We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Aneisha Brackens. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Aneisha below.
Alright, Aneisha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
A big risk I’ve taken was moving from Foley, AL to Los Angeles, CA one year post college. I think in our 20’s it’s such a challenging time trying to figure out who we are, what we want, how to get what we want, and just the little knacks in life. I received my BFA from the University of Alabama in 2020. I had worked as an Academic Instructor for a private Christian academy for about a year, along with some other jobs to stack up on money. Then, I decided it was time to figure out where I wanted to go to achieve my goal of being a working actress. I initially wanted to go to Atlanta, GA. Simply because it was a six hour drive from my family and it would be easier to get to them or see them. I found a place in Atlanta, but everything kept falling apart. Just one thing after another. So I tried reconsidering LA since that’s where I initially thought I would be when I was 18 anyways. I look for a place in LA, everything works out. Smooth as butter. Now the risk for this was, what if I move across country and this industry chews me up and spits me? What if I suck as an actress compared to people out here who have done this for a living forever? What if my relationship ends (because I was dating someone at the time, spoiler– it didn’t make it)? How often will I get to see my family? How am I going to support myself? I was just completely away from anything that could bring me comfort to get me closer to something I’ve always dreamed of and it was a risk that I had to take. Yeah it’s definitely a “What if it all goes wrong?”, but also “What if it all goes right?”…I don’t know how others’ perceive my life, but I think it’s gone pretty right.
Aneisha, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I initially got into the industry by deciding to major in the Fine Arts for college. As a kid I went from wanting to be so many different things: princess, cowboy, president, FBI agent. Then after watching Bad Boys II over and over, I realized I didn’t want to be an FBI Agent–I wanted to play one, which made me realize I wanted to be an actress so I can live all these different lives in one lifetime.
In regards to services I use WeAudition, a lot. It’s so convenient if you don’t have a friend to read lines with you. I also enjoy Castability, it gives you scenes and then gives you critique from real casting directors. As far as submitting, I use Actors Access and Backstage the most. I’ve used Casting Networks briefly and may go back to it in the future.
I’m really big on the craft and the work that goes in once cast. I believe in always showing up to set off-book, knowing your character’s backstory, and kind of always knowing what your character would do in said moment. I’m a huge Samuel L. Jackson fan and I quote him a lot, but he is also one of the reasons I’m so adamant about promoting my work and being excited to watch it back, He said: If you don’t like watching yourself, why should other people pay to watch you?
I think that was a turning point for me because I always heard actors say they hate watching their work or hearing their voice on recordings and I don’t think I ever did, but maybe I should because these are A-list actors that feel that way, but after hearing Samuel L. Jackson say that I never uttered that nonsense again–even if I don’t absolutely love every second of my performance, I won’t bash it. It’s evidence for me to work harder.
I’m proud of all the work I’ve done because I respect the people that gave me the chance to bring their projects to life, I mean that. It’s an honor in every way for someone to have a vision and think that you fit it best. I think my most favorite projects are ‘Grace’, it’s a short film about the American-hero Shoshana Johnson and ‘Breakout’, it’s a sims animation series about a hall-of-fame basketball family’s drama on and off the court, as they try to keep their best kept secrets quiet.
I want potential clients or fans to know that I really love what I do and I don’t take a second of it for granted. I don’t take their support for granted ever. I really am keeping the faith every day because this industry is tough and I think on my lowest days, my family and friend’s prayers kept me going. So I’m really big on family and taking care of your people because I know I owe mine the world–just know, everything I’m working towards isn’t just for me.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A lesson I had to unlearn is saying ‘yes’ to every job that is presented to you. It’s okay to say ‘no’ and sometimes necessary. Every job won’t align with your brand, your message, and your beliefs. We all want to benefit from our art financially and be able to live off of it, but not all money is good money if it will have people conflicted on where you stand on the side what’s right or wrong.
I think I came to this understanding when I was on set for a music video and I’m not an outwardly provocative person, but I took this job because I was like “I can be sexy, yeah I got this”. I had read kind of what they wanted and I was uneasy about it, but I was new to LA so I figured whatever. I get on set and the rest of the cast is amazing–so great, I mean it. While I was filming one of my scenes, the director says something just utterly disturbing to me and I felt disgusting in that moment. I’m sure from his perspective it was words of encouragement or hyping me up, but it just validated all the worries I had about taking this job instead. Which made me vow to listen to my gut the first time around from there on out.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
I think society can best support artists, creatives, and an thriving creative ecosystem is to start by supporting their friends. There’s someone that everyone knows that is either a musician, painter, actress, writer, and the list goes on and they haven’t shown up for that friend probably. You may not be able to afford Beyonce and Taylor Swift tickets, but you know what you can afford? You can afford to muster up some energy after work and go watch your friend (who is so passionate about their work) perform their new songs at the local pub, their stand up routine, their theatre show, or their art gallery. You can share their work on your story, it’s up for 24 hours and it won’t mess with the aesthetic of your instagram. It means a lot when people show up for you and support your dreams.
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Image Credits
David Moreno, Gorrity Productions, Christian L. Garcia