Next Up

Name: Jessica Velle

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Current Location: Los Angeles, CA

TrunkSpace: When did you know that you wanted to act for a living?
Velle: When I watched “The Little Mermaid” for the first time when I was about four. My babysitter used to teach an after school program and I’d come along with her and always ask to perform Little Mermaid monologues for the class.

TrunkSpace: Was there a particular performance or actor/actress from your childhood that you remember being drawn to and inspired by?
Velle: Yes, Lucille Ball. She wasn’t afraid to be silly. She’d take risks on making a complete fool of herself and didn’t care. I always wanted to be that brave, where I wasn’t afraid to embrace a character fully without worrying what it would look like on screen.

TrunkSpace: How did you decide to approach your career as an actor? Did you formulate a plan of how you wanted to attack what is known for being a hard industry to crack?
Velle: My mom was very persistent at me pursuing acting and modeling at such a young age. She would see how involved and committed I was in plays or how I would prank call people and create the most strangest characters over the phone and I’d really run with it. It got me grounded a lot, but she really saw how much I loved to perform and really believed I was meant to be on TV and in film. I was really shy as a child at first and I could make a room laugh, but the minute I’d be in front of a camera (with me knowing) I’d get really nervous and freeze up. In the beginning it made it really hard for me in the audition room. Casting directors loved me but would in the end say, “She’s not ready.” After a couple years I started getting involved in acting workshops and worked with different acting teachers and it broke me out of my shell. I learned to love the camera.

TrunkSpace: When did you decide to move away from your home and pursue acting as a career? How old were you at the time?
Velle: I’m very lucky to grow up in Los Angeles. City of Dreams. LA Native, there’s not many of us.

TrunkSpace: What has been been your biggest break in terms of a particular role or project thus far?
Velle: I’ve been really lucky to work with some amazing projects, but I think the one that’s been most effective for me is the role I’ve been creating for myself. This industry can be cutthroat and sometimes you find yourself chasing roles that don’t really fit and I wanted to see my career grow in a direction that would make me take leaps and bounds. So I wrote my first comedy two years ago called “It’s Not Me, It’s You” and it really got a lot of attention and people started labeling me as a comedian and wanted to see more of my writing and acting.

TrunkSpace: Is there a specific type of role you’d like to take on or a specific genre that you feel more at home in?
Velle: I’m definitely more of a method actress… I can transition into anything. Lately, I’ve been really interested in some more fun action sequences and projects.

TrunkSpace: What would you say is the greatest strength an actor/actress can have outside of acting ability itself?
Velle: Having dignity and self respect. Be a good human. Do to others as you have them do to you.

TrunkSpace: What is your ultimate dream when it comes to your acting career? Where would you like your path to lead?
Velle: I just want to tell really great stories and work with actors, writers and directors who have inspired me along my journey and in the end inspire someone who needs inspiration.

TrunkSpace: What advice would you give another young aspiring actor/actress who is considering moving away from home to pursue their dream?
Velle: Know yourself. Know your worth. Know what you want. Keep your emotions in the audition room and invest in a back brace, you’ll need a strong back bone to survive.

TrunkSpace: Where can people (and casting directors) learn more about you?
Velle: My website is www.jessicavelle.com. All Twitter and Instagram is under @jessicavelle
IMDB: www.imdb.com/Jessicavelle

Name: Larry Ulrich

Hometown: La Marque, TX

Current Location: Los Angeles, CA

TrunkSpace: When did you know that you wanted to act for a living?
Ulrich: I knew I wanted to be an actor when I was watching the Oscars at the age of four. I would always tell my mother that one day she will see me winning an award on the same stage. From there, I’ve always positioned myself to be the best actor I can possibly be.

TrunkSpace: Was there a particular performance or actor/actress from your childhood that you remember being drawn to and inspired by?
Ulrich: I was always drawn to Laurence Fishburne. I enjoyed his performance in “School Daze” and later, “Boyz n the Hood.” From there, I’ve supported his films throughout. One of my goals is to study under him as I continue to earn leading roles.

TrunkSpace: How did you decide to approach your career as an actor? Did you formulate a plan of how you wanted to attack what is known for being a hard industry to crack?
Ulrich: A.) I decided to approach my career by staying consistent with placing myself in environments where I can always network with people who are in positions to help me. B.) I did not have a plan formulated. I believe that if something is meant to happen, it will happen. All we can do is stay current and place ourselves in positions to be at the right place at the right time.

TrunkSpace: When did you decide to move away from your home and pursue acting as a career? How old were you at the time?
Ulrich: I moved from Texas to Los Angeles when I was 27 years old, back in 2007. I have been here 10 years.

TrunkSpace: Was that move an easy transition for you initially? How long did it take you to feel at home and find a good support group of friends and peers?
Ulrich: The initial move was an easy transition. It took years for me to feel at home due to financial hardships and living under various roofs. The struggling actor “stereotype” is factual. Later, I decided to work full-time and earn my master’s degree from Pepperdine University. Now as acting as my first priority, I can finally label myself as comfortable.

TrunkSpace: What has been been your biggest break in terms of a particular role or project thus far?
Ulrich: My biggest role was earning the lead in the Nollywood film “Ijé: The Journey.” I played Jalen Turner, a lawyer who was responsible for dismissing a first-degree murder charge for a woman who killed her abusive husband. This role gave me the confidence that I have the leading man talent.

TrunkSpace: Is there a specific type of role you’d like to take on or a specific genre that you feel more at home in?
Ulrich: I always enjoy the genre of drama. I believe that drama stretches the actor’s range to make the character believable. I always thrive on challenges.

TrunkSpace: What would you say is the greatest strength an actor/actress can have outside of acting ability itself?
Ulrich: The greatest strength is the ability to be professional and transparent to work with. I pride myself upon “easy to work with” because we never know what a director, cinematographer or producer’s tomorrow may be. People will always recommend or refer you to other projects when you are likable.

