Filmmaker Octavia Ethridge, whose most recent project is the crime/drama/comedy web series, The Matriarch, had an unusual route to pursuing her craft — the US military. The older of one sibling from a single mother, the South Carolina native enrolled in the US Marines straight from High School with the idea of using the GI Bill to fund her dream of attending film school.
Self-belief, self-reliance, and resilience were three of the most enduring qualities she picked up from her four years in uniform. They’ve served her well in navigating the turbulent journey of pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. She honed her craft at LA Film School, where she made short films and music videos on her way to attaining two BAs, one in Film Production and the other in Entertainment Business.
Octavia funded her artistic pursuits after graduation by being a truck driver. When she wasn’t behind the wheel, she pitched her creative endeavors to major networks while seeking agency representation.
The Matriarch, is a big step towards achieving that dream. The web series is a murder mystery with humorous undertones set in the tech industry. In a reimagined world, straight men are fighting for equal rights in a female, gay-centric workplace. Loud, funny, and dramatic, Octavia has taken inspiration in the nuanced art world-building from Hollywood legend James Cameron, best known for The Terminator and Avatar.
Octavia’s goal to be an influential voice in the LGBTQIA community and be a positive role model for women of color informs all her work. Her previous films have included Stand Up For Something, Nice For What (Women Empowerment), and she is currently shopping her first sci-fi/fantasy drama television series, Akebulan: Rise of a New King. She is also now in development for Love In Lagos, a rom-com set in Los Angeles and Lagos, Nigeria. In addition, she is currently developing the Matriarch’s crime/drama series.
Original content and unique story worlds are central themes in Octavia’s work. Her aim, through her art, is to make the unimaginable seem real and, in doing so, inspire, entertain and broaden her audience’s minds.