Today we’d like to introduce you to Camara Rauen.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
When I was 17, I moved from Northern California to Ivins, Utah, to attend a performing arts high school for my senior year. It was by starting over in a place where I had never been before and knew no one that I really learned to be comfortable in my own shoes. I had always wanted to be a filmmaker since I was child and had dreamed of going to Chapman University since I was 15. My plan was to transfer there and, after attending Dixie State University in St. George for my first two years of college, I applied and was accepted to the film school of my dreams.
Once I arrived at Chapman I became a lot more self-conscious. I became aware of my battle with social anxiety. Because of this, I realized my purpose and focus for filmmaking: mental health. I wrote some songs and worked with a composer to bring them to life. That is how my musical short film, “Going Mental,” was conceived and filmed my senior year at Chapman.
After graduating with my BFA, I moved to Los Angeles and began working on freelance social impact projects. I knew that I wanted to continue working on films with purpose. Now that I have been out of school for a little over a year, I am still pursuing opportunities around mental health productions, and to make them fun. To that end, I have launched a podcast series called MentaliTea where we drink tea and have casual conversations about mental health. I’m starting to write articles and films shorts sketches about silly experiences with anxiety in an attempt to make mental health a more accessible topic for people, so that they can become more comfortable talking about their own struggles. I feel that mental health is best approached raw, honestly, naturally and with humor. My goal is to stand up to some of my own mental health challenges and make it a career quest; hopefully inspiring others along the way.
Please tell us about your art.
I am a social impact producer, director, and writer. I create films, articles, poems, songs and sketches relating to anxiety and depression in a light-hearted and sometimes humorous way. I focus on this because of my struggles with anxiety, and the fact that many of those close to me have struggled with anxiety along with other mental health issues. No one seems to know how to be comfortable talking about this. I want to confront my own fears, bring them out into the open, and inform-entertain people when they hear me talk about it.
I want people to come away from my work with the realization that “Wow, mental health is pretty normal and actually can be fun to discuss.” I hope people find my creative work as something they can relate to. In the process, I want my work to help promote a healthy dialogue about mental health, making it easier to talk about and for people to feel normal when deciding to get treatment for some mental health ailment.
Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
I believe you have to hustle hard and save hard to achieve your dreams. It’s all about time management and financial management. You have to know what creative goals you are working towards and be able to visualize them. No matter what situation you are in there is always going to be a reason not to go after your artist dreams. You have to make those dreams and goals a priority. Fit them into your schedule. Put a little money away each month. Whether you are earning money by a side hustle or doing what you love you have to know how to manage money so you can invest in yourself later on. It takes time and planning which can be stressful. But with patience and persistence it is possible.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Much of my work can be found on my website, www.camararauen.com or on my Instagram @camaraflage. The mental health podcast I am co-producing, MentaliTea, can be found on most podcast streaming services. Our social media handle is @mentaliteatalk on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Contact Info:
- Website: camararauen.com
- Email: mentaliteatalk@gmail.com
- Instagram: camaraflage
- Facebook: mentaliteatalk
- Twitter: mentaliteatalk
Image Credit:
Drew Santini (MentaliTea Graphic Designer) Christian Klein (Going Mental Graphic Designer).
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