TrunkSpace: What is your ultimate dream when it comes to your acting career? Where would you like your path to lead?
Ulrich: My ultimate dream is to have a consistent film acting career to where I’m financially and emotionally stable. I would like my path to be a path of inspiration and motivation for new up and coming actors.

TrunkSpace: What advice would you give another young aspiring actor/actress who is considering moving away from home to pursue their dream?
Ulrich: Do it. Don’t hesitate because it’s your dream and you are responsible for making it reality. Additionally, I would advise younger actors to create their own content. There are many platforms where creators can broadcast their talent. Creating your own content benefits the actor in many ways, such as learning the producing business through trial and error, establishing new connections and feeling the emotions of being in charge. Never give up and continue going after it.

TrunkSpace: Where can people (and casting directors) learn more about you?
Ulrich: Below are my manager’s information along with my social media handles:

Shakir Entertainment Management
Shaun Cairo (Talent Manager)
P.O. Box 274
New York, NY 10019
[email protected]
347-305-2881

www.larryulrichproductions.com
https://www.facebook.com/larryjulrich
https://www.instagram.com/larryulrichproductioncompany/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/larryjulrich
https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-ulrich-ma-9b86198b/

Name: Jenna Lex

Hometown: Guilford, CT

Current Location: Los Angeles, CA

TrunkSpace: When did you know that you wanted to act for a living?
Lex: A similar cliché to most: I was in 4^th grade and we were putting on a show about the planets. I did not want to be a planet… I wanted to be the narrator because they stayed “onstage” the whole time. My teacher told my mom to get me into acting after that.

TrunkSpace: Was there a particular performance or actor/actress from your childhood that you remember being drawn to and inspired by?
Lex: My family was very limiting on being allowed to watch TV or movies, so I actually was never inspired by anyone until I became a teenager (and could sneak TV on my computer).

TrunkSpace: How did you decide to approach your career as an actor? Did you formulate a plan of how you wanted to attack what is known for being a hard industry to crack?
Lex: I turned 16 and had no idea what I was doing but I remember sending headshots and resumes to a laundry list of casting. It was not until I moved to LA that I truly understood how to attack it. I only ever knew the kind of acting I craved to do.

TrunkSpace: When did you decide to move away from your home and pursue acting as a career? How old were you at the time?
Lex: I asked to move away when I was 13, but it took ’til I was 19 when I went to college in NYC and just never returned home.

TrunkSpace: Was that move an easy transition for you initially? How long did it take you to feel at home and find a good support group of friends and peers?
Lex: I never truly felt at home in NYC. I think it was because I always knew it was a stepping stone to Los Angeles. The move to Los Angeles was surprisingly easy. It just felt right.

TrunkSpace: What has been been your biggest break in terms of a particular role or project thus far?
Lex: Ironically it was not in the medium I am working towards. However, I had booked a musical at Long Wharf Theatre a few years back. It was booking that completely on my own merit and in a medium that I am not as confident in that I realized what I was put on this planet to do.

TrunkSpace: Is there a specific type of role you’d like to take on or a specific genre that you feel more at home in?
Lex: Of course we all have that niche that we know we can rock the best, that we feel most comfortable in. You’d have to imagine Reese Witherspoon circa early 2000s for that image. But I look forward to the challenges of acting. Finding those roles that require you to be vulnerable, to tap into a part of you that you maybe shy away from in real life or don’t get the opportunity to explore. That’s the incredible part about acting. The opportunity to experience multiple lives. It is such a gift to be an actor. But I’m ranting now.

TrunkSpace: What would you say is the greatest strength an actor/actress can have outside of acting ability itself?
Lex: Drive. You have to want it. It’s that simple.

TrunkSpace: What is your ultimate dream when it comes to your acting career? Where would you like your path to lead?
Lex: I have always said to sitcom work. Mainly because making people laugh is vital, especially the way our world is shaping currently. However, the ultimate dream is the freedom. The level where you are able to jump around from TV and film, from comedy to drama to action or more. Where you aren’t boxed in so you feel you have the freedom to explore any aspect of the medium that you could possibly dream of.

TrunkSpace: What advice would you give another young aspiring actor/actress who is considering moving away from home to pursue their dream?
Lex: Do it. Do it now. Not later, not when you feel financially stable enough, not when where you’re living becomes too small. Because at the end of the day, you can always move again. So do it. Now. Now now now.

TrunkSpace: Where can people (and casting directors) learn more about you?
Lex: My handy dandy website www.jenna-lex.com and pretty soon you can come grab a drink and watch me perform with some improv comedy friends at iO West in Hollywood.

Also, because I am technically a millennial: my instragram is @jenna.lex

If you’ve been hesitant about booking Truthful Acting classes, visit the website now and get them booked! If you’ve been worried about going to an audition, go for it – what do you have to lose! If you’re passionate about your acting then you should go for it! Today’s guest is a perfect example of following her passions and how putting them first can allow you to succeed.

Name: Sarah Schodrof

Hometown: I was born in Tinley Park, Illinois but I moved shortly after and moved a lot. I grew up between Illinois, North Carolina, Utah, Iowa, and Florida.

Current Location: Los Angeles, CA

TrunkSpace: When did you know that you wanted to act for a living?
Schodrof: I’m not sure exactly when I knew I wanted to act for a living. I started acting classes when I was eight, after asking my mom to sign me up, and it never occurred to me to stop since I always loved it. Acting for a living was just the next logical step for me I guess, because of course you eventually want to get paid for your work once you get older and realize that’s an option. Once I auditioned for and accepted my admission into USC’s BFA Acting program is when I made the commitment to pursue acting for the long haul though. I would have continued acting regardless, but committing yourself to a four year degree in acting is a big deal, especially when you could spend your time and money on a more “practical” degree. But I went for my passion and didn’t make a backup plan so I think that’s when I knew, and definitely when the people around me knew, that I was serious about making acting a career for myself.

