Guest: Donya Conley | The rise of a filmmaker

Well, hey, everyone, it's Justin here. Welcome to Made for Mondays. You know, Mondays don't own you. You own your Mondays. And we're in the midst of a series on emerging leaders. And by emerging, I told you guys before that we see the future, but the future really not being like 2050, but like 2024. And there's a few people that I see that are embodying the future to me. And today we're privileged to meet a really amazing person. You're going to love her. Her name is Donya Conley. And so please help me welcome her to Made for Mondays. Remember, you own your Mondays, Mondays don't own you. So stay tuned as we get a chance to talk to Dan Foreign. Welcome back to Major Mondays. Glad you guys are here with us today. I'm privileged to have a junior at the Howard University. Her name is Dania Conley. I met Danya here. I pastor a church in Vallejo, California. Those of you who are in the Made for Mondays crew know this. And Dania, I met her a while ago and she came in and wanted to film some things. And beyond filming, she really began to tell amazing stories. And so I'm excited to bring her to our crew today. She's a TV and film major. I have a heart for that. I was a com major and she's a TV and film major at Howard. And so I'm excited for her future. I think you guys are going to love her creative juices today, so help me. Welcome to Made for Mondays. And welcome to Made for Mondays. Dania Conley. Hey, Daniel.

Hey.

I'm so glad you're here. Dania, tell us a little bit about you. So, like, what is your story? Like, who is Dania?

Okay, do you want, like, a straight version? Like a long version, whatever version you.

Want to tell us.

Okay. So, hi, guys. I'm Dania. So I grew up in the Bay Area. My parents are from Richmond, but they. I grew up in Vallejo a little bit by myself. I've always been a church kid, always been in the church, served in the church. I was a praise dancer, youth usher. Just basically, if you can think about everything, like in church, I was probably a part of it. And so, of course, going through middle school, high school, I loved dancing. Sorry about the background. I'm in the city, but I love dancing. I always loved creating different things, like, always on the creative side of things and stuff like that. And then once I got to high school, I was like, maybe I can dabble in, you know, being a physical Therapist or like, just because, you know, people push you to just figure out what you want to do. It's like that. And I always thought, like, being a creative is always a passion and not a career. So I was just like, okay, well, maybe I'll just like go into the medical field like my mom or anything like that. But then I mentor asked me, she was like, what do you want to do? I'm like, I really want to be a film director. Like, that's just like my passion and stuff like that. She's like, okay, cool. You can actually make like a living off of it and even a career off of it. So then that's why I really chose Howard University. And so I'm here at Howard as a junior. And even then my freshman and sophomore year, I dabbled on a lot of stuff, whether that be writing for magazines, whether that be alternative spring break for underprivileged youth and everything like that. Or like, even just going to different place and being a part of different clubs and stuff like that. Like, I've always just wanted to be a part of something to create something for the better of us. And as you mentioned before, like, me filming stuff, like even doing a documentary about black voices and black culture, anything like that, like, that is my passion and I want to implement it through film. So, yeah, that's a little bit about me and like, what I'm about.

That's awesome. I remember when I was, I went for a whatchamacallit. I was a sophomore in high school and alma mater, Marquette University. They had a communication school. It was all in comm. Was journalism, film, television, all of that. And inside the school was this really amazing black student conference that they had. And they brought you on campus for a month. You stayed on campus. And I remember people at church, older individuals, like, yo, you should just go play sports. Don't focus on this. And I loved. I have to find this old picture. It's back when I had hair. So I don't think you recognize me, but I had this old picture, I had a camera, and I just, I fell in love with it. So I totally get, I, I, I get the, the like, are you going to make money? You're gonna make money, and then you make money and it's like, oh, shoot, we should have never doubted you. So, yeah. So how. Well can you tell us a little bit about, like, what you're doing now then? So I see, like, your story. So, like, you mentioned the film that you're making, the things you're doing, and you mentioned earlier, well, before we started recording about what you're doing with football, like, what are some of the things you're doing now as you continue to evolve your own story?

