We recently connected with Kimberlea Kressal and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Kimberlea with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
A strong work ethic was value instilled in me by my parents. The psychology behind their work ethics was different, but it was clear to me early on that work and self-worth were connected. My Dad, who at 75-years-old is currently building an addition to his barn by himself, showed me that there was pride in a hard day’s work. It didn’t matter how much money you made or where you came from, you could hold your head high if you worked hard and took care of your family. My Mom genuinely loved her job! She went above and beyond with everything she did. I saw how people admired and respected her. That was important for me as a girl, to see a woman respected professionally. I also credit dance and theatre for my work ethic. I attended competitive arts schools from a young age. Dance offered both creativity and discipline, while theater gave me my first opportunities to work collaboratively and to step into leadership roles.
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 LA-based TV writer and filmmaker. I have sold and developed projects with ABC Signature, Automatik, Danny Rose Media, DiGa Studios, Dynamic Television, Escape Artists, Milojo, MGM-Orion, Gavin Polone’s Pariah, and UCP. My directorial debut film “Jackrabbit Homestead” — starring Yara Martinez — is currently playing at festivals around the country. I came to TV and film following a twenty-year career in New York as a theater director and playwright. I was the Resident Director for the theater company Wreckio Ensemble for ten years. I am the book writer and librettist of the hit off-Broadway musical “Lesbian Love Octagon.” On stage, I most recently directed a workshop of Alice Stanley’s “The Second Best School Shooting” Executive Produced by Adam McKay and Shira Piven. I am also the Founder/Producer of Tisch Represents, a community of NYU Tisch School of the Arts alumni elevating underrepresented voices in television and film.
I genuinely love teaching! Whenever my schedule permits, I offer writing classes and workshops that demystify the process of writing and empower the creator. For the past six years, I have been teaching my class TV Writing for the Actor™ to actors, writers, playwrights, novelists, poets and anyone else interested in character-driven storytelling. I also serve on the faculty of Western Colorado University’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing, where I teach TV writing, screenwriting, pitching, and portfolio development.
As a writer, I most enjoy writing what I describe as “Florida Noir” – brightly lit dramas rooted in moral ambiguity. That doesn’t mean they are always set in Florida (although I do love writing about gators and grifters). I’m currently working on a grounded horror series set in an unincorporated desert town about a woman seeking redemption. And I’m finishing rewrites on an ensemble feature I hope to direct next year. You can learn more about me, my writing, and my classes at www.kimberleakressal.com
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Collaboration: Growing up a theater kid had the most impact on both my professional successes and my personal relationships. Working toward a common goal rather than being in competition with others has shaped how I approach everything in life.
Play: Again, I have to give my parents credit for making life, even the hardest parts of it, playful and fun. Being playful does not mean you are not serious or hard working, it is about living in a state of curiosity and open-heartedness. All creativity comes from play.
Resilience: I once polled a bunch of people in my life and asked them what word best describes me. I thought I’d get “creative” or “hard working” or maybe “patient,” but the word that came up again and again was “resilient.” I was irked at first that this word defined me, but now I wear it like a badge of honor. I may have taken a lot of softballs to the face, but that is because I am so often up to bat. I put myself out there, again and again, and that means some of the time I fail. If you believe in yourself, your talent, your voice, your mission, then take the blows and keep going!
My advice, especially for people aspiring to pursue a career in the arts, is to feed themselves. Focus as much on input, as output: read, take classes, watch movies and TV, see art and theatre, listen to podcasts and music, be in nature. This is how you build resilience, you refill your tank when it has been emptied or drained. Build your skills in collaboration by joining a community theater, choir, improv class, or community organization working toward a common goal. Play will naturally come by embracing the advice above, but also hang out with kids — they know how to play!
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
Community has always been my most valuable tool in overcoming life’s challenges, personal and professional. I am someone who is passionate about building community: writers groups, theater companies, alumni associations, queer collectives, found families! I have been accused of being a compulsive helper. But when I find myself in need of help, whether that be help shooting an indie film or recovering from a personal loss, I have so many wonderful fellow artists and friends to lean on.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kimberleakressal.com
- Instagram: @kkressal @tvwritingfortheactor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimberlea.kressal
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kkressal/
Image Credits
Photos by:
1. Brandon Morris
2. Jill Petracek
3. Laura-Bethany Strong
4. Kim Kressal
5. Joe Lewis
6. Kim Kressal
7. Brandon Morris
8. Mark Pomerville
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