TrunkSpace: Was there a particular performance or actor/actress from your childhood that you remember being drawn to and inspired by?
Schodrof: The only performance I remember really being affected by at a young age was when I went on a school field trip to see a play about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. I think this might have been what propelled me to ask my mom to sign me up for acting classes. I just remember telling one of the actors that she did a “really good job” on the way out of the theater, which was a big moment for me because I was shy but I felt it was important to tell this adult stranger that she was a good actor. If you count high school as childhood, I was also obsessed with all the performances in the film version of “Doubt” when it came out. Meryl Streep, Viola Davis, and Amy Adams were powerhouses and so interesting. I continue to watch their careers.

TrunkSpace: How did you decide to approach your career as an actor? Did you formulate a plan of how you wanted to attack what is known for being a hard industry to crack?
Schodrof: There was no plan I made for myself except for to keep going. Take classes, prepare, audition, network, make your own work… you have to do what you know is good for yourself as an actor. Whatever keeps you interested and engaged. There is no one way into the industry so you just have to make a habit out of doing good work and putting yourself out there and every once in awhile something will stick.

TrunkSpace: When did you decide to move away from your home and pursue acting as a career? How old were you at the time?
Schodrof: I moved to Los Angeles for a pilot season with my mom when I was 16, but that was during the writer’s strike so I only had a handful of auditions before we had to go back to Florida where I finished high school. I finally moved to Los Angeles full time to get my acting degree at USC when I was 18. I graduated when I was 22 and was able to audition a lot more then.

TrunkSpace: Was that move an easy transition for you initially? How long did it take you to feel at home and find a good support group of friends and peers?
Schodrof: Since I made the move for college I think it was easier for me than it is for a lot of people. It’s a lot easier to make friends in school, everyone lives walking distance from one another and you spend so much time together in class and play rehearsals. So I made a couple close friends very quickly, which is usually all I need. It’s harder now that I’m out of school though. The city is so spread out, there’s a ton of traffic and everyone has unique schedules so seeing friends is a real effort. Keeping in touch with friends, making an effort to meet new people and doing acting classes or other group activities makes it easier though. It helps keep a sense of community in a city that can be isolating.

TrunkSpace: What has been been your biggest break in terms of a particular role or project thus far?
Schodrof: I just shot a commercial for Toyota last month and that will be the most recognizable thing I’ve done once it comes out. As far as TV goes, I was written into a sitcom pilot by my friend George Khouri whom I met when we acted together in a production of “Cinderella.” We shot his show, “Black Coffee,” last year and it premiered late last year in Beverly Hills. It’s currently being pitched so you never know what could come of that. George is a great networker and we have a talented cast on that. In terms of theater, I was really excited to work with playwright/novelist/director Timothy Allen Smith in the last staging of “Captive,” a dramatic play about a school shooting.

I’ve yet to have a big break. Honestly though I am hoping for my next small “break” to come from a short film I am currently writing with a friend from an old acting class. We’re going to produce and act in it together and we hope to make an appearance on the short film festival circuit.

TrunkSpace: Is there a specific type of role you’d like to take on or a specific genre that you feel more at home in?
Schodrof: I just want to play roles that interest me and are three dimensional, but those can be all kinds of characters. The genres that I feel most at home in (though I enjoy all) have to be drama and then neurotic characters in comedies.

TrunkSpace: What would you say is the greatest strength an actor/actress can have outside of acting ability itself?
Schodrof: Curiosity. You have to be interested in the story and each character you’re playing with. It can be the difference between watching an actor perform versus watching someone really try to deal with something and figure something out.

TrunkSpace: What is your ultimate dream when it comes to your acting career? Where would you like your path to lead?
Schodrof: My dream is to make acting my full time job and to have the projects I work on be fulfilling and provocative projects that have something to say.

TrunkSpace: What advice would you give another young aspiring actor/actress who is considering moving away from home to pursue their dream?
Schodrof: I think I would tell them to really decide what specifically they want to do and why because I’ve found being clear with yourself really gives you a sense of direction. After that, I would say do your research about the logistics of moving, the city and getting started in the new acting scene. Google and ask friends with experience. When you get to the new city, make sure you take acting classes that are inspiring to you and also reputable so that local managers and agents will know you have good training before they sign you. Once you have begun training and gotten representation in the new city, then you just keep going. Do good work and put yourself out there.

TrunkSpace: Where can people (and casting directors) learn more about you?
Schodrof: www.SarahSchodrof.com

Name: Francesco Martino

Hometown: Rome

Current Location: Los Angeles

TrunkSpace: When did you know that you wanted to act for a living?
Martino: Quite soon, when I was about 13. I was such an introverted and rebellious kid, so upset with everything and everybody. I just wanted to escape reality. Then I started doing theater. When I was on a stage, everything magically disappeared. I was able to be someone else. I never found anything else I was so passionate about.

TrunkSpace: Was there a particular performance or actor/actress from your childhood that you remember being drawn to and inspired by?
Martino: Man, the answer is such a classic one. James Dean. The scene when he tries to hug his father, screaming and crying at the same time, in “East of Eden,” is just breathtaking. I also liked River Phoenix a lot. I’ve just re-watched “My Own Private Idaho.” He was so talented, so interesting in everything he did.

TrunkSpace: How did you decide to approach your career as an actor? Did you formulate a plan of how you wanted to attack what is known for being a hard industry to crack?
Martino: The plan is not to attack it and not trying to crack it. I’m just gonna work at improving myself as an actor every single day, and aim to deliver the best possible performance every chance I get. I’m confident this will attract the right people and the right projects.

TrunkSpace: When did you decide to move away from your home and pursue acting as a career? How old were you at the time?
Martino: 18. My mother is still crying. (Laughter)

TrunkSpace: Was that move an easy transition for you initially? How long did it take you to feel at home and find a good support group of friends and peers?
Martino: It wasn’t easy at all. Let’s face it, when you’re in your teens and your 20s, your social skills are not at their best. It takes a long time to feel you belong somewhere. And now that I’m spending more and more time in LA, it’s like starting everything from scratch again. But I’m stronger now. I guess at a certain point you kind of understand that home is where you are. You leave the door open, and know that the support group will arrive at a certain point. It’s so important to have reliable friends in this industry, and people you can really trust. You’re never gonna make it alone.

