The Working Actor

WATCH AMY EXPLAIN WHY SHE MOVED TO LA:

Age: “Whatever you want it to be…preferably not 60”

Amy has lived in LA for 5 years but is originally from Minnesota. She has run Amy’s Blankies for a little over 2 years.

SIGNIFIGANT MOMENT IN LA: “It was the first time I went up in an acting class. I did my scene and the teacher said nothing about my work. She said, ‘Amy, what’s going on with your hair?’ I had no idea what she was talking about. I said, ‘I guess it needs a cut.’ The teacher called up other girls from the class and had them put their hair over mine so we could see what colors made my skin and eyes pop. It was insane, but that was the first moment I realized I wasn’t in Kansas anymore. This is a business and you’re not necessarily valued on your work. It was a reality check.”

BEST AUDITION STORY: “I was going out for a small role in a big show. I was coached on it and I had done my work. So I went in and did my [audition] and the woman said ‘that’s great, now just do nothing. Just say the lines.’ So I did, and I booked it. I’m not saying that you don’t need to do the work, you just need to be yourself.”

YOU MAY HAVE SEEN HER IN: “The Office”, “Private Practice”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, Southbounders, A Vick’s commercial

UPCOMING: “The Wish List” and a web series “Vicariously”

THIS JOB HELPS AS AN ACTOR: “It’s a creative outlet. It’s hard as an actress to gauge productivity. As an actress you go on auditions and hopefully book things. But with sewing you complete something at the end of the day. It gives a sense of accomplishment as well as being creative by making new designs and putting new fabric combinations together.”

DREAM ROLE: “Working in a Christopher Guest ensemble type film or an Altman-esque film. Something where there are a lot of quirky interesting characters with interesting relationships.”

ADVICE FOR ANYONE MOVING TO LA TO BE AN ACTOR: “A lot of people will perhaps disagree with me, but acting can’t be the only thing in your life. You need other stuff going on. You need a life outside of that dream to make you live and be happy. I love acting and can’t imagine doing anything else, but it won’t always make me happy. I need other things. People always told me that when I was younger, but I get it now.”

WATCH CODY TELL HIS AUDITION STORIES:

Age: 24

Cody was born and raised in Pasadena. He has owned Cacao Coffee House for 1 ½ years.

BEST MOMENT IN LA: “Losing my virginity.”

YOU MAY HAVE SEEN HIM IN: Big Bully, Bring It On, Not Another Teen Movie, The Intervention, Tumbleweeds, Thomas and the Magic Railroad, Madison, Trailer Park of Terror, “The Closer,” “Trust Me,” “Monk,” “90210.” Click here to see Cody’s IMDB page.

UPCOMING: “10 Things I Hate About You”

DREAM ROLE: “I want to be a superhero…I don’t care in what.”

ADVICE FOR ACTORS MOVING TO LA: “Have 3 years worth of bills in the bank and don’t give up. I’ve seen people come into LA and try to do this. It’s too hard to not be able to dedicate all your time. If you can afford to put all of your time into it, you can get your foot in the door. You do extra work, you go out, you take acting classes, you meet people, you network. It takes a long time, it doesn’t happen overnight. It’s just like anything else, It’s just like school. You’re not going to show up at school for 6 months and have a degree. It’s just not going to happen like that.”