Lauryn Ritchie shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Lauryn, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Like any true Coloradan, I spent most of my free time outdoors either hiking, off-roading, or road tripping. I’m on a mission to visit every National Park in the country and checked off my last park in the Rocky Mountain region this past December. After summiting my first 14er last summer, I’ve been on a journey to find new ways to recreate, which recently included snorkeling with leopard sharks in San Diego.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
As a documentarian, I’m focused on telling stories of impactful, interesting people in my community. I’ve found that if you dig deep enough, every person has a story worth telling and every so often you find one so meaningful that it deserves its own spotlight. These stories can change lives, and I take great pride in amplifying the voices of truly wonderful people.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
My most recent project, Bombs to Booze, explores veterans’ mental health and the journey of transitioning back to civilian live after being deployed. As a military brat, I found myself in a unique position to tell this story. My dad deployed to Iraq when I was in middle school and when he came home, he told me stories about finding the positive (no matter how small) even when he was in tough circumstances. Years later, that philosophy remains central to my own life and shapes how I approach new stories and the lens through which I tell them. In many ways, this outlook on life became a tool for telling the story of Bombs to Booze.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I almost give up on things daily. When it comes to big goals and projects, the tension between wanting to quit and choosing to continuing on anyway is what builds grit and perseverance. It’s a gentle reminder that I can accomplish my goals, even when I’d rather go binge-watch a new show. Every time I feel like giving up, and every time I push through, my grit gets stronger.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. I think the beautiful thing about being a filmmaker is that I get to infuse my personality, values, and worldview into every film I create. Everyone tells stories differently, and I am fortunate enough to share mine through my own unique lens. By creating and promoting my work in such a vulnerable way, I think the public version of myself is deeply authentic. Bombs to Booze is a story I resonated with in a deeply personal way. As a military brat who has had my own struggles with mental health, I integrated my perspective and experience into this film.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
When I was three, I told my mom I wanted to make movies. And here I am, decades later. I get to make films for a living and when you peel away all of the ‘whys’, what’s left is raw passion. Making movies is unbelievably hard an often frustrating. There are times I want to pull my hair out, set down my camera, and never look at a timeline again. But the feeling always passes and I find myself counting down the moments until I get to be creative again. I push myself to create to the best of my abilities, not for praise, but to feel that passion.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bombstobooze.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birdseyeproductions_/
