Director and screenwriter Erika Burke Rossa is using empathy to change the world.
Throughout her career, she has been on a path to understand people at different levels. Long before she stepped behind the camera, she was a dancer studying at Juilliard, later earning a master's degree in social work. Looking back, each chapter may seem unexpected, but together they led her to the perfect intersection of all her passions. And if there's one thread connecting everything she's done, it's empathy.
That perspective is at the heart of her latest film. Rain Reign, adapted from Ann M. Martin's beloved novel, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. The project began in a surprisingly ordinary way: It was on her daughter's summer reading list. But the story immediately struck a chord.
"I think it was really the sort of moral integrity of this young girl with all the cards stacked against her," Erika told The Newsette. "There just seemed to be something really poignant and meaningful about it in the moment."
Her background in social work only deepened that connection. "When I read the book, I thought, ‘wow, to be a parent that is in a community that actually lacks resources’," she explained. "What are the systems at play that kind of are stacked against you?"
Notably, once she decided she wanted to adapt the novel, she didn't wait for a formal introduction. Instead, she sent author Ann M. Martin a Facebook message. In the direct message, she started by asking if the rights were available and began making the case for why she should be the one to bring the story to the screen.
As they began the film adaptation, Erika said she knew that authentic representation would be essential given that the story centers around a neurodivergent protagonist. Drawing on both her social work training and extensive research, she made the decision to cast a neurodivergent actress in the lead role.
"I really wanted to have authentic representation," she said. "That, for me, is everything. We went about it with our casting director and did interviews to find this young girl, and we did. We were so fortunate.”
That commitment to authenticity extends beyond casting. For Erika, empathy isn't just a theme in her work—it's a practice. "There's the story in and of itself," she explained, “and then there's also the way in which you show up in the work.”
As a first-time feature director, she focused on building a collaborative environment where everyone felt heard. "I think there is maybe a misperception that directors [are] the dictator and the only voice," she said. "So much of filmmaking is all the people that come to the table."
That collaborative spirit carried through every aspect of Rain Reign, including its star-studded cast, which includes Paul Rudd, Jeremy Sisto, and Gretchen Mol. “I think everybody came to the table because they believed in the script," she said. "Everybody showed up just in their truth."
Ultimately, the film is about kindness. And in a culture that often rewards self-interest, Erika hopes audiences remember the power of small acts of humanity.
"I hope that maybe people will leave and see, wow, this kid with the cards stacked against her is making this choice; maybe I can make a moral decision that isn't solely based on my own personal needs, but for maybe the community or the greater good of somebody else,” said Erika.
Excitedly, Erika shared that after the release of Rain Reign, she is once again drawn to a story about resilience. Her next project, an adaptation of What Jamie Saw, follows a domestic violence survivor rebuilding her life. “I really am drawn to women characters that have things stacked against them, but persevere and continue on," she said.
