Danielle Allen
Danielle Allen
“Dream big, but dream smart” is the motto Cinematic Arts Alumna Danielle Allen now lives by. But she didn’t always know she could pursue dreams. She first glimpsed her true passion when she attended Liberty University’s College for a Weekend, an event that allows potential students to stay on campus and visit classes. She intended to go into the business world for a practical career. But, for fun, she sat in on Professor Doug Miller’s cinematography class. A year later, as an LU student, she took that class for elective credit and realized that, out of all her classes, CINE 203 was the only one she looked forward to. She wondered, “What would you do if everyone in the world made the same amount of money?” Her heart’s answer was movies. She changed her major to Cinematic Arts and never looked back.
When Allen shared her story with us in a recent interview, she said her fondest memory of Cinematic Arts was working on our feature film, Extraordinary. It proved to be a critical experience for ensuring her career in the film industry. She admitted with some emotion, “Without that movie, so many of us would not be where we are today.” In fact, her position as Assistant Production Coordinator on the film helped qualify her for the same job on the feature she is currently working on. The relationships she built in school also supported her as she pursued her career: “My biggest takeaways from film school are the relationships I’ve made and finding those like-minded people who want to create something that’s impactful and something the world needs.”
Shortly before graduating, Allen was offered an opportunity to work for the WTA Group in Nashville, TN marketing faith-based films. Through the two years she worked there, she moved from an internship position to a full-time position. Last year, she took a new step in faith: she transitioned into the freelance world of film work in Atlanta, GA.
Allen opened up about the challenges of working in a secular environment but shed light on ways Christian filmmakers can spread the love of Jesus and their faith to non-believers. “Your actions are stronger than your words,” she said, “Work hard, and let Jesus’ light shine through you. In this industry, as a believer, you can’t force [Christianity] on people.” Allen has built friendships within the industry that have earned trust and opened conversations about her spirituality.
For Allen, fulfilling dreams means taking risks and making smart choices. She encourages future film students to “be okay with failure. Relax, and trust God.” He is the giver of dreams and the one who makes them come true. Allen would know.
