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Sweet Tea Berrys - The Arts | Hollywood Gold | The Priority of Passions
118 Plays1 year ago
Rush and Joe sit down with Joel and Olivia Berry of Sweet Tea Films in sunny Southern California. The father-daughter duo share their journey in filmmaking and their creative collaboration on projects. You may know Joel as the genius behind donut-loving social media character Tavin Dillard, and Olivia as the voice of "Hey, Dad!" when sharing their work on Instagram. Listen to how they balance their love for family, faith, and film.
Today, Joel and Olivia are the most interesting people in the world.
Find them online as @sweeteafilms and @tavin_dillard.
SUBSCRIBE to keep up with the most interesting people in the world. New episodes release every Friday.
Learn more about the podcast here.
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Transcript
Technical Glitches and Casual Introductions
00:00:00
Speaker
test one to my inputs. Great. I just can't hear you for some reason. Oh, there you are. There you are. What'd you do? I didn't do anything. Did you seriously? Yeah, nothing. But you need to raise your on your box, maybe raise your gain.
00:00:19
Speaker
I need to raise my gain. It's fine. So you're saying? Mm-hmm. I mean, it sounds good. It sounds good to me. OK. Test one. It's good. Let's do it. Ah. Looks like we made it. Looks like we made it. Nothing's going to tear us apart. Presence boost. Hold on a second. How about that? Does that sound better?
00:00:51
Speaker
It's not so much a sound, how it sounds, it's how it shows up on that thing. Hello, this will work. Hello, guys. Here happening. Look at this. Joel and Olivia. Joel and Olivia. I'm going to point out first from the start, just the image that they're presenting is a thousand times better. It's more professional than anything. I'm on this green screen where you got hats on.
00:01:19
Speaker
Well, yeah, seriously, I have my unmade bedroom. You guys, you guys have really made us happy today by just hanging out with us. And like, like I said to you, Joel, in just kind of reaching out to you, like that's what this, that's what our podcast is kind of hanging out and, and just having a conversation. There's nothing super polished about it. We'll do some stuff in the post-production, but it's just really a conversation and just, um, we're just really, really delighted to, to talk to you.
Joel and Olivia's Background
00:01:48
Speaker
So I'm curious, where do you guys live? We're in Southern California. Oh, nice. We're in Fontana, San Bernardino County. Fontana. Yeah, the 909. That's right. So what took you to Southern California? Well, I'm from Arkansas.
00:02:08
Speaker
We moved to Sacramento. My dad's a pastor, so he pastored a church in Sacramento for 30 years. And then I moved to Southern California for college in the early 90s. And then I've been here. And then my family of five, me and my wife and our three kids, Olivia is our oldest, we moved to Fontana to help start a church in 2018. So that's what brought us to Fontana.
00:02:29
Speaker
Well, that's fantastic. So I'm curious, Joel, what is it about your thinking that would want to motivate your family to go and to be a part of something like that? Yeah, that's a good question. Well, in 2003 or four, my wife and I didn't have kids and we landed at a church called Church in the Valley, which was in Diamond Bar. And just the experience that we had there with the teaching of
00:02:59
Speaker
you know, the gospel, but also building of healthy families, watching people that had kids or that kids were raised. And I'm like, how did their kids turn out?
00:03:07
Speaker
like that. And just really learning how to do marriage and life together, I was like, man, if we could be a part of impacting the next generation in a different area for that, I think that's worth the cost of our lives. So that was really it.
Involvement in Church and Social Life
00:03:24
Speaker
And then we were in West Covina, we lived on the edge of LA County at the time when we were part of the Diamond Bar Church. And, you know,
00:03:31
Speaker
We weren't ready when we first moved. We didn't want to ever leave that church. And really my wife will say it too. The only reason we did is because it made sense. There was an opportunity and God got us to the point where we got really excited about it because we could replicate that.
00:03:47
Speaker
in a new area and be what people out here, what that church was to us, you know. So yeah, Olivia, what's your life like now? Like what's going on in your life? You know, how old are you? What do you like doing? What makes you happy? You know, helping dad with some things. That was such a cool part of what you're doing. But what else is going on?
