Meet Krista Cooper-Schmidt

We were lucky to catch up with Krista Cooper-Schmidt recently and have shared our conversation below.

Krista , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

In any creative industry, you have to get used to rejection. This is especially true for the paths I’ve chosen to pursue – acting and writing. You have to be resilient and persistent despite any challenges thrown your way. And trust me, there will be plenty!

I think a lot of my resilience comes from how much I love what I do. I create art for the sake of creating art and feel so grateful every time I have the opportunity to do so. Whether it’s getting to know my castmates on set or talking shop with fellow writers, I’m in love with every part of the process, even the really hard (and oftentimes, disappointing) parts. If I didn’t brave through every rejection, hardship, and bad experience, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to take part in all of the wonderful ones.

Rejection is a big motivator for me for this reason. If I bomb an audition, miss an opportunity, or receive a harsh piece of critique, I use it as a learning experience for how I can do better next time. Because there will always be a next time. The earth keeps turning and the industry keeps rolling. Just gotta learn to roll with it, you know?

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, and (sometimes) model. Some of my recent accomplishments include the lead roles in two feature films, supporting roles in various short films, and the completion of my first novel and short film, which I plan to publish/shoot in the near future. It’s definitely been a busy year!

Born and raised in a small town in Northern Arizona, I’ve been creating art in all its forms from as young as I can remember. I have a deep love for learning and humanity and aim to create art that explores and questions the human condition and all its paradigms. I have a bachelor’s in psychology and continue to work in behavioral health alongside my creative pursuits.

When I’m not creating, I can be found with my beautiful wife Alea, thrifting, watching movies, and spending time with our reptiles and plants.

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?

The three most impactful things in my journey would probably have to be education, networking, and love of my craft(s). Constantly put in the work to improve your skills, network and collaborate with fellow artists every chance you get, and remember to still have fun and remind yourself why you’re doing this. The latter probably being the most important. Never forget how much joy your art brings you, or it’ll be a recipe for burnout and resentment.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I’m always looking for new people to collaborate with! Whether it be directors, casting directors, producers, or fellow actors or writers. I put my all into every project and aim to make it the best it can be.

If interested, you can reach me at [email protected]. Reach out anytime!

https://www.kcscreativeworks.com/

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kcscreativeworks.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krista.c.s/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krista.cooper.s
• Other: https://kcsacting.carrd.co/

Image Credits

Corey Carlson, Crossroads del Sol Photography

Ben Staples, Projector Imagination Studios

Savannah Glenn, Hammerhead Films

Michael Jason Allen, He Said She Said Productions