TrunkSpace: What has been been your biggest break in terms of a particular role or project thus far?
Martino: There’s this great Italian theater actor, Roberto Herlitzka, which I always loved. I saw almost all of his shows, I always thought he was just the best. A few years ago, I was called to share the lead character of a movie with him. Basically, I was playing the same role at a younger age. It was such a gift, I almost couldn’t believe it.

TrunkSpace: Is there a specific type of role you’d like to take on or a specific genre that you feel more at home in?
Martino: I always liked restless characters, huge emotions, big dramatic scenes. I guess that’s always been the kind of character I’ve been cast and recognized for. But lately something is changing… I feel more and more at ease in comedy. The truth is comedy comes from an even darker place than drama. It’s fun for the audience, not for you as an actor! But hearing someone laughing about your issues, is such a great relief! I love it.

TrunkSpace: What would you say is the greatest strength an actor/actress can have outside of acting ability itself?
Martino: This is maybe one of the most important lessons I’ve learned lately. Great actors are people who own their issues. They know what they are, they don’t judge them, and they use them as burning energy for their performance. Actually, they overcome them in every performance. Most of the people tend to become victims of their own stories and issues, they let them drive their lives. Great actors know that those are just the things that let them create amazing art.

TrunkSpace: What is your ultimate dream when it comes to your acting career? Where would you like your path to lead?
Martino: That’s a tricky one. I want to do the kind of projects that inspire people. Movies were such a great help for me when I was a kid. They empowered me and helped me understand what I wanted, and I was able to do something good with my life. I want to give that back to someone else. Obviously I want to be in great projects, I like validation and money is definitely not a secondary issue. But the moment I receive a letter from someone saying I inspired them to overcome something in their life… that’s the best prize for me. It just empowers me so much.

TrunkSpace: What advice would you give another young aspiring actor/actress who is considering moving away from home to pursue their dream?
Martino: Be honest. Ask yourself what’s the thing that really motivates you, what’s the thing you need to communicate to the world. Be specific. Stay connected to your real urgency. Know what you want, what you really dream of. It’s not about what you should dream of, it’s about what you (and just you) really dream of. If this urgency is honest, just go for it. Just be prepared to overcome a lot of obstacles. And be aware that there’s never a real satisfaction. Being an actor is an endless journey… and that’s what’s most beautiful about being one.

TrunkSpace: Where can people (and casting directors) learn more about you?
Martino: I’m usually not a big fan of reels, but this friend of mine edited one I really like. I think you can somehow get a sense of who I am through these brief scenes. It’s here, you’re welcome to take a look.

Instagram: @franzmartino

Name: Gabrielle Reyes

Hometown: Arlington, Texas

Current Location: Dallas / New York

TrunkSpace: When did you know that you wanted to act for a living?
Reyes: My older sister and I grew up waking up at the crack of dawn to watch “Sailor Moon” and several other anime shows that came on local TV if you maneuvered your antenna just right. Back then, we weren’t able to use things like Crunchyroll, which is an anime streaming site. Although, some countries still cant use that even today, unless of course they use the best VPN for crunchyroll. Anyway, as we got older we got involved in anime/comic conventions in the area and eventually started competing in cosplay costume contests. We were both doing all the writing, singing, prop and costume building for our entries and after our first entry we took the stage and won! It soon came to be that my love of writing, dressing up and performing flourished to the love for storytelling that I have today!

TrunkSpace: Was there a particular performance or actor/actress from your childhood that you remember being drawn to and inspired by?
Reyes: I was unapologetically obsessed with the whole “Star Wars” saga and ended up putting on a one-woman play of Episode IV in my living room on Thanksgiving. From that I idolized actors like Carrie Fisher, James Earl Jones, and my first childhood crush; Harrison Ford. As I got older I began to follow the careers of Tracee Ellis Ross and Liam Neeson.

TrunkSpace: How did you decide to approach your career as an actor? Did you formulate a plan of how you wanted to attack what is known for being a hard industry to crack?
Reyes: I was lucky to have family that supported and pushed me to invest in an education at The University of Oklahoma where I received my BFA in Acting. Of course, plans change and the path was not always clear for how I would get from point A to point Z, but I always made sure to keep myself busy during the summer and winter breaks venturing out to Los Angeles, New York and Chicago to take classes and immerse myself in the ebb and flow of each city. I never let the industry beat me down because I constantly ask myself, “Okay, now what’s next?”

TrunkSpace: When did you decide to move away from your home and pursue acting as a career? How old were you at the time?
Reyes: During my third year in college I took a year off to “study abroad” in Los Angeles. During that time I knew that I was making the choice to leave the safety of my schooling to dive head first into auditioning, working and taking classes in a highly concentrated actor environment. I was lucky that I was able to finish out my education AND live in the heart of the entertainment industry while gaining a sense of true independence and knowledge of possibilities.

TrunkSpace: Was that move an easy transition for you initially? How long did it take you to feel at home and find a good support group of friends and peers?
Reyes: Incredibly! I have a loving support group of friends and family that live and work in LA so when I moved there I was immediately welcomed (and fed) with open arms. When I relocated to Dallas and then New York City, many of my fellow actors and OU alumni friends also lived in the area making my home feel easy, breezy, beautiful. I always felt like I could grow where I was planted!

TrunkSpace: What has been your biggest break in terms of a particular role or project thus far?
Reyes: I’m currently working on a world premiere musical on Broadway at Playwrights Horizons in New York and it’s been such a blessing and blast of a time getting to originate and create a role from the ground up!