00:04:07
Speaker
So I turned 17 on February 8th. I'm thinking about college stuff, but the church plan has really been, I think a good experience for me. It's just been cool to plug in and, you know, meet new people. And me and my friend Katie, who's the pastor's daughter, we're like really close friends as well.
TikTok Fame and Social Media Presence
00:04:25
Speaker
Like, you know, meet new teenage girls that are our age and, you know, invite them to student ministry. And we have some that have been coming around. They're a little younger, some of them, one of them's our age, but it's been good to just, you know, meet
00:04:37
Speaker
new people and connect with them. And then this is like the city where I'm like, I've learned how to drive. And so, you know, I have my license. It's got a job like down the street from our house. So it's exciting. Yeah. And you're and you're the and you're the first born, right, Olivia? I have two brothers. Nice. Nice. The lead dog. So, OK, so for our listeners who might who might not know.
00:05:04
Speaker
And I'm captivated by it, right? That there is a character that you do on Instagram that celebrates the beauty of donuts. Now again, I'm captivated by it. Tell me a little bit about why and how did it come about this alter ego of someone who just is delighting in. Is it a little bit of like an Arkansas throwback with a little bit of SoCal Donut King? Talk to me.
00:05:34
Speaker
Well, yeah, Taven's from Arkansas. That's where he lives. So my character that I do. So for sure, it's Arkansas.
00:05:43
Speaker
You know, in 2020, when it started to take off on TikTok, the Tavin videos, I thought, you know, people that do social media often, you figure out what your content is. And I was like, maybe I'll do Donut Fridays. Like every Friday, I'll do Donut. Well, it never really caught on. And so I just kind of pivoted from that. But then I brought it, started doing it again in the last, I think last summer or late last summer, and every Wednesday would kind of start turning out.
00:06:10
Speaker
donut videos and then talking about, Taven talks about their, you know, all the benefits, you know, you get from eating a donut, different kinds of donuts. And that just, it just resonated. Those are definitely the most circulated videos right now that are on the donut ones.
Entertainment Industry Challenges
00:06:28
Speaker
So how long has Taven existed? 2006 was the first 2006. Okay. Yeah. And she was six months old when I started on YouTube.
00:06:39
Speaker
What motivated you to get into that space to begin with, where I'm getting a sense, Joel and Olivia, I'm getting a sense, which I totally dig, that there's a level of intentionality in your home.
00:06:55
Speaker
whether it be for where you're living, to how you think about your summers, to actually how the donut conversation really does talk a little bit about, it talks about the desires, it talks about things we enjoy. It's such this really great Trojan horse to talk about things. So how did the level, you're like, oh, I think I want to start moving into this space. What motivated you to all that, Joel?
00:07:23
Speaker
Well, I've always liked to entertain. And then I went to grad school for film production, but I was, you know, I'd act in my own stuff. And I liked acting, but I read this quickly. I don't really want to act in other people's stories for the most part. And that was just a deliberate, intentional choice too. I didn't get a...
00:07:40
Speaker
Theatrical agent in la i do have a commercial agent i've been in tv commercials but i didn't really want to do. You know somebody else's sitcom somebody else's movie i have been in a buddy's movie you know another friend from grad school he had a feature film that he put me in years ago and stuff like that you know if it happens organically it makes sense but i'm not trying to.
00:08:01
Speaker
hit the ground every day doing auditions and waiting for a phone call. I was like, I'd rather create the stories, write the narrative, and play to my strengths. And my strengths are acting and writing, and so I really try. You know, if you look at my social media stuff, it's not highly edited. In fact, I rarely edit. It's mostly straight to camera in one take. And in any order, you know, it's nine to 20 seconds. That's kind of the attention right now. So, you know, they're not necessarily long, but you try to still have a beginning, middle, and end.
