's beautiful. How do you want to be remembered?

Ryann Liebl: 45:06

I think I want to be remembered as somebody who was a really good friend. Hmm. And the people knew they could count on me. You know, somebody who is very loyal, and I want to be remembered for The the pretty and beautiful things that I created and the joy that I brought to people's lives, you know? Yeah, I want to be remembered as the person who was like, you know, she was a great friend. She always made me feel better when I hung out with her. Do you don't need me feeling better about my life? I felt like come up with solutions. And I hope I can do that. You know, I hope I hope that's how people will remember me. Huh? That's beautiful. Yeah. So,

Lisa Hopkins: 45:55

can you finish this phrase? Most people, most people think Ryan Leavell is but the truth is,

Ryann Liebl: 46:03

um, maybe that like, everything in my life is perfect. Which I think a lot of people assume about a lot of people lately. Yeah. Right. The truth is that it's I'm a constant work in progress.

Lisa Hopkins: 46:24

But with the cool thing is that you love work. So it's what a surprise it's Win win with you. Alright, so we're gonna do to finish we do the rapid fire so I say what makes you and then you just respond as quickly. Not as you like. Alright, so what makes you hungry? People what makes you sad?

Ryann Liebl: 46:56

Insanity I guess makes me sad.

Lisa Hopkins: 47:01

What inspires you?

Ryann Liebl: 47:05

My fellow human beings inspire me.

Lisa Hopkins: 47:10

What frustrates you

Ryann Liebl: 47:13

frustrates me incompetence

Lisa Hopkins: 47:24

I thought you were gonna say, you're gonna say my fellow human beings.

Ryann Liebl: 47:29

No, no, I'm, I have more faith in them.

Lisa Hopkins: 47:33

I love you. I'm just like undying faith in humanity. I love it. It's amazing. It's great. I'm with you. I'm with you on you know, I mean, I see the potential and everyone but you know, not everyone can see that way. It's beautiful. Yeah. What makes you laugh?

Ryann Liebl: 47:50

Um, I guess ridiculous scenarios, like things that are just ridiculous. Yeah,

Lisa Hopkins: 48:00

all right. What? What makes you angry?

Ryann Liebl: 48:04

Hangry. I don't know. I don't get angry a lot anymore. Angry. I mean, I guess people that are horrible to people. They don't treat people well, they don't. You know? Yeah. Decisions, they make decisions that are bad for people. That makes me angry. When anybody sort of tells me not to do something or goes after me. I get into will. I'll show you. Yeah,

Lisa Hopkins: 48:32

totally motivates you.

Ryann Liebl: 48:34

Yeah, like, Okay, fine.

Lisa Hopkins: 48:37

100%. I remember writing down in prep for our interview, saying I might even venture to say that she thrives on obstacles.

Ryann Liebl: 48:48

I don't know. I'd like to have less.

Lisa Hopkins: 48:52

Last right. But yeah. Well, then maybe as you start to get more of a meta view of life, too, right and going, Okay, I like the acknowledgement of how far you've come. Totally. And to maybe let that go a little bit and go, Okay, I can still get over any obstacle, and I can fix anything, but I don't have to.

Ryann Liebl: 49:11

That's right. Exactly. Isn't that nice? I think that comes with age, too. Yeah. Where you kind of go, You know what, I don't have to spend any time on this at all. Whereas when you're younger, you think everything has to have an equal amount of time.

Lisa Hopkins: 49:25

Everything needs to be addressed. Yes. And it's funny because the one question I didn't ask you because I had a feeling that would take us off on a tangent for an hour was was What is your remit? But think about it? What what is your relationship? To time? Yeah,

Ryann Liebl: 49:41

yeah, that's an interesting question. Right? Yeah. Yeah. You know, I look at time as like sort of never ending. So I'm always like, What can I get done in a certain amount of time? And then then what's in my future? Yeah. Because you can't get everything done in the lifetime. That's something that a lot of people don't realize you can get a lot done in the lifetime. And there are people who are so high production that I'm so impressed with. Yeah, that have gotten so much done. And I'm like, I don't know how they do that. Right. But I always look at it this like The there's the future is never ending in mortality what's next after this? And it just to me, it just keeps going.

Lisa Hopkins: 50:30

Oh, I love that. I'm glad I asked you actually. Yeah, that's really beautiful. And finally, what makes you grateful?

Ryann Liebl: 50:41

I guess the the lessons that I've learned in life, the lessons of loss, and having been around really amazing people and amazing family members, and the lessons that I've been taught by people who are good people, and who went through a lot and lived through a lot, and then were nice enough to share that information with me, you know, total history, right? Because I feel like if you don't know history, if you don't know how it's been on this planet, then it's very hard for you to be grateful about what's happening right now at this time. And there's so much to be grateful for right now at this time. And that's only because I know history. And I had amazing grandparents who taught me about history and went through horrible things in their lives, depressions and world wars and horrible things. And they were kind enough to share their stories with me. And let me know about those things. So right now, this time, I could be grateful for peace and no war and food on the table and relative calm, right, it's been relatively calm for us. So there's so many things that I'm grateful for, because my god, I wouldn't be able to be an artist right now. If we weren't in the state that we're in as a country in a nation and as a world, I wouldn't be able to be actually creating it wouldn't be viable wouldn't be possible. So I'm grateful for a lot.

Lisa Hopkins: 52:21

Yeah, totally. What are the top three things that have happened so far today?

Ryann Liebl: 52:28

The top three things? Well, you definitely this, this has been great. I put this in number one. I finished a project we finished a script on a project was pretty cool. Because I have to wrap that up. And then I'm dropping my son off at school was was the other one. And we had a great conversation on the way to school and then dropping him off was the other way.

Lisa Hopkins: 52:58

Oh, I love that. Yeah. And what's something you're looking forward to?

Ryann Liebl: 53:03

We're gonna be looking forward to that's great question. I don't know, an evolution, a reawakening. I think a lot of people right now are really waking up. And I think if COVID did anything, it made people look at their lives and look out at the world and get more involved and get more active and care again, about how we're all living and how we're all surviving. So I think that's what I'm looking forward to just sort of. And I hope that there's some sort of evolution in the art world too. I hope that having it taken away, has motivated people to go you know what, we've got to put it there. And we've got to, we've got to make it never go away again.

Lisa Hopkins: 53:51

Yeah, amen. It's been so wonderful. speaking with you today. Thank you so much for taking the time to be with me. I really appreciate you.

Ryann Liebl: 53:59

Thank you for having me.

Lisa Hopkins: 54:01

Yeah. I've been speaking today with Brian label. I'm Lisa Hopkins. Thanks for listening. Everyone stay safe and healthy, and remember to live in the moment. In music, stop time is that beautiful moment where the band is suspended and rhythmic unison, supporting the soloist to express their individuality. In the moment, I encourage you to take that time and create your own rhythm. Until next time, I'm Lisa Hopkins. Thanks for listening