TrunkSpace: Is there a specific type of role you’d like to take on or a specific genre that you feel more at home in?
Reyes: As much as I feel the most comfortable with dramatic film and TV work I ADORE the strange and obtuse character work that shows up more often in fantasy, sitcom or stage work.

TrunkSpace: What would you say is the greatest strength an actor/actress can have outside of acting ability itself?
Reyes: Honesty. And not that kind of prescribed “honesty” you learn in your acting class every Wednesday and Friday night. But the kind that comes through when you have to tell your fiancé that you saw someone at the grocery store who you were attracted to, or that you’ve outgrown your best friend, or telling your Baptist-raised mother that you don’t see the point in religion anymore. In my experience being able to build on that honesty makes you a more relaxed and generous person free from tension or fear of the truth.

TrunkSpace: What is your ultimate dream when it comes to your acting career? Where would you like your path to lead?
Reyes: Ultimately, I’d love to produce, direct and write films about the beauty and ferocity of the human experience. Acting is storytelling, and storytelling is a form of activism. With the success of my acting career I plan to use my influence to enact change through more outlets of entertainment.

TrunkSpace: What advice would you give another young aspiring actor/actress who is considering moving away from home to pursue their dream?
Reyes: Jump, crawl, leap, dive and fall into it! And once you are there, just keep asking yourself, “What’s next?” Never settle for generality or simplicity and through every rejection or recognition keep demanding more from yourself.

TrunkSpace: Where can people (and casting directors) learn more about you?
Reyes: Find me on…
Twitter: @gabriellevreyes
Instagram: @lordgabriellethethird
Website: www.gabriellevreyes.com
IMDB: imdb.me/gabriellevreyes
Backstage: backstage.com/u/gabriellevreyes
Agency Website: marycollins.com/gabrielle-reyes

Name: Iliana Guibert

Hometown: New York City

Current Location: NYC/NJ

TrunkSpace: When did you know that you wanted to act for a living?
Guibert: At age 8 when the kid playing the lead in the school play got sick the night of the show and I stepped out of the chorus and took his place because I knew all his lines.

TrunkSpace: Was there a particular performance or actor/actress from your childhood that you remember being drawn to and inspired by?
Guibert: There were so many influences: MGM movies, “West Side Story,” Bette Davis, “I Love Lucy,” Jimmy Stewart, James Cagney, Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers and the list goes on.

TrunkSpace: How did you decide to approach your career as an actor? Did you formulate a plan of how you wanted to attack what is known for being a hard industry to crack?
Guibert: I go about my acting career in very much the way I went about my corporate career… making a list of goals and then actions as to how to reach those goals.

TrunkSpace: When did you decide to move away from your home and pursue acting as a career? How old were you at the time?
Guibert: I didn’t have to go far since I’m from NYC, but although I had an interest and passion for the entertainment industry since I was a child, I started my acting career very late in life. I spent most of my years working in the corporate sector and it wasn’t until I got laid off a few years ago that I decided to reinvent myself and start a new career in the entertainment industry.

TrunkSpace: Was that transition an easy one for you initially? How long did it take you to feel at home and find a good support group of friends and peers?
Guibert: The transition was seamless. I felt right at home… as though I was born to be in this industry.

TrunkSpace: What has been your biggest break in terms of a particular role or project thus far?
Guibert: That so call “big break” hasn’t happened YET, but I feel it’s around the corner. I have found that just about everything I’ve done thus far has been a break in some smaller form, either because I got to play an unusual character or worked with great actors, was wonderfully directed or learned about being on the other side of the camera. I try to take advantage of every opportunity.

TrunkSpace: Is there a specific type of role you’d like to take on or a specific genre that you feel more at home in?
Guibert: I love intense drama and complicated characters. Shows like “Billions,” “The Good Wife,” “House of Cards,” but I can also see myself doing shows like “Seinfeld,” “King of Queens” and “Everybody Loves Raymond.” I know I’d have a blast doing those types of shows. As for the big screen, “All About Eve,” “Titanic,” “Silence of the Lambs,” “West Side Story” and the list goes on. And then there is theater.

TrunkSpace: What would you say is the greatest strength an actor/actress can have outside of acting ability itself?
Guibert: If I had to put it in one word, passion.

TrunkSpace: What is your ultimate dream when it comes to your acting career? Where would you like your path to lead?
Guibert: I hope to continue working and collaborating with great people, doing meaningful work not only to me but work that inspires, entertains and comforts others.

TrunkSpace: What advice would you give another young aspiring actor/actress who is considering moving away from home to pursue their dream?
Guibert: Be prepared for it to take awhile unless you happen to get lucky. Surround yourself with people in the industry and be a sponge… learn. You’ll never stop learning. Don’t take rejection personally, go in and do your best, learn from your mistakes and from your wins. And keep growing.

TrunkSpace: Where can people (and casting directors) learn more about you?
Guibert: So glad you asked. I am thrilled to be days away from launching my first Facebook Fan Page, https://www.facebook.com/ilianaGuibert.Actress, where people can get a sense of my work through video clips, articles and interviews. Hope you visit and “like” my Fan Page, and of course, there is my Imdb page. www.imdb.me/iliana.guibert

Name: Deidre Lee

Hometown: West Nyack, NY

Current Location: Venice, CA

TrunkSpace: When did you know that you wanted to act for a living?
Lee: It’s very seldom that an artist gets their dream and passion be the thing that provides a living for them. I was attracted to acting from a young age. I remember being in 3rd grade and creating a stage adaptation of “The Princess Bride.” It came out to three full pages in third grader handwriting. Impressive, I know. It never went up because I wanted to play all the interesting parts. I was determined to play Westley and Buttercup; it proved difficult. (My understanding of acting as a collaborative art had yet to develop.) In elementary school I would visit the nurse’s office with fake ailments because I was bored, and Mrs. Clifford, our school nurse, always let me stay because I was entertaining. It wasn’t until I was 13 that I announced to anyone that I wanted to be an actor. I stood up and proudly declared, “I want to be an actor!” and everyone was like, “Ok.” Certainly, less of a reaction than I’d hoped for or expected. Now, as an adult, acting and writing provide me with the space to continue to create in my own unique way. If I am lucky enough to have my craft generate money that’s just gravy.

