We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Quinn Vasileva a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Quinn, so excited to have you with us today, particularly to get your insight on a topic that comes up constantly in the community – overcoming creativity blocks. Any thoughts you can share with us?
Creative Blocks happen to everyone, no matter what type of artist they are. It’s a common thing, which is why it’s important to figure out how to get past it. As a writer and an actor, I’ve had to push through my fair share of blocks. I am a very creative individual, and I always have “plot bunnies” jumping around in my head. However, even as someone who has a very active imagination, sometimes I just can’t get on paper.
To refresh my mind, I usually start from a simple idea that I like, something that I know. And then, I explore different aspects of that idea. What if I change this detail? What if it’s in a different setting? Things like that. I mix and match. I try not to put pressure on myself, I just let my imagination take over. I also have to be patient while dealing with creative blocks. It takes time to figure out how to get through the process.
It’s all about starting from what you know, and looking at it through different lenses. There isn’t a right and wrong, not really. Just things that work, and things that don’t quite fit your story.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am an actor and writer that’s based in Los Angeles. I recently started producing as well. My favourite genres to work in are fantasy and horror. I am currently working primarily on short films, but I would love to work on feature films in the near future. Every film is special in its own right, no matter their duration.
My main goal is to become a new, fresh voice in the horror genre. I want to introduce new ideas and perspectives. I grew up watching horror films, and they have always had a special place in my heart. There is just something about not knowing what lurks in the dark, and what monsters can hide inside people.
There are just so many possibilities. I love the creative freedom that the genre gives me. The same thing goes for fantasy. I love creating magic, in one way or another. I was a writer before I was actor, and that gave me a solid storytelling base which helped me grow as an actor.
I am always looking for new projects to be part of, as well as working on my own. The creative journey is neverending, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have so much to both learn and show, and I can’t wait to see how far I can go.
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?
Something that’s very important for artists to learn is to acknowledge when things aren’t working out, and to admit when they’ve made a mistake. Being willing to learn and grow is something that’s instrumental. It’s okay to make mistakes, as long as they’re acknowledged and we learn from them. An artist has to know when to step back, and also needs to be able to analyze how and why things didn’t work out. It’s always a process.
A crucial thing that one of my acting teachers taught me is to have integrity in my word. If I promise something, I must do everything in my power to deliver it. It’s about being trustworthy and reliable. Both for myself and others. The film industry is held up by teamwork, and a good team consists of hardworking and reliable people. Having integrity is crucial.
Being a creative means being patient. The artistic process is not an easy one, and being patient has helped me many times. I am a die-hard perfectionist, and I have incredibly high standards for myself. However, I’ve had to learn patience. Finding the right path is complicated, and there will be mistakes along the way. That’s where patience comes in. You can’t rush your process. It looks different for everyone, but it still takes time.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
Having a strong suite is something great, but I think it’s important that an artist is well-rounded. I have always been someone that likes to wear multiple hats, and that’s proven to be valuable in the film industry. I am not just a writer or actor, I am a little bit of everything. Of course, I stick to my strong suites, but I try to learn from others.
That’s actually how I got into producing. I have friends that specialize in that, and I asked if I can work alongside them so that I can learn. I started from the bottom, of course, but I didn’t mind. I wanted to be competent.
Being well-rounded means being an excellent asset in a team. You know what your job is, but you also know what others do, and how to best work with them. It’s a team effort, after all. You can’t really do a good job if you don’t know what the rest of the crew does.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @quinnofhearts
- Other: IMDB – https://m.imdb.com/name/nm15330547/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_2_nm_6_q_quinn%2520vas
Image Credits
Kushagra Jain, Deverill Weekes, Gabriel Acosta
