ANNA STADLER

Sight on the Horizon

When did you first get involved in acting?

When I was 6, my best friend and I used to write and put on little one-act plays. We’d hand make tickets and would pass them out to literally anyone who would accept them. Elementary-high school I participated in school plays, musical theater, drama club and even a pageant- just because it got me on stage. I shared with my acting and voice coach that film/TV was my passion and he pushed me to start researching talent agencies with a similar focus. I signed with an agency 2 years ago (at 16) and my professional career took off after that. I enjoyed my time in theater, but I definitely found my calling in front of the camera.

What or Who inspired you to pursue a career as an actor?

I have to give a LOT of credit to my acting/voice coach Kevin Jones of Kevin Jones Performing Arts Studio. He is a wonderfully tough, but supportive coach and grew my confidence tremendously. He was the one that pushed me to really go after my dream of being a professional.

I’m sure you have met a lot of celebrities along the way. Would you share 1 or 2 of your favorite stories with us?

Being 18, I’d have to say meeting Joey King on set filming “The In Between” would definitely be a highlight. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to keep one of my best friends from stowing away in my suitcase while packing for the trip to film. Right now she’s the biggest up and coming female for teen movies, for sure.

What has been your ideal character, so far? And why?

Tough question. I have several really memorable characters coming up, but I can’t share much without giving away the storyline. What I love about them though is that they are tough, driven and not afraid to do what it takes to handle business. My favorites are characters that are complex, multidimensional and prove to be something other than what you thought they were. That classic “don’t make the mistake of underestimating” kind of woman.

How has your acting evolved since you first became involved in the film industry?

My looks and age make me easily stereotyped as the “girl next door” typically cast in teen love stories, and although there is nothing wrong with those roles, they tend to be too much like who I am in real life to be a great challenge to portray. At 5’3” and slim I’m not initially seen a intimidating, so I had to work hard to be convincing in auditions and purposely market myself to start landing roles that were less “sugary sweet” and more “don’t mess with me” fierce type characters.

If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other drives you to stay in this tough business? Is it joy, anger, desire, passion or pride and why?

Passion! In my opinion it’s the one thing you HAVE to have to be successful at this business, or any other. You can take acting lessons, you can take voice, study body language, stage presence…but if it isn’t driven by passion then you have nothing worth watching in the end.

Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in an industry overflowing with new faces and ideas?

I’d say my work ethic. I am always professional and I work HARD. I show up to everything prepared, send in auditions before they are due (when possible), typically memorize not just my lines, but everyone else’s and bring a positive attitude and responsible behavior to every professional setting. One director told me I was the most prepared person he’d ever worked with and a joy to have on set even when things got tense. To me, that is the biggest compliment to date.

What has been your biggest challenge as an actor? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

As a senior about to graduate high school with a load of honors and college classes, I’d have to say scheduling and time management. Thankfully, I became a virtual student 2 years ago, so it’s given me flexibility. It’s not uncommon for me to be writing an essay at 2am in a hotel, or signing on to attend a recorded lesson at midnight after filming all day. I’m a member of the National Honor Society, so school is just as much a priority for me as is my career. I’ve definitely had to make sacrifices. I had to choose between my school’s 11th grade prom and filming a movie trailer and my senior prom and attending a red carpet premier event. I do make seeing my friends a priority too. So far I’ve been able to find a balance, and that’s been the key to keeping burnout at bay.

A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art”. Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art?

No, I do not agree! If it’s causing you to suffer then you’re doing something wrong or it’s not the right fit for you. You have to work hard and be willing to make sacrifices, but in the end it should be worth the pleasure acting brings you.

How do you feel the Internet has impacted the film business?

I see nothing but positive influences. There has been many times I’ve been in multiple states and another countries in the same day via the internet. Video self-tape auditions, virtual table reads, meetings and callback have allowed me opportunities that would normally not be available because of distance. I’ve also been able to attend training sessions that I wouldn’t have access to attend in person. Also, social media has allowed me to make not just contacts, but wonderful friends in the industry that I wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to meet.

If you could change anything about the film industry, what would it be?

I would definitely love to see more diversity. We are heading that way, but most female actresses seem to still have a similar look and body type. I’d love to see strong women of all shapes, sizes and colors more. I’m naturally very thin and seeing actresses that have similar body types is a real boost to my self-image, so I can only imagine that it would be the same for others to see their body types reflected on screen more too. I truly believe beauty is within, so I’d love to see the industry focus more on this.

What is the best advice you have received?

Don’t accept every job thrown your way! This wise advice was illustrated by my manager, Kevin Cornell Kellum, by sharing a story about an actress who wanted to accept the role of a promiscuous clown in an extremely low budget film. He warned that although you will likely have to accept jobs that may not be ideal to “keep the lights on” when starting out, that you should never be willing to compromise yourself in ways that could reflect poorly on you later or negatively impact your career. I no doubt wouldn’t have submitted for the role he described, but his comments always stuck with me and in the back of my head I’m always thinking “besides the pay how does this project further my career” before I audition for/accept any role.

What projects are you currently working on... that you can talk about?

I’m currently working on feature film AMP Studios. It’s full of action and a bit of espionage with a really amazing talent and all around awesome people involved. I’ve also signed with Platinum Planet Records as a songwriter and have co-written several songs with the team and have found a second passion, for sure. I’ve also been cast in a feature film THE BLUESMAN where I play a very complex character and a trailer for a pilot series that has a bit of a moral lesson built into each episode that I’m excited about.

What’s next for you?

I have a lot going on! I’m working on a sci-fi miniseries and 2 two hour TV series premiers this year. One project coming up with Ascendent Studios is Realm of the Waterfall. It’s a fantasy/adventure/action series for TV that will be filming in Spain later this year. I don’t want to over share, but it along with the other new series have storylines that will certainly have people glued to the TV waiting to see more.

How can fans-to-be follow your career?

The best way to see what’s going on now and what’s coming up is to follow me on IMDb. The link to my page is IMDb.me/AnnaStadler. My Facebook page is at it’s max number of friend’s, but my page is public so you can still “follow me” and you can follow me @officialAnnaStadler on IG.