TrunkSpace: Was there a particular performance or actor/actress from your childhood that you remember being drawn to and inspired by?
Lee: I was older, maybe 17, when I saw Natalie Portman’s performance in “Léon: The Professional,” but it is work that continues to inspire me.

TrunkSpace: How did you decide to approach your career as an actor? Did you formulate a plan of how you wanted to attack what is known for being a hard industry to crack?
Lee: I was throwing spaghetti at the wall for years. And to some extent I still am, I think everyone does because this is such an individual experience. There is no handbook for being a successful artist. I take that back: “The Artist’s Way” is a pretty superb handbook for developing into a successful artist. I have been using Julia Cameron’s techniques for some time now, and I feel more in touch with my artist self. I don’t know that it is so much a “plan of attack” for this industry, but I prefer the route of “be so good they can’t ignore you” (as suggested by Steve Martin).

TrunkSpace: When did you decide to move away from your home and pursue acting as a career? How old were you at the time?
Lee: I moved to Los Angeles when I was 19. I did it in a relatively safe way, even though I knew no one here. I came out on an exchange program from Stony Brook University in New York. They offered students the chance to study for up to a year at a different school in the country… it’s one of the main reasons I chose Stony Brook in the first place. I came out here and kind of always knew that I would stay past the first year. I ended up choosing to remain in LA once the year ended and it’s been my home ever since, even though it did take me years to feel at home here.

TrunkSpace: Was that move an easy transition for you initially? How long did it take you to feel at home and find a good support group of friends and peers?
Lee: Well, my previous answer segued pretty nicely into this one, huh? Transitionally, it was harder than I realized at the time. I look back on the places I lived and the jobs I worked and I am so glad to have left some of those times behind me. I moved eight times in four years, living all over LA. It took me a good portion of those first four years to feel comfortable here and to actually begin liking the things LA has to offer. I certainly hated Los Angeles for a good amount of time. The traffic, the sprawling city, how self-involved some people can be, the plastic outward appearance people put on… it all bothered me. But eventually, I began to meet people that seemed to understand me and with whom I could connect. I met my best friend Cruz in 2009, he’s been my family here ever since. Whenever I introduce him to someone I tell them that he was my mother in another life, because I’m weird, but also because it’s true (probably). He is a comedian and an actor so he understands the stress of being an artist and he has always been my biggest fan and support system.

TrunkSpace: What has been been your biggest break in terms of a particular role or project thus far?
Lee: I got the opportunity to film an indie comedic horror movie, “Deadly Retreat,” a few years back. It was a week-long shoot; I had an amazing time. We were on location in Idyllwild, CA, which is outside of LA about 3 hours. It’s up in the mountains and we were filming in February so there was snow on the ground; it felt like we were far away from Los Angeles. Jonathan Bennett, who I knew from his role in “Mean Girls” (Aaron Samuels), played the lead role. And the hilarious Pete Gardner played the serial killer. Having him on set was great, we were constantly laughing.

TrunkSpace: Is there a specific type of role you’d like to take on or a specific genre that you feel more at home in?
Lee: I love working in comedic roles. Being on set when you’re filming a comedy is really special. I’ve always found my deepest connections with people that are willing to play along, and comedy lends itself to that experience. I have been studying improv at MI’s Westside Comedy Theatre, and the community there is unlike anything I’ve experienced. I also absolutely love playing the evil side of things. Unleashing that socially unacceptable behavior on set or stage is a freeing event.

TrunkSpace: What would you say is the greatest strength an actor/actress can have outside of acting ability itself?
Lee: Self-awareness. The world needs more people who are self-aware. It’s something I actively work on, because I often have found myself in situations where I see that I have not been listening to my internal voice and then I feel trapped by no will of my own… except that it is 100 percent through my own doing. When I take a moment and really ask myself, “What is going on? How do I feel? What do I want?” if I answer honestly I know I will lead myself into the right direction. Self-awareness helps us to set appropriate boundaries and goals. It provides us with the ability to develop a trusting relationship with ourselves. The more self-aware actors can be, the better they can serve their roles. When you know how you feel in your daily life, it makes acknowledging and acting on those feelings easier when you are in your craft.

TrunkSpace: What is your ultimate dream when it comes to your acting career? Where would you like your path to lead?
Lee: I want it all. I want to write, act in, and direct a feature film. I have been irritated in the past when reading a script or watching a movie, bothered by the dialogue, saying to myself, “No one talks like this.” And so I began writing. I’ve been writing for “The dïck Plays” for several months; we receive a theme the night before the performance, and we have until 11am the next morning to write our 10 minute long play. It is a great exercise and it has helped me to develop my writing style. I also have been participating in “The Café Plays” at the Ruskin Theater for a few months. Currently, I am writing a piece I hope to film.

TrunkSpace: What advice would you give another young aspiring actor/actress who is considering moving away from home to pursue their dream?
Lee: Stay home there’s too many of us. Just kidding. Do it. If it’s what you want, then go for it. Why shouldn’t someone feel the pull to the arts and follow that feeling? It’s a beautiful life being an artist. It’s hard, for sure, but it’s a life unlike any other. Tapping into the vulnerable place, that delicate, susceptible piece of ourselves is worth all the hard work, and all the unknowing that comes along with being an artist.

TrunkSpace: Where can people (and casting directors) learn more about you?
Lee: Check out my website at DeidreLee.com

Name: Judy Brown-Steele

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Current Location: New York City, NY

TrunkSpace: When did you know that you wanted to act for a living?
Brown-Steele: I’m not sure I can pinpoint any moment that I stopped and said, “I’m going to be an actor,” but I can remember the first few times I was on stage and I felt like I was the most alive and wondrously human. The connection between an audience and the actors is a feeling beyond words and expression. Once you feel that, I think it’s impossible to choose to do anything else.