00:08:31
Speaker
And so that's kind of how it's gone. It started with three to five minute videos on YouTube from 2006 to 2019. And there was very little growth. 2006 to 2009, there was growth on YouTube. And it was the early days of YouTube. And then from nine to 19 to 2009, that decade was pretty much just I was just out of sheer determination and enjoyment.
00:08:56
Speaker
I would still turn out consistent videos to you know in obscurity essentially. I mean there were some things there was there was a little bit of money generated and I did a couple tours you know live comedy tours in 2012 and 2018 as Taven but it wasn't until TikTok in 2020 that things kind of accelerated.
00:09:19
Speaker
So, so a quick, a quick side note, if I can ask this real quick, Joe, this, I'm actually asking this for you for, for you, Joe, is there's a quick side note. Yeah. I'm asking this for you. So not, not, I don't think a lot of people know that on the side of church life, Joe is in search of that Hollywood gold.
00:09:36
Speaker
So he is, he's auditioning and he's doing the thing you said, auditioning. Do you have advice for Joe? How he can land some gigs. I don't think it's happened yet, but you can tell by his personality. He's really close.
Joy and Commitment in Creativity
00:09:53
Speaker
Listen to it and stop it. I want your dream to come true. Rush is captivated by the California idea. The guy came out one time through his mind.
00:10:03
Speaker
He's like, what is this place? How could this place be? And so I like to go to the beach. That's where I was for the most part. Even the breakfast burrito and he's like, where, how can this place exist? No, no, listen, you know how this goes, right? It's like when when you're here in California,
00:10:25
Speaker
that the industry is everywhere. And so there are just opportunities to be able to do either ads or other things or whatever. And I have remarkably beautiful, stunning children. And during COVID, they weren't matching families for commercials and stuff. So they would actually have your own family doing it. So we would jump in and do auditions and whatnot. And my daughter and I, we like to do stuff every once in a while.
00:10:54
Speaker
And my greatest claim to fame, I've only done one, and my greatest claim to fame is that I got casted for a Garmin watch commercial. And so it's like this active thing or whatever. And my part was guy sitting on couch.
00:11:09
Speaker
So I literally was the before guy who needed the watch to get off the couch. The couch to 5K. I thought I was going to be like the yoga instructor or whatever. Anyway, all that being said, apart from all of that, I am interested in when you talk about the joy of creating and the joy of entertaining. Yes. Describe that for me a little bit. I don't think a lot of our listeners get a sense of how someone can have joy in so many different vocations
00:11:38
Speaker
And what is it in the way in which that God's created you brings you joy to entertain and to create? Can you describe that for a little bit? Well, there is something energizing about it. Now, I don't want to dismiss it and make it sound like it's not work. It's definitely work. And part of it with the social media stuff is people, I get the sense sometimes that I've got this idea and it's funny. And if they don't get a response right away,
00:12:08
Speaker
They take their ball and go home because first of all, it's not making them money and they've got to work. And the other thing is it's like, you know, the understanding of like, I think I'm talented and they very well may be, but are you willing to wait a decade before anybody else agrees
Creative Influence on Family Values
00:12:24
Speaker
with you? And often it doesn't make sense to do that. And I don't think it's wrong to pivot if it.
00:12:30
Speaker
But for me, I was able to continue to grind it out for as long as I did around the things that really mattered, my family and ministry, jobs that paid. But I mean, you make sacrifices, you sleep less and you do a lot of different things. And there's seasons I could do that. I'm at the age now where I can't afford to sleep less for very long of a season. There's times where you have to do it.
00:12:58
Speaker
Yeah, so I'm not sure if I'm answering your question, but it is. Through all of that, what's the joy that keeps you going to create and to be able to do that? What's the desire and the payoff for you?
