Brains, heart, beauty… Ava Cantrell is a triple threat. The nineteen-year-old actress has grown up on the sets of Hollywood (you may recognize her from The Haunted Hathaways or Young Sheldon) and now she is a young entrepreneur! Ava’s new company ZOOMe is all about protecting your eyes during screen time. Blue light has become the ambiance of our everyday lives. From work screens to scrolling on Instagram, the slight glare of blue light has situated itself as a constant. When Ava realized the constant strain, she set out to make her own line of blue lens glasses with her family. Her brand ZOOMe offers lenses that give much-needed protection to our eyes so we can keep scrolling safely and stylishly. Ava brings her heart to her business and also to several charity initiatives —even during quarantine! Please continue reading for our exclusive editorial with Ava Cantrell.

Where are you based?
I am born, raised, and based in San Diego. This editorial was shot at one of my favorite spots in La Jolla.

You’re 19 and you’ve been a part of Hollywood for almost a decade already. How did you develop an interest in acting?
I was in dance classes since two and a half. I would go to class and stare at myself in the mirror. I wasn’t moving around in class but imagining myself dancing. At the first recital when I was four, I was put in the back row because I didn’t know the dances. I asked my Mom, “how do I get in the front row?” and she told me I had to learn the dance. I learned a lot about performance at age four, you had to do the work. The next recital and all recitals after I was front row. What I loved about dance was the performance aspect. My Dad who done some acting as a kid sent my info to three of the best kid’s agencies. Two wanted me. We chose the agents at AEFH talent that are still my agents to this day (Thank you Nicole and Milton) and the rest is history!

You were a recurring character on The Haunted Hathaways on Nickelodeon. What was your experience like on the show? Do you have any fond memories from your time on-set?
First of all, Haunted Hathaways is recently running on Netflix. So that is super exciting to currently have episodes playable on Netflix. If you missed Haunted Hathaways you should go check it out. It’s a very funny and entertaining kids’ show. Working on that show solidified that this is my true passion and a lifelong goal to be a working actor. My goal is not fame as much as doing the work. My memories always go to the craziness that some of the scenes required, and I am still close with the cast!

What has it been like growing up on-set of TV shows and movies? How do you balance your growing career, schoolwork, hobbies, etc.?
I grew up on set, but I didn’t grow up in Hollywood. The kids in elementary school didn’t even know I was working on so many projects until it was really obvious with this Samsung commercial that was literally everywhere. Growing up in San Diego no one really thinks to look around to see people on TV. I am blissfully unrecognized in San Diego. I did get swarmed a few times at Aquatica from the Nickelodeon days, but other than that not so much. The balance was made easy by living here. I was able to have a super low-key life two hours away from Los Angeles and I still choose that life. I live close enough to be fully in industry, yet far enough away to be out of it.

You have a few titles on your resume that lend themselves to the horror or supernatural genre –like in Lights Out –and some roles in comedy – like on Young Sheldon. Do you have a genre of choice?
I love all genres. I am so thankful that I have never been pigeonholed into one genre and given the opportunity to prove myself in comedy, drama, and thriller. I won major awards for my performance as a girl with terminal cancer in One Under the Sun, and that was the most challenging role. Comedy and horror come remarkably easy for me. I would love to be in an action movie. I have been surfing for 13 years and have a movie in script and pre-production and I am excited for that one. I am also slated to film a short movie about a young veteran and that one is also super close to heart. Hoping 2021 and 2022 are nonstop!

We are excited to hear you are working on a new film: My Fathers Joy. Can you tell us a little bit about this project and your character?
It is a psychological thriller. I am excited to play the lead character. My character is someone you might find yourself rooting for but in real life, you would never want to cross paths.

Assuming all goes well, you will be filming in March. Is this your first acting role back since COVID? Are you nervous?
I am feeling super confident to go back to work on a movie set. I have been working with my manager on auditions and scripts and staying sharp with my skills.

Do you know what steps the production will be taking to keep everyone safe?
I am a SAG actor and all projects I work on are union. The union has standards for filming, and I am so grateful to be protected by them. There will be testing, and all safety protocols followed. I am so thankful to be working with a production company that takes the COVID measures seriously.

In addition to acting, you just released your new brand, Zoome Optical Quality Glasses. What is the story behind developing this product? How did you get started?
ZOOMe is a line of Blue Light Blocking Glasses I created because of my own desire for blue blockers. I was spending so much time in front of my laptop, phone, and TV over the pandemic that my eyes were starting to strain and causing headaches. My parents have been in the sunglass business for 26 years, so I asked them to source out a cute pair for me. Once I got them and loved them, I thought there had to be many more people like me. I created ZOOMe to focus on very fashionable styles with high-quality frames and lens at affordable prices. I’ve since added reading blue light glasses and smaller frames for children. We are in the works for sunglasses as well as accessories and products coming this summer.