TrunkSpace: Was there a particular performance or actor/actress from your childhood that you remember being drawn to and inspired by?
Brown-Steele: When I was kid, I wanted to be Brandy. In my mind, she had it all. She had a TV Show, many albums and was Cinderella. What more could you want?

TrunkSpace: How did you decide to approach your career as an actor? Did you formulate a plan of how you wanted to attack what is known for being a hard industry to crack?
Brown-Steele: There was very little preparation; honestly. I just knew then and know now that this is something I want to do for the rest of my life. As an actress that prefers stage performing to screen, I knew New York was the place to be. So the first step was to get here and find ways to stay here.

TrunkSpace: When did you decide to move away from your home and pursue acting as a career? How old were you at the time?
Brown-Steele: If I could have left home at 12, I would have, but my mother had other opinions about that. I graduated high school at 17 and started my college programs that summer after graduation. I just couldn’t wait. I remember counting down the days. It was 13 days from graduation to the first day of school again.

TrunkSpace: Was that move an easy transition for you initially? How long did it take you to feel at home and find a good support group of friends and peers?
Brown-Steele: From the beginning, I was so green and excited to be “in the place where it all happens” that I didn’t even focus internally about how I felt. I am from a large family and of course missed them, but was so focused on being the best student and absorbing as much knowledge from the superiors that I didn’t focus on missing them. After college, I moved back home to take care of my family and once the opportunity arose to move back to New York; that was a difficult transition. Many of my previous contacts had moved or really formed their lives in New York, so I had to play a lot of catch up again. Even now, who knows how to make adult friends? Funnily enough though, through an old school contact, I was introduced to the Theatre 68 Company and it has helped me grow leaps and bounds to be around like-minded actors at varying levels in their careers, but to have the most important thing in common; a love of doing theater.

TrunkSpace: What has been been your biggest break in terms of a particular role or project thus far?
Brown-Steele: In 2015, I had the honor of working on brand new material, in it’s first performance venue. “The Lost” by Keelay Gipson was an experience that I will treasure because it was challenging and thought-provoking material. All the characters doubled roles, so the chance to delve deep into more that one character was incredibly enriching. This play also gave me the opportunity to sing, one of my other passions, as well as play characters so far removed from myself, that I learned a lot.

TrunkSpace: Is there a specific type of role you’d like to take on or a specific genre that you feel more at home in?
Brown-Steele: This is one of my favorite questions and I’d like to state clearly that I’d love to play an incredibly interesting, complex, vulnerable, non-stereotyped, strong woman. I’d love to play this character in whatever form she takes; whether she be a person from history or a spaceship captain. Unfortunately, these roles, for women, are seldom, if ever, written and even more are not written for women of color. I’d love to break this cycle.

TrunkSpace: What would you say is the greatest strength an actor/actress can have outside of acting ability itself?
Brown-Steele: Be able to laugh and feel joy. If you are able to appreciate and recognize all of the forms that joy can take and laugh at yourself, with others, and just because, the quality of your days, weeks, and years will improve, regardless of how often you book a job.

TrunkSpace: What is your ultimate dream when it comes to your acting career? Where would you like your path to lead?
Brown-Steele: Ultimate dream? Ultimately, I have very low standards. I’ve never wanted to be extravagantly famous or wealthy. I’d love to be able to do what I love every day and make just enough money to pay my bills and hit happy hour once a week. All kidding aside, I love to travel and would be honored if on stage or on screen my work took me around the world to experience different cultures.

TrunkSpace: What advice would you give another young aspiring actor/actress who is considering moving away from home to pursue their dream?
Brown-Steele: Do it. Do it. Do it. Yes, it will be terrifying. It will also be the best thing for you to experience other people and a different place. These experiences will make you a better actor and more enriched person. Just jump because then you’ll always wonder what if, if you don’t.

TrunkSpace: Where can people (and casting directors) learn more about you?
Brown-Steele: Please check me out at Theatre 68’s night of One Act Plays coming soon, be on the lookout for my website launching soon and feel free to contact me directly.

http://theatre68.com/new-york
[email protected]

Name: Lauren Winnenberg

Hometown: San Diego, CA

Current Location: Brooklyn, NY

TrunkSpace: When did you know that you wanted to act for a living?
Winnenberg: When I was a kid I was a dancer. Most of my middle school experience was spent in a studio between dance classes, but my entire life I was the kid who wanted to be in the front of the Christmas program… who would audition for the big roles in my school plays. I even remember coercing my little brother into putting on performances for my parents. I remember sticking him in old dance costumes of mine or my mother’s and trying to convince him that sequins weren’t girly or lame. I think I knew I wanted to perform and produce for a living when I figured out that people could actually do that. I remember learning in middle school about college and things I could study and learning that I could go to school for dance or singing or acting and never have to open a math book again and being so excited about that kind of future.

TrunkSpace: Was there a particular performance or actor/actress from your childhood that you remember being drawn to and inspired by?
Winnenberg: Not an actor per say, but I will always remember a performance when I was in the 7th grade. I saw a youth theater production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat” and watched this teenage girl play Potiphar’s Wife in a flapper dress while tap dancing and I was enthralled. I grew up Christian and had heard the story of Joseph a billion times before, but seeing how that character in a story I knew so well could be portrayed so differently than anything else I had ever experienced before, I realized how actors had an agency and power to take a character and transform into something entirely their own. I wanted to do whatever it was that she was doing.

