NIGHTLIFE REPORT · FOUNDERS & CREATIVES

Alexis LaShay Newkirk · Founder, writer, producer, & lead actress, Alexis LaShay Productions LLC · Saint robert · @therevelest @alexislashayproductions

Today's reporting describes brands writing contracts to alter, swap and reuse models' faces, and some skipping humans entirely. Alexis LaShay Newkirk spent years in front of other people's cameras. Now she's the writer, producer and lead of her own sci-fi feature, Beneath Her Skin, built on practical effects and a real body that she had to teach to walk again.

We asked Alexis the Nightlife Report founder questions. The answers below are printed exactly as submitted, without edits.

The interview

What was the moment you stopped playing small, and what did you do the very next day?

The moment I stopped playing small was when I decided I was no longer going to wait for someone to “discover” me or hand me an opportunity. I had already built a career behind the chair, in modeling, hosting, and production—but I knew I had stories bigger than a post or a booking. The very next day, I began building Alexis LaShay Productions LLC and committed to writing and producing my first feature film, Beneath Her Skin.

What game is the rest of your industry playing that you refuse to play?

Waiting for permission. I refuse to play the game where you have to fit into one box, know the “right” people, or shrink your vision because it makes others more comfortable. I’m building with the people who see the work, the purpose, and the bigger picture.

What's the boldest bet you've made on this brand (price, production, a hire, a show), and how did you justify it when others played it safe?

The boldest bet has been launching my own production company and stepping into a feature film as the writer, producer, and lead actress. Beneath Her Skin is a sci-fi romantic thriller with a real world, practical effects, visual effects, and a franchise vision behind it. People play it safe by waiting until every dollar and every person is in place. I believe you build momentum by moving with what you have, putting the vision in front of people, and letting the right team meet you there.

If you restarted tomorrow, what would you do bigger and sooner?

I would trust myself sooner. I spent years helping other people shine—through my artistry, my image, and my work ethic—before fully claiming space as a creator and producer. I’d start the company, protect my ideas, document every step, and build the right team from day one.

What are you putting into the world in the next 90 days that proves you're moving?

I’m officially beginning production on my first feature film, Beneath Her Skin, on December 1—and I’m funding it myself. Over the next 90 days, I’m bringing the world to life through cast, locations, practical effects, visual effects, and a team that believes in the vision. I’m also launching the Seed&Spark campaign so people can follow the journey from the beginning.

Picture ten times the audience you have today. What has to change in how you and your team work to get there?

The vision stays the same, but the systems get stronger. That means clearer communication, stronger partnerships, consistent content, and a team that understands we are building more than one moment—we are building a legacy. I’m learning to delegate, protect my time, and move like the company I know Alexis LaShay Productions is becoming.

What almost killed a launch, show or shoot, and who on your team refused to let it die?

The biggest challenge has been the pressure of turning a major feature-film vision into a real production on an independent budget. There are always moments where timing, money, locations, or people can make you question everything. But I refused to let it die. I kept making calls, building relationships, finding solutions, and showing up for the vision even when it felt bigger than me.

If you got one cover frame, which image, piece or look would it be, why does it carry the whole idea, and who made it with you?

It would be the image of Maya Vale from Beneath Her Skin—half human, half creature, standing in darkness with her eyes telling the whole story. That image carries the heart of the film: transformation, survival, femininity, fear, and power.

That story is personal for me. After I was hit by a water company truck, I didn’t think I would walk again. I had to relearn how to walk, my spine is fused, and I live with a permanent spinal cord stimulator on my back. Instead of letting that experience define the end of my story, I created a movie from it—then created an acting opportunity for myself and built my own production company, Alexis LaShay Productions LLC, to bring it to life.

What's the one detail in your work (a stitch, a light, a song, a scent, a gesture) that only your team notices but that changes everything?

The one detail is that nothing I create is just for looks. Every image, scene, outfit, caption, and character has a piece of survival in it. My team knows the smallest details are there to make people feel something—because I have lived through things that could have broken me, and I turn that pain into beauty, power, and stories people can see themselves in.

When you're not in the room, what one sentence do you want people saying about your brand?

Alexis Newkirk doesn’t just create moments—she builds worlds, opens doors, and makes people believe bigger.”

Personal notes for the editor

Thank you for this opportunity! I’m preparing to begin filming Beneath Her Skin on December 1, and I’ll be launching my Seed&Spark campaign soon. I’d love for the interview to highlight Alexis LaShay Productions, my journey from survival to storytelling, and the film’s upcoming production. Please tag @TheRevelest, and feel free to reach out if you need more photos, campaign details, or a direct link once it launches.

Today's context

• The Japan Times / Reuters
• PetaPixel

Photo credits: @therevelest · Team: @therevelest @alexislashayproductions

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