There is a fate and Destiny to life- and Alana walking through my door is proof of that… we were kismet” Albert S. Ruddy said before his death in 2024
From Royal Oak to Hollywood: A Journey Written by Destiny
Every Hollywood dream starts somewhere and not always with a bang or spot light, but with a whisper.
For Alana Ribble, the voice came from Royal Oak, Michigan- that whisper was reminding her that something more was out there.
“Somewhere within my soul, my heart had to know,” she says with a grin. “But my head sure didn’t. I always say I ‘Forest Gumped’ my way here, just by putting one foot in front of the other.”
Those little jumping-the-ropes carried her from the coffee maker and script filer to a producer of stories that mend hearts across the world. It was a compass she developed after becoming obsessed with coming-of-age movies, tales of bravery and self-discovery.
“They really struck a chord with me,” she says. When I saw them, I felt that was something I could do to people the way those movies did it to me. Until I figured it out, there was no stopping me.”
Belief as Base: Constructed from Grace, Directed by Cause
Before cameras and chaos, Alana’s foundation was faith.
Coming from a family of deep Salvation Army roots, she was taught that service, gratitude and discipline are the real meanings behind success.
“Both Royal Oak and my family’s Salvation Army background instilled in me a good work ethic and a belief that there’s a divine plan for my life,” she says. “It’s what allows me to work from peace, no matter how chaotic the industry becomes.”
Whether she was running errands or staying late to read scripts left behind, she saw every task as sacred preparation.
“Titles are secondary to tenacity,” she says. “Those early years taught me, ‘Perseverance is the bridge between potential and purpose.’ ”
Changing the Course of History: Destiny and Fate collide
The entertainment industry’s history is peppered with stories of luck, but Alana’s story is one of divine guidance.
She stepped into her fate the day she interviewed with Albert S. Ruddy, a two-time Oscar winning producer of The Godfather and Million Dollar Baby.
“I had NO clue who he was- none,” she says. “But I knew I was home.” Later, Alana realized she had just met a legend.
She smiles softly. “I didn’t know I was lost until Ruddy found me.”
That meeting would change the trajectory of her life, teaching her to be a creative force driven by purpose.
A Legacy of Success: Building Your Business Today With The Mentor Of The Century
Being with Ruddy wasn’t a job, it was an apprenticeship in life, leadership and the love of the art form that we are all blessed to be a part of, storytelling.
“With every breath I took with him, I knew how honored I was to be there,” she says. “With each cup of coffee that I served, I knew how special our collaboration was.”
Ruddy saw something in Alana that she hadn’t seen in herself yet. He taught her that stories were not about spectacle, but about soul… you feel it- you feel it in a script.
He said, ‘The Godfather‘ is not a movie about the mob, it’s about a family that just happens to be in the mob. ‘Million Dollar Baby‘ wasn’t a story about boxing, it’s a father- daughter love story- she happened to box.”
That was the creative mission statement:
“Real stories make us remember that we are human together. The world doesn’t need more noise — it needs more truth, compassion and courage.”
At the end of Ruddy’s life he had frequent hospital stays where he would sneak Alana in to visit. Before she would leave, he gazed at her from his hospital bed and whispered,
“I know who you are, and I hold you here.”
His hand lay on his heart… and she replied “I love you”
That is an experience, she says, that will remain with her forever.
Janet’s Hope: Storytelling with Soul
Behind Alana’s resilience emerges another leading figure, her late mother Janet Hope Street, for whom Janet’s Hope Productions is named.
“My mom was the first person to believe in me,” Alana says now. “Janet means gracious gift and mom made sure people knew every single day that they were a gift to the world.” It was a no-brainer to name my business after her.”
“When you know your value, no one can shake it.”
That philosophy informs the mission statement of her production company: Tell stories that uplift, heal and inspire.
“I have one question when I start every project: Why this story? If the ‘why’ doesn’t light me up, then it’s not the right project. You can do anything to the work, edit it, erase it, cover it up and you can delete everything that’s ever been said about that work. Purpose isn’t optional, it’s what keeps the work honest.”
