Today we’d like to introduce you to Juanita Willis- Rodgers.
Juanita, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I didn’t enter filmmaking through a traditional path or industry connections, I came to it through lived experience and a deep need to tell honest stories. I’ve always been drawn to narratives about resilience, identity, and emotional survival, particularly those centered on Black women and underrepresented voices.
I learned filmmaking by doing it—handling development, budgeting, casting, production, and marketing while balancing a full-time career outside of film. Rather than waiting for permission, I built my own infrastructure. In 2016, I founded Dalore Studio Productions to create emotionally driven, micro-budget films designed to live both in festivals and the streaming marketplace.
Over time, my focus expanded beyond making films to building sustainable projects, developing investor-ready packages, forming strategic partnerships, and understanding the business side of storytelling. Each project has sharpened my ability to balance creative vision with practical execution.
Today, I see myself as both a producer and a builder developing a slate of films that elevate authentic voices, challenge expectations, and prove that meaningful stories don’t require massive budgets, only clarity, discipline, and purpose.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. Building projects without early access to capital, industry gatekeepers, or a built-in support system often meant carrying the weight alone. I financed development myself, stepped into unfamiliar roles out of necessity, and made critical decisions with limited resources all while maintaining a full-time career outside of film.
There were long stretches when progress felt slow, when momentum came in inches instead of leaps, and doubt quietly tested my resolve. But those moments shaped me. They forced me to become resourceful, disciplined, and deeply intentional about every choice I made.
Through those challenges, I learned how to package projects strategically, build genuine trust with collaborators, and create films that honor emotional truth while remaining market-aware. Each obstacle clarified my purpose: to build sustainable pathways for storytelling that reflect real lives, real complexity, and real representation.
We’ve been impressed with Dalore Studio Production , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My company, Dalore Studio Productions, is an independent production studio focused on emotionally driven, character centered films, with a strong emphasis on stories led by Black women and underrepresented voices. We specialize in micro-budget and independent features designed to succeed in both the festival space and the streaming marketplace.
What sets Dalore Studio apart is our intentional, strategic approach. Every project is developed with the full picture in mind story, budget, audience, and distribution so nothing is created in isolation. We build films that are creatively honest while remaining market-aware and investor-ready.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of our commitment to ownership, integrity, and sustainability. Dalore Studio Productions exists to prove that meaningful, culturally resonant stories don’t require massive budgets—only clarity, discipline, and purpose.
How do you think about happiness?
What really makes me happy is seeing my films come to life. Watching an idea move from the page to the screen never gets old it’s a reminder of why all the work is worth it. I also love collaborating with other filmmakers. Being in creative spaces where ideas are shared, challenged, and shaped together is energizing and inspiring.
Those moments on set, in development, or simply talking through a story are when I feel most fulfilled. Filmmaking can be demanding, but creating alongside people who care about the work makes it feel purposeful and rewarding.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juanita_the_producer?igsh=MTRteTkzNDJrdDhyNw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17joEeJm2V/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@dalorestudio?si=zgFvCyB1CzoR4HAN
- Other: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm7394263/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