Can you tell us a little bit about blue light, why it is bad for your eyes, and how your glasses help?
Blue light is the visible light ranging from 380 to 500 nm on the UV spectrum. Laboratory studies have shown that too much exposure to blue light can damage light-sensitive cells in the retina. This causes changes that resemble those of macular degeneration, which can lead to permanent vision loss. Blue light scatters more easily than other visible light, it is not as easily focused. When you are looking at computer screens, TVs, cellular phones, and other digital devices that emit significant amounts of blue light, this unfocused visual “noise” reduces contrast and can contribute to eye strain. Blue light blocking filters like what we use in ZOOMe lens will block the light at 380-500 nm range from reaching your eyes. (FYI our lens does not change the visual colors, so you can still see blues through the lens. This is a common question because there are some filters that tint orange or yellow when blocking the blue light and change the colors you visibly see.)

What have been the most impactful lesson you have learned since starting your company? How was it starting Zoome during COVID?
Everything takes longer than you plan or hope it will. Covid gave me the idea for the company and the time to pursue it, but one big issue I had was how difficult it was to form a business when you couldn’t go into a government building to open a business, get a license, fictitious name, open a checking account, get a tax id number, etc. All the things that you could normally do in a day took weeks.

What advice would you give to other aspiring young entrepreneurs?
I ask for and take advice from experts. I learned that there is so much to learn. I may decide to do things my way, but I want to hear what others have done and how they became successful. I would also remind them that there will always be problems, mistakes, and roadblocks in business but don’t deter them from your goals. The best entrepreneurs are problem solvers.

Jejune loves that you are very active in giving back to so many different causes and are very verbal in trying to get your generation more involved in philanthropic efforts and volunteer work. Can you tell us more about how you developed your social consciousness and why you think it is important?
My parents have instilled giving back since I was incredibly young. It is super easy to reach in your pocket and help a person in need that asks. My family is a family of entrepreneurs and artists. We own small businesses. There have been times in my life that we have struggled. My Mom sold dancewear and did spray tans to help pay for my dance one year. I am highly aware of money and finances. That really has helped me. When my family has, they give, and in many cases, they still give when they don’t have. There is always someone less fortunate. We must all help one another more.

You have recently used your platform for fundraisers and charities – like with Paw Works, an animal welfare group we have actually promoted in the past! Why is this organization important to you? Can you tell us about your experience with social media in raising awareness for this organization?
Paw Works is so amazing and hard working. They have done and do so much for animal rescue. I loved working with them raising money and awareness. They were first to put in motion “no-kill” in Ventura county and I love their sleep-over program. They are a kind and very aware group of individuals that have so much passion for rescue! We filmed a segment as well for TV and the news together that was so much fun to film and brought tons of awareness. I still get DM’s asking me about it and where to get a rescue!

You also participated in a charity auction for Charity Buzz that raised $750 – the prize was a lunch with you! What was the experience of the auction like? Were you able to have lunch with the lucky winner? If so, what was that like?
Yes, that was for Children’s Mending Hearts which brings anti-bullying awareness through art and education. Anti-bullying is very close to my heart as I was bullied many times when I was younger. The auction was such an amazing experience. The winner was in New York and a big fan and if I ever get to New York we will be having that lunch. They bid knowing it would happen when I get to New York again. I can’t wait!

With everything going on it feels harder than ever to get involved with humanitarian efforts. What advice do you have for your generation to get more active?
My experience is that I have been able to do a lot. I have hosted dance party events for Angel City Sports as well as Urban Surf kids and did a Facebook online “Acting with Ava” for Startlight Kids Foundation. It was so much fun working with charities over quarantine. I am always game to help out. The advice that I would give is to start small. Start liking and sharing charity posts. Social media is a great way to connect. Then I would suggest finding what someone is passionate about as well as having easy access to the charity.

How are you staying positive during shelter in place?
I am not going to lie. It has been tough. I have been extra concerned as my Nana lives with us. It is hard at times to stay positive when you see so many others that didn’t care or take it seriously. There was a large number of people my age that just didn’t care about the restrictions. I was feeling so angry and frustrated, but I am focusing on my efforts and my immediate circle. My nana just got vaccinated! It was happy tears in our house.

What is your life motto?
My life motto is “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor” I love that quote and it is the words I live by. Nothing comes easy, and I want to be skilled, not have things handed to me.

To learn more about Ava Cantrell, please follow her via the below platforms:
Instagram: @avacantrell
Twitter: @theavacantrell
IMDB: www.imdb.me/AvaCantrell

Editorial - Ava Cantrell - Brains ~ Heart ~ Beauty