Meredith Grace Dabney, actress, activist, filmmaker, and writer is set to release her first breakthrough short film titled HERE TODAY, which is currently doing its festival run and its wide release early this year.

Meredith's ability to convey and evoke the emotions of an audience - both through her words and acting performances - immediately begs a series of lingering questions. Who is that, how do you do it all, and how old are you? Incredibly intelligent, affable, and passionate; through film, Meredith narrates a tale familiar to most. HERE TODAY takes on themes of adolescent depression and the various challenges that arise in adolescent peer groups.

Meredith also uses her platform to raise awareness for those individuals struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. In addition, she is planning to partner with the non-profit To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA).

All these feats and sense at only 16 years old — if all our youth is anything like Meredith, we can rest easy knowing the Earth is in good hands. Please read further to learn more about Meredith and her works.

Where are you based?
Currently, I’m in Atlanta, Georgia. One of the awesome things about the creative life is the freedom of moving around with projects, and I have really valued getting to see and work in different places!

How did you get interested in filmmaking, writing, and acting? What or who inspired you?
One of my best friends was in an acting class and I decided to try it myself. I soon grew connected to the stage and proceeded to perform in a variety of drama productions and plays, before shifting to musical theatre and focusing intensely on that for a number of years, working to become a triple threat (singing, acting, dancing). Once I had the opportunity to participate in a few films, I immediately fell in love with being both in-front of and behind the camera lens, and have been focusing my efforts on learning everything I can about acting and all aspects of filmmaking ever since. My new goal is to become an acting/writing/filmmaking triple threat! One of my acting coaches, Erik Lingvall (Catapult Acting) encouraged me to create my own content and that was when I realized I love to write scripts as well as act. Having the opportunity to work with established industry professionals like Erica Arvold (director) and Isaac Deitz (cinematographer) on my film project, HERE TODAY, really solidified for me that I want to do this for the rest of my life. I love to always be learning new things and am overwhelmed with how much a person can learn from others, no matter their age or experience. Oh, and I have to mention that Lena Dunham (Girls, Tiny Furniture) is also a huge inspiration for her work ethic, creative power, and simply being a badass woman in film.

Congrats on the festival showings of HERE TODAY, which you wrote and starred in. How do you feel being only 16 and working in a segment of the film industry typically intended for people twice your age?
Thank you! I think one of the most prominent challenges being a 16-year-old creator is that people tend to not take you seriously or immediately respect your work. Compared to more well-established creators who have an industry track record and who seem like the safer choice, people have to be willing to take a risk on me because I am very much an unknown. There are also some advantages and opportunities as well and I think it’s incredible that every day people’s impressions are shifting… One day a 16-year-old may seem like a glossy front with little substance and the next day you could have created something impactful that changes impressions and has a positive impact on the world! In spite of the challenges, I firmly believe that anyone, regardless of what might seem like limitations, can manifest their desires and dreams, and that believing in yourself 100% is the way to start.

Do you have any advice for any young aspiring filmmakers/writers?
First, believe in yourself 100%. Second, be grateful for the opportunity to fly, take chances, and make mistakes. Third, the team you surround yourself with is infinitely important so find people that align with your goals and desires, and who love you and will support you through the changing waves of the process.

HERE TODAY follows a group of high school friends who seem pretty normal, but you eventually learn that one of them is suffering from extreme depression. What inspired this film? What do you hope your audience takes away from it?
There’s a synchronicity to the dynamic in HERE TODAY. The first girl featured in the film begins in the same dark state that the second girl descends to. As the first begins to reconnect at a new school and find light in her own life, the foursome and other peers fail to notice and respond as their friend is slipping away. Each of the characters can connect to that sense of darkness in their own way and based on their individual background and experience. Though none faces the exact same situation, they all can understand and realize that though one person is not to blame, they all could have impacted the result had they been more present and aware of the situation around them. As to what inspired me, HERE TODAY is a culmination of my entire life… every experience, every encounter. They all aligned in a way that boosted me to a place where I sensed a need to create this project and to be a voice for those who find themselves in this dark place. I have noticed in my peer group specifically, but a wider age range as well, that we tend to speak just as words come to us without giving our words and actions the thought and care needed for them to have true impact on others. My hope is that this film will inspire people to grow in compassion, love and understanding, so we can support one another when one of our group is suffering, and let’s face it, we all need a friend.

What advice do you have for anyone going through depression?
I care. There are others around you that care. There is hope. If it feels like no other option is open, there is always at least one light. If needed, find the one glimmer of hope and hang on to that. Whether that’s the sun shining, or a smile, or the fact that your body is resilient and the reason you’ve already won 100% of the battles so far. A light is there, you are a light. Repeat, you are the light!

