Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Allie Costa. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Allie, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
I’ve always been both optimistic and pragmatic. I’m very hopeful while also being realistic. I automatically see the potential in something and get excited about all the good things that could happen, and I try to handle my expectations so that I’m not deeply disappointed if things don’t go the way I wish they would. Keeping that balance of hope and realism is very important to me.
I appreciate every good thing that happens, no matter how small. A warm meal, a cool breeze, a fun conversation. I cherish those things even more on a day that’s not so good otherwise, and I try not to take things for granted.
As an actor, it can be difficult to stay optimistic if you haven’t had an audition in a while, or if you’re auditioning but not booking anything, or if you’ve gotten some parts but not your dream roles. You’ve got to keep your chin up and keep trying. Believe in yourself. For me, every single audition is a cause for celebration because even if I don’t end up getting the part, I got the chance to do what I love, I got to show people what I could do, and I was part of the conversation. I think that’s pretty cool.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m an actor, writer, director, and singer working in film, TV, theatre, and voiceover. I’m happiest when I’m performing, whether it’s on a sound stage, a theatre, or a recording studio. I’ve played everything from bright-eyed activists and sarcastic coworkers to supernatural heroes and sentient A.I., from determined detectives and clever scientists to talking cats and dogs. I love character-driven stories, and I love bringing characters to life!
In addition to my screen and stage work, I’ve also been in commercials and video games, I’ve lent my voice to animated projects and scripted podcasts, and I’ve narrated audio books and documentaries. I currently have recurring roles in some really fun audio productions, including Slayers: A Buffyverse Story, a new Buffy the Vampire Slayer project produced by Audible which picks up 10 years after the series finale and stars original cast members. I really enjoyed sinking my teeth into that project, and I hope we get a season two!
I love being a storyteller, and I love working in all the different mediums and genres to tell stories in different ways, to different audiences. I enjoy auditioning for a TV show one day, then filming a movie the next, then recording a voiceover for an animated film or learning lines for another project. Or maybe it’s a quieter week, so I work on learning a new song from a musical or a new accent or dialect so I have a new tool in my toolbox. At any given moment, I could be writing a new screenplay or revising my latest stage play or editing something I filmed or watching something a friend worked on. I’m always working on something, because I love what I do, and staying active keeps me ready for whatever project comes next!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Understanding. This is two-fold: I mean both understanding in terms of compassion and empathy, so that your characters and performances feel real and believable, and understanding what it is you’re doing. If acting, writing, or directing is your chosen profession, learn everything you can about it. Watch TV shows and movies. Read plays and screenplays and books. Go to the theatre. If you have the chance to be a reader at auditions, do it: You’ll learn so much from seeing how different actors tackle the same role. Write your own projects. Collaborate with people you admire and trust. Shadow someone, if you can: Being on a set will put everything in context and let you see how fast (or slow) things can move and change while filming and hopefully you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions so you can gain more knowledge, appreciation, and experience.
Confidence. Confidence is not about being arrogant, it’s about believing in yourself and knowing you are capable of doing what you set out to do. Stay humble and stay calm. Do your best and have fun. You’ve got this.
Trust. Trust yourself. Trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Make decisions that feel right for you, and know that no two people have the same journey. Take one step at a time, and you’ll make your own way.
For artistic encouragement, audition advice, and more, check out my episodes of How Do You Juggle? and Behind the Screens:
https://podcasts.apple.com/
https://podcasters.spotify.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
First, I acknowledge that I feel overwhelmed. That is a big step to begin with. I’m an energetic, busy person who tends to juggle a lot of things at once, so when there’s too much happening, it’s important for me to take a second, take a breath, and sit down and think about things in a practical way. I often put on a favorite song or album to help me calm down, to be encouraged rather than discouraged, and get focused. Sometimes, I make a to-do list; other times, it’s a calendar. I consider what needs to be done and what doesn’t (as in, do I have something on the list that’s not necessary, something that’s superfluous), what’s time-sensitive and what isn’t. Having a plan or a schedule helps, plus breaking things down into a series of steps to remind myself to do one thing at a time. If I’m working on a collaborative project, I see if I can delegate a task to someone else or ask for help. I also check in with myself and ask if I really, truly need to do everything on my list, or if I’m simply feeling compelled to do so. I’m very decisive, but if I’m uncertain about something and time permits, I sleep on it, or at least try to take a few hours, because things might feel and look different later rather than acting hasty in the heat of the moment. No matter what, I always trust my gut, and instead of worrying about improbable things or things I can’t control, I try to focus on what I can control, I think about my goals and what makes me happy, and I look forward to all the amazing things that could happen next.
Learn more about Allie Costa and her many projects:
http://www.alliecosta.com
http://www.imdb.me/alliecosta
http://www.youtube.com/
http://www.soundcloud.com/
https://newplayexchange.org/
Follow Allie on social media:
http://www.twitter.com/
http://www.tinyurl.com/
http://www.threads.net/
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.alliecosta.com
- Facebook: http://www.tinyurl.com/alliecostaFB
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/allieacts
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/alliecosta
- SoundCloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/alliecosta/sets
- Other: http://www.imdb.me/alliecosta
http://www.threads.net/alliecosta
https://newplayexchange.org/users/995/allie-costa
Image Credits
Photographers include Megan Hilliard, Andrew Joseph Perez, and Allie Costa