00:13:19
Speaker
Well, I have a very committed father. So I watched him growing up where it's like, you know, commitments aren't and convenience are two different things. Commitments aren't necessarily convenient. So if you decide to do something, you get up and you do it. And regardless of people's responses or reactions, that's how I kept doing it is I made a decision when I uploaded the first tab and, uh,
00:13:42
Speaker
to do it every week for a year to see I go, you know, regardless. And then over that year, I got an audience. I ended up going 82 or 83 weeks. And then when sponsors started showing up, then there's even more motivation because that's, oh, this actually generate income. So part of it is like, I want to be someone who keeps my word. So if I commit to doing something, I'm going to do it. And if it, but with business, you do have to, there's some improv where you have to listen to your audience and you also,
00:14:12
Speaker
I would check in with mentors and people and my wife over the years. I'm like, is this, am I missing something? Should I not be? And often people that I really trusted would say, no, I think it makes sense. Keep going. I'm like, okay. I mean, I got it in me to keep going, but is it wise? Am I neglecting something that's more valuable? Good stewardship of your time.
00:14:33
Speaker
Yeah, and welcoming feedback and the community to go, hey, does this make sense? Am I crazy here? And for others to say, no, you're on the right track. Keep going. That's encouraging. Yeah. And then with the audience, the last couple of years when the audience really grew,
00:14:50
Speaker
it's listening to things that really turn into money like I want to see this on a t-shirt and I'm like do they though and then enough people say I want to see this on a t-shirt and all of a sudden you know you're it's this give and take like I put something out there people hang on to it and they're like more of this and like you know more donuts or whatever and we figure out how to to do that so okay sidebar do you have t-shirts
00:15:17
Speaker
Oh, yeah. Yeah, that's a big, that's that's tabins. Before this year, that was tabins main source of income. Now it's personal greetings, which I didn't think to promote those and a friend of mine asked me how I promote them. So yeah, between personal greetings and merchandise, that's, that's,
00:15:38
Speaker
a significant income for us right now. Nice. Oh, that's cool. I'm going to get me a t-shirt. That's for sure. Yeah, definitely. We're going to get some t-shirts. I was thinking while you were talking about just the process and the consistency. I've done some work, and I continue to do some work in publishing and books and things, and through that whole creative process, one of the cool things has been seeing some of my kids pick up on some of that.
00:16:04
Speaker
Uh, you know, a 14 year old son just this past school year, uh, through one of the homeschool things they were doing, you know, started writing some short stories. And then actually my oldest, uh, Hannah, who is 18, she's, she's always been from the moment she was born into books.
00:16:21
Speaker
And really started then thinking more about publishing avenues in terms of work that she could do or what degree she would be. And so I wanted to ask Olivia kind of, you know, your, your whole life or maybe six months, with the exception of six months have, have kind of had this kind of creative.
00:16:41
Speaker
go system environment to it with with the videos and in tavern and all the rest and the film company. And I wonder how that has influenced you or how maybe it's shaping the way you view your future or maybe you have a totally different plan. You know, if you think about what your life you think your life will be like over the next 10 years, what are the things you really love to do or pursue?
00:17:01
Speaker
No, I definitely have an interest in film. I think I did before I started helping him with the channel. When he was using his camera, I would set focus or whatever. I didn't do big things.
00:17:16
Speaker
it was definitely interesting. And then I do like enjoy making videos just for fun. I don't like put them out there. But I've always enjoyed just doing videos for fun. So I can definitely see that being a career for me one day. Yeah. Have you thought about next steps in terms of whether you'll try to just, you know, pursue the line of work? Or will you pair that with with college, you know, a film program or something else? Or what you know, what are your thoughts about that?
00:17:43
Speaker
Yeah, I don't know. I'm still trying to figure out like, you know, how that's all gonna work. But if I do like go to college, I'd probably get like a business degree, maybe. If I continue to help them with that, you know, I could, there may be something in there, you know, that I could use to help them with that. I get a business degree, so that could be something. And then I haven't looked at like film classes or anything like that. But probably this year, sometime I should.
00:18:08
Speaker
Well, you're getting a, you're getting a great education, right, right there with what you're doing. You know, huge, not many people get that.
Balancing Success and Spirituality
00:18:15
Speaker
Yeah. With the arts, you don't need a degree. So, you know, that's something we've talked about. It's like, my kids are under no pressure to go to college. You know, it's, it's really like, use wisdom, use discernment. We're not going to go into debt for it. So if we can't afford it, then there's trade schools or other things. And so.
