Meet Albert Lew

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Albert Lew. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Albert below.

Hi Albert, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
Wow…in an industry that has so much more rejections/non-responses than bookings, that’s a great question!

Based on my years in this business so far, I can think of three ways:

1) Know this business – the good/bad/ugly (emphasizing the latter). The reason is mainly preparation through awareness – you’re ready to not be too high or too low for whatever you encounter in this industry.

2) Take acting classes – you know something by learning about it, which is what you do in class! Figure out what you’re doing as an actor/actress with new skills such as technique, auditioning, etc as well as understanding the business of this industry. Another benefit of being in class is you’re already doing the other part of being an actor: networking. Meeting and growing your community of acting peers. As you progress, you can find your closer tribe who will support you and vice versa.

3) Have a life outside of acting – it’s quite a lifelong journey to be a good working actor and it’s not just the craft. It’s also learning about yourself off set and experiencing the world like everyone else does. Different experiences can add more tools to your emotional toolbox you can pick when playing characters. Aside from the fact it’s an up-and-down roller coaster of a career, it’s good to find other things which makes us happy and fulfilled than being in a film project.

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 a professional actor, writer, and music artist (latter in the making!) based in LA. It is exciting and special for me because it’s something I always wanted to do since I was a child watching TV – and I’m unapologetically going after that dream. It’s also a job that’s most unlike 90% of all jobs in the world. In addition to being a hard/smart performer, I like folks to know my work playing characters to be as grounded and real as possible with nuance.

In terms of new, I just booked a couple projects filming sometime at the end of 2023 (wrapped by the time this interview is released). I recently obtained my Basic Coasting Cruising sailing certification (can skipper 35-foot sailboats) and now training to ride horses. Going into 2024, in addition to many projects releasing (I’ll post on social media when I know details) I’m preparing to run both the Tokyo and London Marathons so I’ll be getting in some good cardio!

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?
I can only say three? 🙂 But really…

The three skills/qualities/knowledge qualities which were most impactful are:

1) Be as best put-together physically/mentally/financially when going into this business. Making a cinema product like a movie is already hard enough to get the crew, locations, equipment, permits, etc and it’s all a gamble to make back its investment. If you’re hired as a professional actor, be one! I think Tom Hanks said it best (paraphrased): show up on time, know your lines, and have a head full of ideas. I would add: be kind and generous to your fellow cast and crew.

2) Be inspired but don’t compare. In an industry so saturated with actors, competition for roles, and headlines, it can feel neverending when you look at other peoples’ success over your own. Don’t do it! Everyone’s journey is different, especially in this business, so keep doing your own thing. Here’s a tip: don’t be afraid to mute your acting friends on social media if their profiles tempt you to compare yourself to them. You’re not being rude, you’re just re-focusing on your own career.

3) Have a marketable skill set outside entertainment. I said before it’s an up-and-down career with a lot of luck involved – and to have your financial health be dependent on it is quite terrible, especially in the beginning. So you can take that burden off your own shoulders by having an income not affected by entertainment. It may not sound like a Hollywood dream situation, but it’ll help you last longer in the tough reality that’s acting. Part of my success so far was keeping my job to pay for headshots with other costs and working around it (or taking time off) to act in films.

My best advice for those early in the acting journey is to take the best training you can afford. If you want to act and compete in that field, you have to know how to act (shocking, I know). If you don’t know where to start, I recommend taking at least an acting technique class (I learned Meisner Technique at the Houde School Of Acting) and an on-camera/audition class (I attended Drama Inc). You can also branch out to learn comedy/improvisation classes, script analysis, scene study, commercial auditions, more acting techniques, accents, movement, stunts, etc. If you need a change from learning skills, there’s also classes on learning the business of acting which are just as important. Just enjoy all you can learn!

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed, I don’t hesitate to take a break. I mean, I don’t submit for projects and take time off from acting (while letting my reps know, of course). I come back to doing things worth feeling good about doing. I like long distance running so I’m part of a few LA running clubs like the Ohana Running Crew, Pasadena Pacers, and Dog Haus Running Club to keep my fitness with friends. I love watching films and listening/playing music so I can be inspired with new ideas and also relax to have a good time. I traveled the world before I became a working actor and when my schedule allows, I try to continue doing it to see amazing things.

I think an advice/strategy I haven’t already said here but always preach to people and myself is to enjoy the journey. Even when it’s tough, be proud to be an artist.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Matt Kallish Photography (HMU by Samantha Chapman); Collage – CCW from top left: starring roles in “170”, “Reflection”, “JK Yakuza”, “The Camera Chase”, stunt fight training with 2x SAG-nom stuntman Daniel Locicero; Stills from 2023 Chicago Marathon finish, horseback riding from Desert Rose Equestrian center, picture wrap of “7 Minutes” film.

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