Oh, gosh, I'm doing a lot. We can start with the football. So I'm a. I would say, like a film operations on that side of football. So, you know, you have social media crew for football just to promote them, and you have the people who manage football. I'm the person that records the players. So, like, if I. My job is literally to follow them. My job is like to stay focused, stay everything like that. Because during games, like during practices, like, it matters a lot. So, like, the job is like, very big M. I'm currently a producer for film right now, so I'm for one of my classes. Film and TV production class. Yeah. So it's for a short film that one of my friends is doing. It's called Murphy's Law. So in that I'm doing a production schedule, a production calendar, seeking out different places to film, getting everybody, like, on the team together and their schedules together, and just basically, like the management side of film as well. And then I'm also doing my own project that I'm directing, which is. It's called Just the Two of Us. It's coming out hopefully January. So I'm directing that. Like, I wrote it as well. So I'm working with a team as well and, like, getting all that together. And my friends, the producer, and we're all just, you know, being creatives. And then outside of me doing film, I'm a chapel assistant. So I work with, like, in Howard University's chapel, I help just get everything together for the dean of the chapel and everything like that. And, like, even guest speakers. Like, I'm on that side just to make sure everything's, like, good. Awesome.

How are you keeping balance? Yeah, how are you keeping balance and all of that? Because that's.

That's a lot. Oh, God. Planner. I use a physical planner because if I do it on the computer, it's just not going to get done. So I actually learned recently that if you write stuff in blue, that you remember everything. Oh, and I forgot to mention, also soc counsel, and I'm the fund researcher, so I also dabble in, like, my school as well. So, yeah, so I write everything down that needs to get done, everything that's due. Especially because I'm not here just as a student leader, but I'm also a student, so I have to write down everything that needs to get done. And I do have a calendar, so I write down everything for the month, like, just so I'm, like, focused and stuff like that. And, yeah, checkbox. And something doesn't get done that day, I move it to the next day. Or, you know, I also help people who have. Who help me. Oh, sorry. Who hold me accountable. So I'd be like, yo, do you want to go study? Like, yo, do you want to do this? Like, I gotta do that and stuff like that. So, yeah, a little planner is the answer. Ah. I promise you.

Yeah, I'm. I'm stealing that. But I did not know that. That writing things in blue. I knew writing things in red made us scared. I'm stealing my writing things in blue. I got black pen. I'm getting blue ones. Oh, my God.

It works too. I remember.

That's awesome. I did not know that. That is something learning, something new. I'm grateful. No. So what advice then, Daniel? So you got a lot that you are engaging with. You are leading things, you are starting things. I see entrepreneur just, like, everywhere. And, like, you didn't mention the poetry. Right? So you got all of that right? What advice? Yeah, what advice are you giving yourself on a regular basis to stay the course with what's on your plate?

I would say I tell myself one. I tell myself, don't compare yourself to other people, because if anybody knows how our culture is honestly, like, grinding. So, like, you got people who are doing more than you, and then you have people who are doing less than you. And you just look at yourself. You're like, am I doing enough? And so I've been dabbling, like, in that. And just, like, don't compare yourself. Like, your journey is your journey. And, like, it's okay if you're not doing a lot in the moment, because the moment you say, oh, I just want to be busy, everything comes at you at once. And so you just, like, enjoy, like, your journey. And then another thing that I tell myself is, like, take it each day. Like, I always pray for peace. I always pray for patience and just understanding. Because sometimes I do have a line. I'm just like. But it's just like, taking it one day at a time. And looking at one thing at a time is focusing on something a week from now does not help you because it just causes more stress. So I tell myself, don't for yourself, and just take it one day at a time.

What would you say to someone, Dania, who is also in college, who's wrestling with, like, this comparison culture? That's one thing I'M seeing more and more, whether it's like, social media, whether it's jobs, and now even I'm. Like, you mentioned athletics. I just think of the people I know who are playing sports and, like, nil. And how it's like, you got certain players making, like, 2 million doll and then other players that are just, like, getting the. The. What you call it just getting. Not game checks, but just getting the food, the per diem to eat. Right? So you got the. On the same team, right, because of popularity. How have you fought through the bug? Getting bit by the comparison bug?

While being in college, I surround myself with people who know who I am, and they remind me, like, Donnie, like, you're amazing. Like, you're doing your best. Like, you're doing so much. And it helps because it's a different perspective. Because if I just go to myself or anything like that, and I'm just like, oh, my gosh. Like, Donnie, you're good, but, you know, you still wrestle with doubt. Like, I still wrestle with doubt every single day. But when I go to somebody else and they tell me, like, no, girl, like, you got this. Like, you're doing good. Like, everything's all good and stuff like that. It's just like, okay, I believe you because I trust in you. I, like, I know who you are, and I know who you are today me. So, you know, why wouldn't I trust what you say? So I feel like just having friends surrounding you who want to see you succeed, not just for their benefit, but just basically off your benefit, and people who know who you are and know, like, what you're about, I feel like that helps a lot with comparison. Because if you go to somebody and, like, even in college and stuff, like, there's fake friends, there's real friends, and there's friends for a reason. There's friends for a season. So you have to go to the people who are, like, down for you. Like, maybe that's your mom, maybe that's your cousin, or maybe that's just your best friend that you met in college. And just go to them and ask them, like, girl, I need help.

