By Sharon Dowdy Cruse
Those looking at the film industry from the outside often see that it is a fun and exciting industry. What is harder to perceive is that the highly-talented artists and creators who work within it, also experience high levels of stress, do not get a full 8-hours of uninterrupted sleep and frequently do not stop to take a moment for themselves.
Roughly two years ago, Trilith Studios in Fayette County recognized that the collective wellbeing of the creative people working in its 32 sound studios and living in the adjacent Town of Trilith was low. As a result, the Trilith Foundation was created with the goal of providing mental, physical, spiritual and relational support that many were not receiving elsewhere.
“Our mission is dedicated to enriching the lives of creatives who inspire the world,” said Trilith Foundation CEO Elizabeth Dixon. “We achieve this by creating a variety of experiences, events, programs and resources specifically designed for our diverse audience, which includes aspiring creatives new to the industry, as well as established professionals across arts, fashion, theater, production and beyond.”
Daniel Bashta is an example of someone who benefitted from Trilith Foundation’s resources. His personal journey to improving his mental health brought him to the Foundation where he now serves as a content creator and resident “creative genius.”
A recent Dove-award winner, Bashta is modest and humble, but a quick Google search reveals his immense talent in the music industry. His songs have been recorded by the Newsboys, Third Day, David Crowder, Passion Band, Jesus Culture and Bethel Music. He may be best known for the Christian anthem “Like a Lion (God’s Not Dead),” recorded by the Newsboys and featured in the God’s Not Dead movies.
“I was a musician, an artist, had record deals and took tours all over the world,” said Bashta. “I’ve always heard that success is the enemy of health and for me, the more successful I became, the more number one songs I had, the more money I was making, the more things I had that I dreamed about as a kid, the more unhealthy I was becoming.”
Bashta turned to alcohol which, he says, became his “medicine for goodness” but also took him to dark places. “My marriage was getting unhealthy and I wasn’t being a good dad,” said the husband and father of five.
He put in the work to get sober and then began working on himself, his marriage and his family. A visit with a friend who lives in the Trilith community led Bashta to leave Atlanta and move his family to Trilith.
“It was kinda the origin of a new chapter of our life. We knew we needed a reset. We needed to recenter,” he said. “I was off the grid, making a fresh start and starting a new chapter and Trilith became our home for rebirth.”
The Foundation’s resources are intended to help people like Bashta. They include connections to mental and emotional support professionals for counseling and therapy, be it individual or family counseling, in-person or on-line. Addiction recovery services are also available as well as an AA support group that meets weekly in the Trilith community; and to help offset the cost of counseling, the Foundation offers a $500 mental health subsidy for creative professionals.
“Trilith Foundation prioritizes mental health because we understand the profound impact it has on creativity and productivity,” Dixon said. “Our Chief Visionary Officer often reminds us, ‘When we live better lives, we tell better stories.’ By supporting the well-being of our community of storymakers, we empower them to craft stories that not only resonate more deeply but also inspire and enlighten audiences worldwide.”
Now, having followed the 12-step program for his road to recovery, Bashta welcomes the opportunity to serve others through the Trilith Foundation.
“The Foundation is in service to creatives, the storytellers who are inspiring the world,” he said. “We provide spaces and conversations and resources so people can evolve or further their own wellness. Some of us go really fast and some of us go really slow, but whatever your speed, the Foundation wants to be there right with you. We want you to know you are not alone.”
“Telling stories from our own experiences are going to help others experience growth and change. We are all creatives and we want to have a large table where all are welcome,” Bashta said. “We want to do our best to create authentic spaces, that all creatives are invited to, where they can be themselves. They don’t have to be something they aren’t. We offer a safe place to have conversations.”
Bashta now curates and hosts Trilith Foundation events that are designed for creatives by creatives, and the Foundation’s resources are available to all creative professionals in the entertainment industry; not just those who work with Trilith Studios.
Events hosted by the Foundation bring those in the entertainment industry together while enriching and inspiring their mentally, physical, spiritual and relational growth. The Foundation’s Inspiration Series is designed to spark creative inspiration through the arts while enriching the lives of those across the creative community. The Enrichment Series’ expert speakers educate and enrich the lives of those who attend.
To get an inside look at the studios and the community, the Foundation offers the Trilith Experience. These immersive tours are led by ambassadors who are often aspiring actors and actresses who are still building their careers.
The Foundation also partners with a yoga studio, a local wellness center, a physician who specializes in functional medicine, a church and weekly faith-based meetings, all located inside or just miles from the Trilith community.
“Our commitment to nurturing a broad spectrum of talents is unwavering,” Dixon said. “Excitingly, we are also looking to expand our offerings to include athletics as the U.S Soccer Federation was recently added to the Trilith family. This expansion reflects our dedication to fostering diverse talents and providing holistic support.”
The Foundation continues to connect with entertainment industry professionals, like Bashta, who need support and in turn want to support others.
“Jody, a resident of Trilith who experienced a deep loss, has been refreshed by participating in our events and spearheaded two of our Master Class events and was a speaker at one of our enrichment series,” said Dixon. “There’s Autumn, an actress who has become a cornerstone of our community by leading our ambassador program. These stories are just a few examples of how our support system empowers our community members to transform their challenges into opportunities for growth and leadership.”
To learn more about the Trilith Foundation, go to www.trilithfoundation.org.
This article appeared in the 2025 edition of the Creative Economy Journal. See more from the Journal here.