TrunkSpace: How did you decide to approach your career as an actor? Did you formulate a plan of how you wanted to attack what is known for being a hard industry to crack?
Winnenberg: My approach has been completely trial and error honestly. I found myself where I am now because after I moved to New York I had decided to let go of acting for a while. When I moved, I made sure to find the most creative neighborhoods to live in Brooklyn and was surrounded by the arts. From theatre shows to improv groups to drag shows, there was just so much passion everywhere. I focused on my ambitions in playwriting and directing, dabbled in production and arts administration, and after not needing to act to survive, I found my passion for the craft again. I started reading for people for fun, and I got back to this childlike discovery of being an actor. I joined Theatre 68, a theater company, and started performing scenes, and now I’ve come back to being an actor again, but from the perspective that this is what I love, not a means to being a successful adult. Additionally, I now see acting as one of many art forms I can work in, and not just one thing I do. Yes I act, but now I also do performance art, I sing, I write, I create. Acting is a tool for me to create, to express myself, to try new things, but I don’t rely on it for everything, including a paycheck. I have many different entry points into “the industry” and a career in the arts.

TrunkSpace: When did you decide to move away from your home and pursue acting as a career? How old were you at the time?
Winnenberg: When I was 17 I left home and started college about an hour and a half away from my parents. I was studying Theatre Arts at Concordia University Irvine. That’s how I started exploring the Southern California / LA area and what they had to offer. I stayed in Anaheim for a year after graduating in 2014, and after trying to find work, a path for my work and not feeling successful or satisfied with what I was doing, I applied for an MA program at NYU Tisch in Arts Politics. And I got in. So at 22, I moved to New York.

TrunkSpace: Was that move an easy transition for you initially? How long did it take you to feel at home and find a good support group of friends and peers?
Winnenberg: I actually grew up a military kid. I’m 24 and I’ve lived in 10 different cities over the course of my life, some being in different countries. So the actual aspect of moving has never really being a shock for me as it’s something I’ve had to do my whole life. But that’s not to say I wasn’t gifted a huge blessing. Around the same time I got into NYU, three of my friends from undergrad were getting ready to graduate and possibly drop everything and move to New York. And I needed roommates. So we connected back with them and our family of four moved to New York. And honestly, I couldn’t do the first few months without them. I don’t know if it was being in Grad School or being in New York, but it was a lot to process. I also started reaching out to theater companies I wanted to work with and people I wanted to get to know, and then I started finding people who would not only be future artistic partners, but they became my support group. I also ended up finding people I had no desire to work with again, which out of that frustration was how I found my family of actors at Theatre 68, and they are exactly that, family.

TrunkSpace: What has been your biggest break in terms of a particular role or project thus far?
Winnenberg: I started a theater company! One of the friends I met during a show I worked on last winter brought up the prospect of starting something with me and another colleague of hers. We had all been workshopping an adaption of “Macbeth” together over the summer, and we found something special artistically with the four of us we wanted to pursue. So we sat in her Upper West Side studio apartment in the middle of August and devised this thing, Salty Corkscrew. Currently, we’re working on getting up a Short Play Festival (April 23^rd), which will feature work I’ve personally written as well as some other playwrights, and being in a reading setting creating acting opportunities for actors we want to work with and for ourselves. Starting a company really gives you perspective on your own insecurities as an actor. You don’t have time to muse over whether or not you’re good enough when you’re also producing the damn thing and need an actor! And it gave me a way to explore new roles and kinds of work without having to go through the stress of auditioning.

TrunkSpace: Is there a specific type of role you’d like to take on or a specific genre that you feel more at home in?
Winnenberg: I love crazy, bitchy, powerful women. I love writing them. I love playing them. I think there’s so much that can be done with a flawed female character and that is so fun for me to explore. My comfort zone has always been theater (if you can’t already tell). A few weeks ago I was in a web series for a friend of mine and it was exciting and terrifying at the same time because I had done so little on camera. Genre-wise, my Masters was in Arts Activism and Socially Engaged Art, but what I like to do tends to straddle/ blur the lines of socially/ politically conscious and entertainment. I love working with dark humor and comedy, I think it’s a magical tool to comment on social and politically issues without completely sacrificing the enjoyment of a piece.

TrunkSpace: What would you say is the greatest strength an actor/actress can have outside of acting ability itself?
Winnenberg: Resilience. You will get so far as an actor, as someone in the arts, as a person, if you’re able to find the parts of you that are tough and scrappy and lean into those. You have to be able to both get your fulfillment from being an artist and at the same time not fully rely on it. Being flexible enough to try new things and put some things down for a while to come back later. But you can’t give up. You have to keep going. You have to still get out of bed in the morning. You have to keep fighting. And you can’t let it make you hard.

TrunkSpace: What is your ultimate dream when it comes to your acting career? Where would you like your path to lead?
Winnenberg: I want a show at the Public. Either I want to direct one, write one, or both. I want to be running a theater company that can support myself and others. And I want to be able to have the freedom to direct one show, act in another, and produce or write one. I want to become a strong enough playwright where I can direct my own work. I want an all-female production of “Glengarry Glenn Ross” on Broadway (and I would either be acting in it or directing it). I want to be at the place where I can balance acting, directing and writing.

Also, if I ever got to be on Broad City or do ANYTHING (like even ordering coffee) with Rachel Bloom I’d probably pee myself from excitement.

TrunkSpace: What advice would you give another young aspiring actor/actress who is considering moving away from home to pursue their dream?
Winnenberg: Just do it. You will never be “ready” so why wait?

And don’t be afraid to rely on people, your friends are the family you have as an adult. You don’t have to have everything together and you probably won’t ever. Ask for help. Don’t be afraid to trust people and open yourself up. Maybe you’ll get hurt easier, but an authentic connection with another person is necessary and can’t be faked. I’m a big believer in wearing your heart on your sleeve but always having a sewing kit on hand.

TrunkSpace: Where can people (and casting directors) learn more about you?
Winnenberg: I will be Directing and Acting in two plays for Theatre 68’s One Act Festival at the end of March/ beginning of April and for future projects you can…

Check out my website at www.laurenwinnenberg.com

And you can find Salty Corkscrew on Facebook for events and future productions!

Also you can follow me on Social Media:

Twitter: Nutty_Brunette
Instagram: MissLaurenDanlow