We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Anna Stadler . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Anna below.
Anna , so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
I always had an interest in acting, but it hadn’t been recognized until I was in middle school. My then acting coach, Kevin Jones of Kevin Jones Performing Arts School, saw the talent and promise behind the shy girl that had always been used as background on the stage and challenged me out of my comfort zone by believing in me and making me eventually believe in myself.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a professional actor who also does occasional modeling. I originally began in theatre, but found my true passion in TV and film early in my career. Nothing excites me more than to connect with a character and bring writing to life on screen to make an audience truly experience it. There is no greater feeling than to have them love, hate, or cry along with you- to make them “feel” your emotions is such an amazing power.
I have some major projects coming up and I can think of no better feeling than to imagine that your performance could touch someone in ways that other artists have touched me over my life. Acting is about entertaining, but also about bringing people to grow and learn about themselves through learning about others. That and the dynamic of creative expression is what makes acting truly my passion and not just my career.
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?
There are so many skills that are imperative to being an entertainer, but definitely one of the top three would have to be persistence because you will hear no so many more times than you will hear yes. You have to develop a thick enough skin to hear the no and take the criticism as an opportunity to grow without letting it define who you are. A no doesn’t mean you can’t, it just means you can’t in this one project.
Dedication is also a must have! You have to be willing to train and work hard, but also willing to make sacrifices. I had to miss prom twice because I booked projects that conflicted and also cancel plans to film last minute auditions. You have to be willing to make it a priority every day and not just when it’s convenient.
Optimism is one of the most important things needed as an entertainer too! There are so few auditions that are actually booked, that it is easy to become disheartened and lose seeing the sunshine. You have to celebrate every victory, no matter how small, and realize that the only way to make it is to continually put yourself out there believing 100% that every no is a stepping stone to the yes and not a final destination. For me, I have a vision board over my desk. When I’m feeling frustrated it’s a great way to remind myself of my goals and to also reflect back on the many successes that I’ve already had along the journey so far. It’s something I recommend others, especially those just starting out, make for themselves. The visual reminder can be so powerful, but also the step of making creating the board is a great way to define for yourself your short and long term goals.
The best advice I can give to others wishing to be a part of this industry is to create a strong network of friends also in the industry. It’s a great way to learn from each other, but I also feel like we understand the struggles associated with the business and can be a great support to each other through difficult times and be the best to understand the celebrations of each other’s victories. Many believe the acting community to be very competitive, and it is, but there are also a tremendous amount of people that truly lift each other up and support each other. One of the best takeaways from this industry is the life-long friendships I’ve made with people from all walks of life.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
During the SAG strike, I’ve taken the downtime as an opportunity to work on myself and my skills. I’ve continued my formal training both with coaches and on my own through self-study. I’ve seen an increase in request to audition after submitting for projects, greater callback percentages and an increased general interest in bookings. At my last intensive mastery class session one of my coaches, a very well-respected casting director in the industry, said she had seen huge growth in my performances over this last 6 months. My new strategy is to try and “hear” what advice acting coaches would give when approaching a character, to “hear” their critiques after watching a playback of a first take of an audition and applying what I’ve learned multiple times throughout the process. It’s been greatly beneficial to the performances I deliver. I highly recommend finding the right acting coach for your learning style and continuing classes, but also opening yourself up to many different learning experiences from varying styles to learn what works for you personally, as no one acting approach is right for everyone. Learning and growing is a lifelong endeavor, especially in this industry. Take every opportunity you can to learn from as many as you can.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annaestadler/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anna.stadler.7370
- Other: IMDb (Internet Movie Database) https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11231767/
Image Credits
I have rights to all images sent, so no photo credit is required. Thanks!
