Daily Inspiration: Meet Autumn McNutt

Today we’d like to introduce you to Autumn McNutt.

Hi Autumn , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a small-town girl from the Appalachian Mountains—Richlands, Virginia.

Growing up, there wasn’t much room for the kind of creativity I carried. But once I left, I finally found the space to explore who I really was.

I’ve been studying acting for over ten years now. I began in high school through the Fine Arts Center in Greenville, South Carolina, and later earned my BFA in Acting from Coastal Carolina University in 2019. That foundation carried me to Atlanta, GA, where I hoped my dreams would take off. When I first moved to Atlanta, I truly believed I’d be booked and busy within the year. I had a fire in me that felt unstoppable. But that hope met the harsh reality of an industry that doesn’t bend easily. I wasn’t booking. I wasn’t even auditioning much. And then the pandemic hit—shutting down the world, the industry, and my sense of identity as an artist. I started asking harder questions about who I really was, where I came from, and why I was doing this in the first place.

I’ve come to believe that to truly succeed as an artist, you first have to face the things you’ve been running from. And for me, that meant going back to the beginning. That’s when ROVA was born. It stands for “The Rest of Virginia,” and it’s a documentary about my family, my upbringing, and the spiritual and generational weight of growing up Pentecostal in the mountains of coal country.

ROVA is both the most painful and the most necessary thing I’ve ever created. This is a story about faith, family, and identity—the parts we run from and the parts that keep chasing us. It’s about the unspoken truths handed down without a word. The kind of grief that hides in plain sight. The way people love each other but still cause harm. It’s about the beauty and brutality of growing up in a place that teaches you strength, but doesn’t always give you space.

I made this documentary because I wanted to tell the truth. And sometimes the truth is messy. It doesn’t wrap up neatly or resolve cleanly. But what I’ve learned is: the mess is sacred. And if you’re brave enough to step into it, healing becomes possible. I used to think forgiveness meant letting things go. But I’m learning it might just mean holding them differently.

ROVA gave me that. A way to hold the hard stuff and keep walking.

This project is my way of saying: I see you. I’ve been there. And you’re not alone.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
After filming most of the documentary in 2021 and 2022, I truly believed I was done. The story felt complete—at least, I told myself it was. But when I sat down to rewatch the footage, I couldn’t bring myself to go through it. I was scared. Not of the technical work, but of the open wounds staring back at me; wounds I hadn’t healed.

So I let it sit for a year. I avoided it.

Then, after receiving some honest but necessary feedback, I realized the story wasn’t finished—because I wasn’t finished. So I went back to Virginia.

What happened next was something I can’t fully explain. With more growth and healing under my belt, I was able to have conversations I couldn’t have had before. Conversations with family that had once felt impossible. I wasn’t ready then. But I was now.

That’s when the project finally made sense to me. It clicked.
I was exactly where I needed to be—right here, right now.
A reminder I’ll carry with me always: trust the process.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a storyteller—first and always. I’m trained as an actor, but my work extends beyond performance. I specialize in emotionally grounded, truth-driven art that isn’t afraid to ask hard questions or sit in uncomfortable spaces. Whether I’m in front of the camera or behind it, I’m drawn to stories that reveal something real about people—their roots, their resilience, their complexity.

Right now, the work I’m most proud of is ROVA; my first documentary film. It’s an exploration of my Appalachian roots, my family, and the impact of faith, trauma, and healing across generations. I didn’t set out to be a filmmaker, but this story demanded to be told. And I’m proud that I followed that call, even when it was messy and uncertain. I’ve learned you can’t tell your story while you’re still hiding from it—and that’s a truth I’ll carry for the rest of my life.

What sets me apart is that I don’t just make work—I live it. I bring my whole self into what I create. I don’t believe in waiting to be “chosen.” If the story is worth telling, I’ll find a way to tell it. I think people can feel that when they engage with my work.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Finding a mentor can feel intimidating, especially when you’re just starting out or pivoting into new territory. But what I’ve learned is that mentorship doesn’t always have to be formal. Some of the most impactful guidance I’ve received has come from conversations with peers, fellow artists, and people who were just a few steps ahead of me.

The best way to build real connections is to show up as your full self. Be honest about where you are, ask thoughtful questions, and don’t be afraid to reach out to people whose work you genuinely admire. Most people remember what it felt like to be figuring it all out—they’re often more willing to help than you think.

As for networking: forget the word “networking” and think about relationship-building. Some of the strongest creative partnerships I’ve found started in small, authentic moments—supporting someone else’s work, being in the room consistently, or just sharing stories over coffee.

What’s worked best for me is being vulnerable about my process and open about my passions. The right people tend to find you when you’re doing the work that’s honest and aligned.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: armcnutt
• Other: rovadocumentary

Image Credits
Isaac Sotero @isotero @kairos_creative
Neepa Patel @neepa_patel

All other photos are stills from my project ROVA or bts of the project.