Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Leanna Tallmeister. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Leanna, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
By immersing myself in other people’s creative works. Watching beautiful movies, music, tv shows and visual art. Going to film festivals. I love sitting in to watch blocks of short films. I find I cannot be my most expressive self if I am completely removed from the creative energies of others. Because for me, creativity is very personal, but there is a collective spirit to it as well. I also try to remind myself that creativity is a fluid state, not static, and so it’s okay if it’s not always optimally flowing or I’m feeling “blocked”.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m an actor and producer based in LA, and right now my focus is on developing/producing narrative works. I started producing my own content out of necessity- most auditioning actors nowadays have to be their own writers, producers, editors- even just to get through the self tape audition process. Producing felt like a natural move for me and I have really been enjoying it. My creative (and real life) partner, Will Turner, is a cinematographer and together we run TurnerCine, producing a variety of dynamic and collaborative films. Recently, our short film “I Don’t Sing Anymore” directed by Dahlia Heyman, premiered at the LA Shorts International Festival, and we produced a music video for R&B singer Kia (ft. Adam Wilson), that is currently up for a Grammy nomination. I also just produced a French comedic short film called “La Vie Smart”, which was written and directed by Soraya Garre and is now in post-production in France.
I have also worked as a professional makeup artist on sets for the last 7 years, which has given me a very thorough and holistic understanding of the filmmaking process. It’s a great way to connect with performers, stay on set, and learn from great talent through observing their process.
As an actor, I most recently worked with the brilliant writer/director/producer Jenny Curtis in the post-apocalyptic drama “A Comfort”, which I was so honored to have co-starred in with her. It is currently in post-production and I am very excited to see it released. Jenny is an incredible storyteller because she truly understands the macro and micro details of what makes a story powerful and effective.
I’m also continuing to audition for film and tv, and would love to read for a part in “The Pitt”. Dream job!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
It’s a two sided coin. Most of my “weaknesses” are also my absolute top strengths. I still very much feel like I’m in the beginning stages of my journey, and I am learning new skills every day, but here are some that come to mind:
1) Kindness as a strength rather than a weakness. I try to lead with the knowledge that everyone wants the same thing- to be heard and valued, on set and off. Most of my strongest relationships and connections, both personal and professional, have come from a place of compassion, listening, mutual confiding, and inclusion. I do not think of empathy as weakness because it actually requires an insane amount of strength to be able to fully practice it.
2) Not giving up. Stubborn energy as tenacity, a strength, rather than a defect. Especially in this business.
3) Fine tuning my aesthetic sense for precise decision making. Perfectionism is exhausting, but knowing what looks right and good is an important skill to have in a visual medium.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Absolutely! We are seeking scripts, concepts, writers, and collaborators with unique ideas for dramatic and comedic narrative projects. We want to continue to grow our network and work with like-minded filmmakers. Send me a direct message on instagram!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.actorleanna.weebly.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leannaeliset
- Other: Turnercine Official Website: www.turnercinematography.com
Image Credits
Chelsea Curtis
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
