Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Joy Howard.
Hi Natalie Joy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m a Texas transplant, originally from just outside of Chicago. I came to Austin to pursue my master’s degree in Opera Performance at the University of Texas at Austin, and somewhere along the way, Austin became home. I built my place in the city’s artistic community as a working musician and actor. I’m represented by the Bankston Talent Agency and have had the opportunity to work on numerous films and commercials, but I eventually realized I wanted to empower myself to ensure I had a vehicle for my artistry.
There’s a lot of “hurry up and wait in the arts”. A lot of asking for permission and hoping someone else gives your project the green light. When I came on staff at the Austin School of Film, I had the privilege of taking some of the classes we offer, including our Digital Filmmaking: Script to Screen course. The gist of it is that you learn how to make a short film by making a short film. It’s hands-on, collaborative, technical, and you leave with practical filmmaking knowledge and a completed short film.
Through that class, I wrote, directed, and produced my first short film, Cause of Death, a crime thriller, and I was hooked. From there, I dove headfirst into filmmaking. Since then, I’ve served as an associate producer and consultant on a feature film that raised more than $100,000 in under four weeks to tell a story centered on women’s bodily autonomy. I’ve also written, directed, and produced three short films, with my fourth currently in development and several more projects on the horizon.
Today, one of the most rewarding parts of my role at the Austin School of Film is getting to share everything I’ve learned with current and future students. I love helping people realize they don’t have to wait for permission to tell their stories. They can pick up the pen, pick up the camera, and go make something.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the biggest obstacles I faced was changing my mindset. How I perceived the world I walk through. The most impactful mindset shifts I’ve had to make is realizing that not everything is outside of my control. Especially in the arts, it’s easy to believe success has to look a certain way; that you have to follow the traditional path, wait for permission, or take whatever opportunities come your way because that’s just how it’s done. I had to unlearn that.
Of course, there will always be things outside of your control, but I realized that what is in my control is who I am, what I believe, what I value, and how I choose to show up. Once I got clear on those things, I could make decisions that were actually aligned with the life and career I wanted to build instead of chasing someone else’s definition of success.
A lot of that came through a large amount of trial and error. I learned that if I kept saying yes to people, places, and opportunities that weren’t aligned with my values, I’d keep getting the same results. Changing that mindset opened doors I didn’t even know existed. It gave me permission to take messy action, let go of the lie of perfectionism, follow my curiosity, and trust that every experience—even the ones that didn’t go the way I hoped—had something to teach me.
At this point, I don’t really believe in failure. As long as I learn something and continue growing, I consider that a success. That’s the same mindset I try to pass on to the students and artists I work with. I want them to know they don’t have to wait until everything is perfect or until someone else validates them. They can start where they are, keep learning, and build a creative life that’s true to who they are.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At my core, I’m a storyteller. Whether I’m acting, producing, directing, singing, or teaching, I’m always asking the same question: How can we tell stories that help people see themselves and each other a little more clearly? The medium changes, but the mission doesn’t.
As an artist, I’m especially drawn to stories that explore the complexity of being human. I love psychological dramas, thrillers, and character-driven stories that ask difficult questions and invite people into conversations they might not otherwise have. As a filmmaker, I enjoy every part of the creative process! From developing an idea to collaborating with a team to finally seeing a story come to life on screen.
What I’m most proud of, though, is helping other artists realize they don’t have to wait for permission to create. Helping folks believe that they, right now as they are, are enough. Through my work at the Austin School of Film, I get to mentor students who are taking their first steps into filmmaking, and I love watching them discover that they already have everything they need to begin. If I can help someone pick up a camera, trust their own voice, and tell the story only they can tell, then I’ve done my job.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
One of my favorite childhood memories is spending weekends with my mom at Borders (a bookstore that is sadly no longer operating) and our local public library. While she browsed for books, I’d disappear into the Borders theater section, sit down on the floor and read Shakespeare plays until I could understand them. I’d also leave the library carrying as many CDs and DVDs as I could. From opera recordings and Bach Inventions to jazz and film noir.
I loved reading so much that by junior high I’d read every book in my school’s library, and that dedicated librarian had to bring books over from the high school for me to read. I wish I could remember her name, but I’ll never forget her impact. Shout out to her!
Looking back, I realize those places didn’t just feed my curiosity; they expanded my sense of what was possible. Public libraries, bookstores, and public television gave me access to art, literature, and music that I wouldn’t have encountered otherwise. That curiosity led me to study opera, become a performer, and eventually build a career around storytelling. It’s also why I’m passionate about creating opportunities that help other people discover worlds they didn’t know were available to them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://austinfilmschool.org
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/natalie-joy-howard
- Other: https://canva.link/by4uv753iz8hwln
