We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful April Rock. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with April below.

Alright, April thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about the best boss, mentor, or leader you’ve ever worked with.

I’ve been so incredibly lucky to have a handful of truly amazing mentors and bosses. When I look back at all of the people that stuck out, they had two things in common: They trusted the people around them, and they wanted to help others. Through them, I’ve learned that when collaborating, you have to trust people with a vision. Micro managing does an extreme disservice to you and the project. In writers rooms, everyone brings such a unique point of view, and it’s crucial to foster an environment that allows people to be their most authentic selves, which will in turn help find the stories worth sharing. And as far as helping others – these mentors and bosses have taken time with me and with others to share their network, provide support, and advice that continues to help me in my day to day as a creative. These are both skills that I’m excited to pass on as I continue in the industry.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My Name is April Rock, and I’m an LA Based Actor / Writer. I always knew I wanted to perform, and I started writing because I was told that was the best way to create opportunities for myself. I quickly discovered how much I enjoyed writing in addition to performing, and the rest is history. I’m from Connecticut, but I knew that when I went to college, I wanted to get to LA as soon as possible, so I ended up at Pepperdine University and graduated early so I could start auditioning for TV and Film roles. I had also started creating content with friends and started taking classes outside of school at UCB, Second City, and Groundlings, which taught me a lot about improv and creating characters. I started writing in sketch comedy on a show called Studio C on BYUtv, and from there, I started writing TV Samples, and soon after feature films. Although I love all forms of performing, I really enjoy acting and writing for comedy. It’s fun to make people laugh, and I feel comedy can almost always bring people together.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the things I had to unlearn was to not be so precious with my work, and to trust the process. I used to be unwilling to share scripts, or too shy to perform, because I was afraid of what others thought. That perspective only did me a disservice, because It stunted my growth as a performer / writer. Feedback is not only critical in the industry, it’ll happen whether you want it to or not. I had to learn that the people in my circle that provide notes or feedback on a performance, usually gave feedback from a place of love. Once I learned to embrace that, my work got better in all aspects.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Rich As F*ck: More Money Than You Know What to Do With by Amanda Frances is a book that I read with friends that significantly impacted my thinking. As a creative, it can be stressful and discouraging at times when everything you do is freelance, and sometimes you’re not sure where the next paycheck will come from. Reading this book helped switch my perspective, and has allowed me to trust the process, appreciate the little things in my day to day that make me happy, and trust that things will fall into place, because the work is happening.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @AprilRock__ and @AnointedGreens
• Other: I’m in an all Black Woman sketch team called Anointed Greens, check us out! We have a sketch show 5/16 @ 9:30 PM https://www.elysiantheater.com/shows/anointedgreens

Image Credits
YungDij, Brandin Photography, Justin Hackworth, Jasper Lewis