00:18:34
Speaker
And that's, I think. What are some of the core values that you have as a family when it comes to relationship? If you're having this conduit or a context to be able to share and to craft and candidly just to enjoy, right? To have something to be able to do together. What are some of the core values that you want to celebrate, to craft, to enjoy together?
00:19:03
Speaker
say the hard attitudes. Do you want to mention a couple of those? Oh, yeah. So a couple of the hard attitudes that like, you know, me and my brothers have grown up and like a lot of like our friends to, you know, it's like, putting the goals and interests of others above our own.
00:19:17
Speaker
living an open and honest life before others. I'm trying to think of more. Clearing up. Yes, clearing up relationships, participating in the ministry. So what she's talking about, the heart attitudes are attitudes that our actual church body commits to, and so it quickly becomes something that becomes part of the fabric of our home.
00:19:40
Speaker
the clearing up of relationships. When you blow it, you don't just sweep it under the rug. You actually, you know, and I've had to do this and Olivia can probably attest to it over the years since she was a little girl, looking my kids in the eye and say, you know what, dad was too harsh with you. Will you forgive me? And making sure that our, our relationships are open and on and then living an open and honest life before God and others, putting the interest of others above your own. That's a big one. You know, like, okay, I know you want this and your goals are being blocked.
00:20:10
Speaker
What's the other person thinking and how can we figure this out? If you've got more than one person in your house and we've got five, it's a daily thing. Those are some that really help us navigate our home life and relationships. Well, when you talk about enjoyment,
00:20:31
Speaker
What, as you guys think, as a family together, where would you love to be in the next five to ten years as a family within your craft? What is it that
00:20:47
Speaker
Yeah, that you would hope for. It's a good question. I mean, my, my concern is very, it's less about, you know, guys specifically, but people in general, especially in our culture, there's a lot of focus on career and career success, which really means, you know, you're making money doing what you like to do. And that's a big push and, and everywhere. And that's okay. And I'm grateful.
00:21:12
Speaker
that I am able to generate income now off my craft. But I remember when I wasn't as much, but I would look at everything else and I'm like, if this is the only thing that doesn't hit,
00:21:23
Speaker
which is like making money off this crap, I'm okay because, you know, the other things are right. I don't have a trail of like broken relationships. I didn't neglect my family for a career. I didn't- The value of a clear conscience. Yeah, my marriage is intact and thriving. And that's because you have to be intentional. These things don't just happen. Parenting doesn't have every season of life with my kids. I'm like, I knew how to parent a four-year-old and then they became seven and then they became 13.
00:21:53
Speaker
So they all take specific attention and boys are different than girls. And so, you know, it's like for me in five years, I've raised kids that fear God. And, sorry. No, it's fine. It's good. It's precious. I mean, that is the win. I don't care what they do, as long as they're, you know, fearing God and trusting Him.
00:22:23
Speaker
I have no expectations. I mean, they can all be plumbers if that's what they wanna do or they can, whatever. But if you don't have that connection and that relationship with God, because through that, you actually have power and strength to bless other people and actually impact your neighborhood, your city, your state, your country, and the world. And without that connection to God,
00:22:49
Speaker
a lot of time is wasted grinding the wheels. So I have no desire. I mean, there's definitely, I would love to get a movie made and I would love to get the book published and that's great. But if it doesn't happen,
00:23:05
Speaker
I'm not going to live in regret now. That's why I take swings. You know, I wrote a manuscript for a book. So yeah, I did the work and if nobody wants to publish it, well, all I can do at the end of the day is like, well, I won't die thinking, what would happen if I'd written that book? I know nothing happened or on the screenplay. And then, you know, the next thing is films. That's what I've always wanted to do is make a feature like movies. So it I'll be taking a swing toward a step on that. I think this year. Um, so.
00:23:36
Speaker
That stuff's great, but it's not my life. It's not the main thing. And Olivia, I think you know this and you don't need me to say it to you, but what a fantastic inheritance. There's no greater inheritance for you and your family, your siblings to be given.
