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#IGOTCAST. Ally Stankard
By Jalen Michael
But I was determined to stick to the plan:
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Take as many TV and film classes as humanly possible Book a fancy job on TV or in film
Get my momma out the hood and pay off my debt with the money from my fancy job
Career Dispatch
Take Time to Take Care By Rosanny Zayas
The following Career Dispatch essay was written by Rosanny Zayas, who stars on “The L Word: Generation Q” and is a graduate of the Juilliard School.
If I could go back to drama school, one of the things I’d do differently would be to explore more fearlessly.
BACKSTAGE 10.07.21
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Boundaries are meant to be broken. “Be the actor [that] casting directors remember by trying to do what other actors will not do. To put it simply: Be confident [and] unique, and don’t be scared to step outside your comfort zone.” The only bad question is the one you don’t ask. “When I saw that the CD [of a recent project] was only looking for males in my age group, I was able to shoot him an email and inquire whether or not a female could audition. The director allowed me to send in an audition, and sure enough, I was sent an email saying the writer-director was willing to change the script to a female role if I wanted the part!” Backstage makes it simple. “I keep using Backstage because of its simplicity. It is a user-friendly platform that allows for actors to easily reach casting directors, and vice versa.”
TO SEE YOUR SUCCESS story in print, tweet @Backstage using the hashtag #IGotCast, or email us at igotcast@ backstage.com.
backstage.com
ILLUSTRATION: SPENCER ALEXANDER; STANKARD: ANTHONY GRASSETTI
HOW DO I EVEN BEGIN TO talk about college? It’s such an important decision we ask 18-year-olds to make. To go, or not to go, that is the question. For many, it’s our first real encounter with the world, leaving home to discover new parts of ourselves. For others, it could be what our parents told us was the right thing to do. Either
way, I hope I can impart some wisdom and help you on your journey with a few tips. I went to a few institutions in my day, one of which I only just recently graduated from: Juilliard, that massive glass building next to Lincoln Center. Yes, it was incredibly difficult to get into, and somehow, I graduated. But like many students entering graduate studies or universities, I couldn’t afford to go there. How could anyone? To live in New York City is crazy expensive—and I was born there, so believe me, I know. But it wasn’t until I graduated that I felt a particularly painful kick in my ass: loans. That’s right, I borrowed money to hang out with these fancy people. Uh-oh—now I had to pay it back.
Well, sorry to burst young Rosanny’s bubble, but that didn’t happen. I didn’t work for a while, and I spent any savings I did have on classes. And guess what? My student loan payment due date was creeping up behind me like Penn Badgley’s character on “You.” I had to make a tough decision: Keep taking acting opportunities that didn’t pay, or find a survival job. I needed the peace of mind of being able to get through the day financially, so I found a job that didn’t suck the life out of me. Caretaking kept me sane and helped redirect my ideas of “success.” It isn’t always what we see on the internet or TV; it starts by looking inward. If I could go back to drama school, one of the things I’d do differently would be to explore more fearlessly. I remember a really great comedian came and taught us a funny bit in which you intentionally trip yourself going up the steps. I couldn’t do it. How could I fall? Even though I knew I’d be there to catch myself, I couldn’t let go of the fear of looking bad. Now I say: Let yourself fail. Try something new, and discover who you become.
ALLY STANKARD finds success as an actor by making connections, keeping it fresh, and asking the right questions.