Hollywood Heartbreak and the Strength to Forgive
Alana’s journey has not been an easy one. Hollywood can be mean, but she found grace in darkness.
“I’ve had a powerful male producer threaten publicly to punch me in the mouth; I’ve been the victim of hacking and severe character defamation. I’ve had my livelihood ripped out from under me, my IMDB page hijacked, and endured unbearable betrayal. My security was increased along with changing mylocks and passwords- but I kept going.”
Her forgiveness didn’t render her weak, it actually rendered her unstoppable.
“Unstoppability,” she smiles, “that’s what forgiveness gave me. When I refused to do to others- including the ones who did it- what was done to me- I knew I had truly forgiven”
“Forgiveness became her strength, a quiet revolution in an industry built on ego.”
An Artistic Ode to Collaboration and Compassion
In all, Alana said she’s drawn on the people she has worked with, her latest projects led by acclaimed Producer Andrew Stearn and TV Executive Mark Taylor. Not only are these two men who believe in women, but both are a pristine example of caliber professionalism. They set a standard on the importance of collaboration mixed with solid storytelling and hard work.
Krista Vernoff- created Rebel starring Katey Sagal, “Krista made sure all of Rebel was safe during Covid,” she remembers. “Weekly, sometimes even twice a week, she required the network to test every member to make sure we were healthy…” she wrote in a statement about the situation on Instagram (July 29). “During the strike when we were forced on hiatus- Krista, out of her own pocket, kept our health insurance active. That’s real leadership.”
Being a part of Good American Family from Ellen Pompeo, Laura Holstein and Katie Robbins was a valuable experience to learn from these talented ladies.
During this filming Ruddy died. Alana found out while walking through the production office and was crushed. “It was Katie Robbins who followed me to my office to console me that day,” she recalls. “And those are the moments, people putting people first, that you never forget.”
Breaking Boundaries: Courage Over Comfort
When she’s asked about what “breaking boundaries” means to her, Alana is silent for a moment before responding. “Personally, boundaries are sacred. Not everyone deserves front row seats to your spirit. But professionally? Boundaries are supposed to be broken… It means practicing courage, not comfort, as you decide to trust yourself and listen to your gut, even if no one else does.”
It’s a mindset that has propelled her from Midwest origins to the inner sanctums of Hollywood, evidence that grace and grit can be successful.
Redefining Leadership in Hollywood
Alana is among a class of female producers changing Hollywood from the inside out, not by supplanting men, but by reshaping what leadership looks like.
“I am who I am because I’ve had great men in my life,” she says. “Men are not the enemy — most men like hard work and integrity. Learn from them. Partner with them. Collaboration brings out the best.”
What she hopes for the future of Hollywood is a culture where empathy and excellence can exist in the same space.
“True leadership,” she says, “is not about power over other people, true leadership is about power among all the people.”
The Legacy of Hope and Worthiness
One poignant truth at the heart of Alana Ribble’s story is worthiness.
“When you are aware of your worth, nothing can stop you,” she says.
Her company’s work reflects that same belief-storytelling as both uplift and healing. “Authentic stories heal,” she says.”They remind us that we’re all connected, all part of the same human experience.”
Her mother’s faith, Ruddy’s guidance and her own tenacity have turned her into more than a producer, she is an instrument of purpose in action.
Alana is a proud member of Woman in Film, the esteemed Television Arts & Sciences Academy and named one of the 30 top inspiring entrepreneurs to follow by NY Magazine.
Faith in the Face of Fear
But through every heartbreak and rejection, Alana has kept the faith.
“I don’t care who you are- everyone gets discouraged. That’s why you need your people, the ones who help you remember why you started.”
“My mom would always say, God can do all things for you but fail”
Those words were her mantra, she said, her guiding star in an industry that thrives on illusion.
The Producer. The Visionary. The Believer.
Alana Ribble has finally become a beacon of authentic storytelling.
Her mother’s memory courses through her, Ruddy’s principles pulse in the work she does and every film she releases is infused with a heartbeat of hope.
She gazes toward the horizon, not the klieg lights.
“Worthiness is your birthright,” she whispers.
And with that Alana Ribble steps into the light to remind every woman watching they too can “Go Shine!”