That is wisdom. Like, I want to affirm that. Like, that is wisdom. There's fake friends, there's real friends, there's friends there for a reason, and friends there for a season. Like, that is an immense wisdom that. Personally, I'm 35 now. It took me till 34 to learn that. You know, I'm not gonna lie. Just me. And I know that's not. I know there's Others that are much older than me that as they listen to this today, like the great thing about Made for Monday is just to share with you and those of you listening, we have some people that are running massive companies down to people who were in like in high school, right? And so that's information that I know is essential because that's, it's amazing how as much as like, even if for me I'm a person of faith, I'll talk to God about a lot of things, but sometimes that affirmation from the people we see allows us to really know. Like, okay, God, you heard me. And so I am, I'm. That is, I want to just affirm that's immense wisdom to, to have that knowledge and to know the discernment to trust people. That's, that's awesome. Thank you for that. So let me ask you this too. So Dania, you talked about talking to other people. So if you in your sanctified imagination were to show up at Starbucks and you were having a meeting with your 12 year old self, what would you tell her?

Oh my gosh. I would honestly tell her like, keep going despite your doubts and your disbelief. Because I feel like as though if you look into social media and stuff, there's like a way to do things like oh, if you know, once you have confidence in yourself and once you believe in yourself, you can do it. And it's just like sometimes it's just not like that. Like we're all not built like that and I'm most definitely not built like that. So I would tell myself to like myself. Keep going despite the doubt. Because doubt is temporary. Like it's not forever. And if you get out of your comfort zone and you push yourself to that limit, it will just brush off of you like it was never there.

Wow, that's so real. That's so real. Do you think your 12 year old self would listen?

No.

That is funny. That is funny. Every person of Actattu says the same thing. Like, geez, like, like I think about that. Like, because I thought about that. I would, I thought about the things I would tell myself at that age. And then I'm like, I'd also tell myself like, hey, when you get your first allowance, invest in Apple. And I'm like, I think I still will go buy some, some Jordans. But I'm like, just invest in Apple. Just put hundred dollars in Apple and we'll be good for like just one, one stock at Apple.

If only our 12 year cells would listen.

Listen. If only a 50 year old selves will listen to, right to our Daniel. So you're creative. And so to other creatives on here that want to give up. And, and I mentioned poetry a second. This is completely off script, but I mentioned poetry. Those of you don't know, Danya has amazing works in poetry. And I, I'm gonna work with you too down here. I'm getting like, some of the stuff published to be like, poetry. She's a creative, a TV and film. Daniel, there was a time in my life I wanted to give up on being creative. There was things around, finances, whatever. I stuck with it. I'm curious for you. You mentioned all the things you're doing. What would you say to a creative who's listening, who wants to give up, whether it's people around them, finances, life, whatever. What would you say to them to not give up on what they're. What's making them drive on the inside?

I would tell. I would say, like, remind them, like, what their purpose is. Because I feel like when you're creative, you know, when you don't have money, when maybe your idea is just like not working out, you're just. You question yourself. You're like, well, why am I doing this in the first place? Like, I could easily get my religious license or I could easily just like make money like that. Like, I don't really need to do this. And then it's just like, I would ask them, like, would you be able to live with yourself knowing that you just don't throw in the towel because of a temporary situation? Because temporary doubt, temporary disbelief, it's all just temporary. And I feel like you need to just hold out a little bit longer and just know, like, when God affirms your purpose in your life, it will happen. And you just got to believe and have faith in it. Like, that's all you really need to do. So, yeah, like, being creative is probably one of the hardest jobs, I feel like, on earth, because there is no right way and there is no wrong way, and your way is your way.

Wow. Thank you for that. And to all of our creatives listening, that's. That's so real. That's, that's, that's so wise. It's temporary. It's. It's temporary. Dania, thank you so much. Made for Monday's crew in the comments on YouTube and on Spotify and on itunes. Be sure to shout Danya out as well. Thank you so much to Dania for pouring into us to push us into Monday. So know this as you go into your day, no matter what meetings you have, which you need to complete. And as Dania said earlier, to do list, write that thing in blue. I'm going to definitely start doing that. Going to your day knowing that you own your Mondays. Mondays don't own you, you own your Mondays. Go win this week. Victory is waiting for you. Thank you again to Danya. We'll see you guys next week as we can continue our series on emerging leaders. Y', all. We have some amazing people that are going to take over 2024. Let's help them in 2023. We'll see you soon.