00:23:56
Speaker
than what we just heard because that is not common and it's not easy to come by and it's not easy. I can tell you from my own struggles and Joe would say the same.
Appreciation and Reflections
00:24:09
Speaker
It's not easy to walk that out in this current cultural moment in the challenges and pressures of
00:24:17
Speaker
just normal parental life as there's lots of pressures to provide and make good choices and so many other temptations to pull us away. And so, Olivia, you're in a fantastic seat next to him and I just can't imagine what a blessing that will be to you in your life to walk out in your family. It's so remarkable.
00:24:42
Speaker
I tell you what, I tell you what, you know what, I did, you know, obviously we never know what a conversation could bring.
00:24:51
Speaker
And I tell you what, today you have brought just a real refreshing and kind expression of how to think with intentionality, with a goal of enjoying life under the Lordship of Christ in every avenue and to do that in the context of family and relationships and to share that. So thanks so much for sharing that with us today and for all of your days and
00:25:21
Speaker
And what you have going on for you to spend some time with us is just really generous because honestly, man, it's just been a real blessing.
Closing Thoughts and Future Expectations
00:25:29
Speaker
But guys, thank you so much for spending your time with us. I know that you have a lot of other things that you could be doing and it's really been a huge inspiration and encouragement. I genuinely mean that. This is exactly what I hoped we would all gain is just this time together. And so we really, Joe and I really appreciate it. Awesome.
00:25:49
Speaker
Dude, I have so much admiration for creative people just to see the way that, I mean, that caught me off guard. I didn't expect that. Context and for him to like to be talking about what matters to him. And then he, he just kind of breaks into tears and, and.
00:26:08
Speaker
It was just to see his heart come out. What an example. It was amazing to me how, again, when you have a level of intention, it's so interesting. People try to place intentionality in order to create, in order to find purpose that they think that intentionality is going to unlock something, but really it's just the opposite. It's your worldview.
00:26:38
Speaker
It's your worldview.
00:26:39
Speaker
that then gives priority and direction to the intentionality of your days because you want to steward and invest what you believe. And then the perseverance in that is not motivated out of gain. It's motivated out of love. On top of it, what a consistent 17 years, 17 years working at this same kind of thing up and down and having the
00:27:09
Speaker
Obviously, his commitment to his family and to the Lord is what kept him focused through those times, it seems. But to see the way it's just been blessed that it's not either or that the Lord gave him both. Super cool. And I tell you what, again, I didn't see it in the beginning. You never know how these conversations are going to go. Right. And the fact that that kind of surprise
00:27:37
Speaker
an opportunity that just kind of blossomed out of it. It just goes to prove that just in ordinary conversation where it's not it doesn't feel like you have to be something or you have to say something that you just you just are able to be.
00:27:54
Speaker
and to enjoy and allow a moment to think and to speak and to talk together in real conversation, allows all of us to be able to learn. And I think that's just been a real great reminder. And honestly, I'm so excited about whoever's like our next conversations, which we have a couple lined up.
00:28:22
Speaker
I know. I can't wait for other people to hear what we've been hearing and receiving and I don't know if this is true for you. Hopefully it's encouragement to them. It's really driving along my interest in people. I had an interest in people but now it's like peaking and that's a huge blessing.
00:28:41
Speaker
already from the time that we've been doing it. So it's just yeah, it's good. Yeah, we keep getting up picking up here. It's cool. It's cool. Well, hey, I'll see you next time. I got it. Speaking of people, I got to get to I'm literally going to get a breakfast burrito right now. Please, please send me a picture of always I can live vicariously. All right, homie. I'll see you later. Thanks, man. See you. Bye bye.
00:29:05
Speaker
Well, that's it for today. Our next episode is going to be released one week from today. So make sure to check us out anywhere you get your podcasts. And if you could rate the podcast, we'd love to be able to share what we enjoy with as many people as possible. So we appreciate it. Thanks for listening, everybody. See you next time.