Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Oulton Haas.
Melissa, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
“Marry rich.” That was the advice I received from a trusted mentor many years ago. I had asked for any final wisdom before graduating college and setting out into the world as an artist. His answer was deflating. I had been hoping for something more inspirational, and less vaguely sexist. I have always been a practical person, and I want to understand how things work. Never have I had an easy time accepting things just because “that’s the way it’s always been.” I want to know why. Often, I’m unable to articulate my thoughts in an argument or conversation on the spot. I tend to take my time ruminating on the “best” or “most correct” way to say something. It’s torturous and unnecessary. Acting, and even more so writing stories, helps me put my thoughts and feelings about the world into a version of truth and humor that I can understand. Hopefully other people relate, as well. I don’t always want to be an artist. It’s tough out here and rarely glamorous. But it is my calling, something I need to do, and a way I can contribute to others.
I did not marry rich. I married for love, and it was the greatest choice I’ve ever made. The ROI on our marriage has been through the roof. My husband, Torey Haas, is the absolute best part of my life. He makes me better, all the time. He so strongly believes in me. Even while writing this sentence, he has come into my office to tell me how proud of me he is. I’m not bragging, I’m just saying…I didn’t know that people like him existed until we met. My mom always used to say, “When you meet the right person, you’ll know.” And I was like, “Yeah. Okay. Whatever, Mom.” But it’s totally true. He’s also a very talented filmmaker. Because we have different tastes, we are able to support and challenge each other, and we have been fortunate enough to get to work together on many projects. I’m sure we’ll be rich one day.
Has it been a smooth road?
No way. I don’t think it ever will be. I have spent decades battling my worst enemy: ME.
I hear a lot of actors say, “I was always performing as a kid! Putting on plays and making my family gather ‘round each holiday to sit through several acts of pure theatrical genius!” (I paraphrase). That was not me. I was a shy kid. Cute, but only for the first few years. Then quite suddenly very awkward-looking for at least a decade thereafter. Picture church bangs, men-sized flannel shirts, mismatched socks, thick-lensed glasses, and headgear. All at once. All on one child. It was a bit much. I made friends by making people laugh. It’s still my most favorite thing to do. My fashion sense has changed fractionally, but enough so that people are also attracted to the way I look, which helps build an audience of people who are willing to pay attention. It’s been quite a journey discovering my most authentic self. Becoming the version of me that feels the most comfortable is definitely something I’m still working on. When I start taking myself too seriously is when I seem to get into real trouble.
The worst part about being creative is not being creative. The time in between writing a story or booking a role–it can be absolute misery. Most of my life I have floundered through cycles of depression and anxiety. Practicing yoga has helped me find balance. Building a network of like-minded, equally talented bad ass women in comedy has helped me flourish. In April 2018, I graduated from Lace Larrabee’s Laugh Lab, Atlanta’s only all-female stand-up comedy class. Those six weeks kicked my butt, and also introduced me to some of the kindest, bravest, funniest, most honest and supportive group of women I’ve ever met. By the end of my first 5 (okay 7) minute set in front of a sold-out crowd of 200 people, what I had believed to be true my entire life was confirmed: I could make a room full of people uncomfortable. I could also make them laugh. I was fucking funny.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
In Summer 2018, I got funding from an awesome new creator-focused company called You42 to produce #PrettyFunny, a comedic web series about four talented besties who all work in the Atlanta entertainment industry: an actress, a podcaster, a radio DJ, and a stand-up comedian. The first four episodes follow a day-in-the-life of each main character and various crap they have to deal with as women in the industry. We see them go through extreme highs and lows and navigate it all together until the role of a lifetime threatens to tear them all apart. It’s awkward. It’s honest. It’s fun.
The series focuses on career and friendships and how dumb show business and social media can be, with a specific highlight on Atlanta (because I’m from here, and I heart ATL). I wanted to write something representative and intersectional (#feminism), so there’s a diverse lead cast. It was my goal to get as many women in production in leadership roles as possible (while not excluding any of the very capable, talented, wonderful men that we already had on crew, as well). #PrettyFunny is a female-directed, female-produced series starring all-female leads. And we don’t just sit around and talk about dudes all the time!
I wrote all six episodes in June, we began pre-production in July, by mid-August we were shooting, and principal photography wrapped on October 28th. Currently we’re in post-production, and the series is set to launch on You42’s new (free!) streaming platform in Spring 2019. This whole experience has been an absolute whirlwind, and I have taken this opportunity to learn everything I can about the filmmaking process. Writing and acting were a given, but I also wanted to try directing, and by the end of the first week of pre-production, it seemed obvious that I was also a producer (oops?). I am #blessed to have creative control over my own project, and it has been the greatest joy and honor of my life to not only get to tell my own story, but to include and employ so many people within my network that I love and have admired for so long. In case I never get the chance to make anything ever again, I wanted to do it all and take all my friends with me!
What role has luck (good luck or bad luck) played in your life and business?
I don’t really believe in “luck,” good or bad. I believe that some are more or less fortunate than others, which contextualizes one’s circumstances, rather than ascribing them to chance. I believe in things that I can see, things that can be measured and quantified. People get to where they are because they just do the thing. On a podcast, I heard someone describe their acting career as a “marathon, not a sprint.” That put an important new perspective on my own career. There is no such thing as an overnight success. Once you make the choice to do the thing you want to do, then you literally have the rest of your life to get to do it! We let the fear of failure hold us back, but the only true failure is deciding to give up. If you’re still trying, then you’re not failing.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I definitely think Atlanta is the place to be for film production. The industry has obviously been making its way here for a few years now, but instead of just hoping to be hired by a Hollywood production, I encourage folks to go out and make your own stuff. Don’t wait for someone else to give you permission or you could be waiting forever. A lot of people still plan to “start out” in Atlanta, and then head to LA, but many of those same people end up staying here and working. The talent pool here is growing quickly, we’re stepping up the game, and it’s so diverse; there are endless stories to tell. Atlanta gets shit done, y’all. We need more local voices.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.you42.com/
- Email: prettyfunnyseries@gmail.com
- Instagram: @prettyfunnyseries / @melissao_h
- Other: https://www.amtagency.com/
Image Credit:
Tara Gulledge, Lola Scott
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