Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Devan Renea. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Devan, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I didn’t find my purpose, but rather–it found me. It began within the walls of my elementary school library. I was a drama, film and TV geek for about as long as I can remember. I was the type of kid that would walk around the neighborhood taking pictures with my then disposable camera in Black and White because I thought it looked more cinematic. Looking back, I was always a filmmaker, even before I was old enough to fully understand and appreciate the process, but it was—in my blood, and from early on I always looked for opportunities to express that interest and creativity.
I was also always an avid reader and writer, and my elementary school library was my safe haven. It was there I wrote my first story, “What Ever Happened to Arrogant Anna Adams”, loosely based on someone I really knew. The kind school librarian, who had noticed and tried her best to nourish my thrust for the arts, entered the story into our local county wide “write a book” contest, and it WON! On the heels of that momentum, the librarian then suggested that the story be made into a short film for the subsequent short film competition. I was elated, and it was truly the birth of something special. With her guidance, I adapted the short book into a shootable script, which looking back was major to only be in the 5th grade. A crew of my cohorts was assembled, and I played Anna, the story’s main character. Shot in the duration of one day, within the walls of my elementary school, I had become an actor, writer, and producer. It was then I knew I would be a filmmaker when I grew up. Years, later while studying film at Full Sail University, I watched the movie—which at the time was shot on VHS, but my HD Production lab instructor was kind enough to assist me with converting my priceless VHS into a DVD. I both laughed and cried while watching it, and was so grateful my mom had encouraged me to hold onto my early attempts at filmmaking as a keepsake. Both the book and movie have become a reminder of just how far I’ve come, but more importantly a clear indication of what I was divinely put on this earth to do.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I was born to be a creative. I practically came out of my mother’s womb reciting monologues. As a kid and eventually a teenager I wanted to be an actress, so I was a natural drama geek with an unyielding passion to be an over achiever. Growing up, most teenagers covered their walls with hip-hop posters, mine were covered with certificates and achievements of both my artistic and academic accomplishments. By the time I was thrust into adulthood and went to college, my passion had risen to writing—which eventually led to a natural aptitude for producing. I conquered receiving a theatre arts A.A. and bachelor’s degree in film, and quickly gained entrance into the real world of entertainment by way of induction into the prestigious Emmy’s Television Academy Internship Program. I was fortunate enough to intern for Warner Horizon Television, which at the time was the subsidiary cable division of WB TV. To say I worked hard that summer would be an understatement. In short—I worked my ass off knowing I only had two months to make something shake in L.A. So, by the end of the summer, I had two job offers, one of which was to remain at Horizon in an entry level office position. I was thrilled, and for the next three years I was indoctrinated into the world of Warner Bros.; learning the players, the protocol, and strategic positioning which would be required to take my career to the next level. I simultaneously obtained my M.F.A. in creative writing while working at Horizon, and shortly after was granted my first seat in a Hollywood writers’ room. I left Horizon to take a position as the showrunner’s assistant on the hit long running OWN drama serious, “Queen Sugar”, which was produced in conjunction by Oprah Winfrey and Ava Duvernay. From there, my career was a whirlwind of writers’ rooms on various shows, which forced me to work even harder. I learned the realities of creating television shows and my acumen subsequently grew. After laying the foundation as a support staff member of a slew of writers’ rooms, the universe provided me with the chance to write for another OWN Network drama series, entitled “Delilah”. Overnight I was upgraded from just being the script coordinator on the show, which was in itself also a difficult job, to writing two episodes of the show, including the season finale. Seeing my name within the top of show credits was an unbelievable feeling, and a reminder that the metaphoric blood, literal sweat, and countless tears had not been in vain.
My career shifted when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and like most people, I was forced to pivot. That is when I grabbed myself by the bootstraps and became the CEO of my own company, Boss Up Production. I launched a multi-platform production company that ultimately allowed me to monazite the various skillsets which I had become expertly skilled at executing. My company offers luxury event planning for industry events, script and story development, and in house producing of low budget content creation. Thus, the Devan Rene brand was born and stamped when my company launched in 2021. My clients depend on me to provide them with expert evaluation of their material, plan their next Hollywood event with seamless ease, and even produce and shoot their next big project. In a nutshell, I wear several hats, and my brand is reflective of my multi-hyphenate talents and gifts. What sets me apart from other business owners and fellow artists, is my ingenuity, resourcefulness, and my unyielding passion for always representing both my clients and myself with the utmost class, creativity, and commitment. I may not always have every answer, but through my wealth of experiences, I’ve learned to master the art of commanding the space while navigating the ship with a seasoned acumen.