You actually play the role of one of the girls in HERE TODAY whose friend is going through a difficult time. What advice do you have for someone in this position?
In the film, even though the character I play has been in a dark place herself, she fails to see that her friend is suffering. She and her friends realize afterwards that, even though the course of events is not their fault, they could have made a difference in the outcome and that their words and actions (said and unsaid) have the ability to be very impactful. Thus, just as my character learned, I believe being really and truly present in conversations and relationships is highly important, and that paying real, focused, undivided attention to those around us is infinitely crucial. It is so important to try to notice when someone is reaching out and crying for help in their own way and to dig deeper into the true meaning of their word choices and actions, and try to really hear what they are trying to say. If someone reaches out with their truth, listen and support them with your own intentional words and actions. This is why the catch-phrase of HERE TODAY is: “You Okay? Ask Someone Today!”

Can you tell us a little bit about the non-profit To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) and why you want to work with them?
TWLOHA’s mission statement includes the phrase, “To encourage, inform, inspire…” I deeply connect to this belief and want to impact those around me in this way. I think part of the social stigma surrounding mental health is formed by the disconnect many of us face as we work to deal with the challenges in our own minds and thinking we are alone in our efforts. In reality, many people deal with similar thought patterns and by reaching out to others with encouragement, information, and inspiration, we can all make a difference in the world around us. Unless we actively learn more about ourselves and others, it is difficult to know the positive ways to respond to intimate troubles and to impact ourselves and others in a positive way. As I work to change these perceptions in society, encouraging, informing, and inspiring are three goals that I stand for. In addition, HERE TODAY believes strongly in this and tries to reinforce the premise with its message, and my production company, Astrabeta Creations, supports this idea as well. Together, we will always be stronger and can definitely make a difference!

What inspires you to partner with non-profits like these?
I’ve been pondering recently the pool of connections we create in our life. So many people… laughs, cries, joys, heartbreak, love, etc. And the one universal aspect is that, at the core, we all connect to being alive, breathing, wanting a friend, needing support, craving love, and other basic and common needs that unite us. Non-profits such as these believe in unity first and that there is hope, that a light is shining, and we can help our fellow humans and ourselves to reconnect and source this energy. I want to be part of spreading that important message and I truly believe we can be stronger together in promoting the important connections we all share!

TWLOHA does a great job at advocating and helping individuals suffering from depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. How do you feel about the current social stigma behind these issues?
To be incredibly transparent and honest, it hurts me deeply to see how these topics are treated in much of society. The work TWLOHA is doing is inspiring and I respect the team behind it for standing up to the current social climate and working to make a change. Every time I receive a note, or call, or meet with a friend who shares their dark truth, I am reminded of the fact that it took SO MUCH courage for them to speak up, and I am overwhelmed with awe at the bravery we all hold inside us. I would love to find a way to harness that courage and bravery! If we can connect, unite, and educate one another, I truly believe that we can have a grand impact on the way society views these issues.

Suicide is one of the top ten causes of death in the United States. What would you like to see done to help bring these numbers down?
Yes, it is one of the top ten causes of death in the US, but even more alarming perhaps is that the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) reports “In 2018, suicide was the second-leading cause of death among those ages 10-24.” This means the only thing that killed more teenagers was unintentional deaths such as car crashes, homicide, or drug overdoses. This is a fact. It is our reality. My wish is for us to work together to change this horrible truth! As a community, we need to realize the state we’re in and work together to rectify the society we’ve constructed. Mental Health is often blown to the curb or worse, not even accepted as a valid challenge and this stigma threatens so many lives. I believe that many people are so in need of true connection, validation, and simply knowing that someone cares. We tend to often breeze over things that make us uncomfortable or involve tricky conversations, when these are the exact moments we need to be brave, reach out, and communicate with others around us. We all can do better to love, respond with a kind ear, listen with an open heart, or give a much-needed hug... If everyone committed to simply asking, “You Okay?” to someone each and every day, imagine how the world could change!

Are there any other non-profits that you advocate for or work with?
Since ours is a very new project, I don’t currently work with any non-profits, but there are a number that I really respect and would love to partner with in the future as I move forward with trying to make a positive change through my acting, writing, and filmmaking! A few at the top of my list are “NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness,” and “Womaze,” which was actually started by a friend of mine, Hannah Wiser. I also love the premise of organizations like “Girls for a Change,” “InfluenceHerCollective,” and “Women Make Movies,” since they work to empower women and girls. In addition, I am working to start my own non-profit to support my mission, “to tell and share stories that need to be told, through filmmaking.”

You self-proclaimed that your mission is to “tell stories that need to be told”. Are you currently working on any new projects?
Yes! I’m so grateful for my awesome creative team that has boosted and encouraged my passion for telling and sharing stories that need to be told. I’m currently in pre-production for another film, BLINK!, which is the first in a trilogy of films covering topics such as challenging family dynamics, nature vs. nurture, connections, self-harm, recovery, and other important issues we need to be talking about as a society. I also am in the process of developing a series that I hope to produce later this year dealing with similar issues in an effort to get people talking, listening, and working together towards real solutions!

What is your motto in life?
Love first.
Let your light shine.

To learn more about Meredith Grace Dabney please follow her via the following platforms:
Instagram: @meredith.grace.dabney and @heretodaymovie

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