We recently connected with Krista Cooper-Schmidt and have shared our conversation below.

Krista, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I don’t think there’s ever been a time I didn’t know I wanted to pursue a creative path! Even as a kid I was creating stories and getting lost in these characters and imaginary worlds I created for myself. That imagination and love of creation was always there and just never went away. When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, “actor” was always the answer, without hesitation.

Now, growing up in a low-income and less-than-supportive home environment, I didn’t have the means to start pursuing that dream until a few years ago. Even as a young adult, it was something I kept pushing back for a long time, telling myself it could only be a hobby. Then Covid happened and I was really forced to reexamine what was important in my life and what I wanted to get out of it. My own happiness in pursuing a creative career unsurprisingly came out on top.

And here I am! Having already worked on several short and feature films this year and preparing to submit for agency representation early next. My passion for writing has also been reignited and my first novel and short film are set to be finished and published/shot by the end of this year.

Krista , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I think the most important thing to know about me is how much I care about my characters. Whether I’m writing or playing them, I always place my focus on the core of their psychology and humanity. I want to make art that truly moves people and has a profound effect on its audience. I love storytelling more than anything and am always willing to go the extra mile to bring the vision of the character and overall story to life.

I love playing and writing very complex and often, dark, characters for this reason. They have psychologies I can really sink my teeth into and ask the difficult questions – “What made you this way? How does your perception of your reality shape your actions? How do other people see you? How do you see yourself?” I certainly don’t regret getting my degree in Psychology for this reason!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Inspiring (and being inspired by!) others and getting to see the impact my work has on not only audiences, but the people I work with. I’ve gotten the opportunity to work with so many amazing individuals already and it’s always such a joy to discuss art or collaborate on the creative process. I’ve never been more at home than I am on a film set or brainstorming ideas with a fellow writer. It’s a great feeling and one I know I’ll never get tired of, no matter how far I am in my career.

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

Definitely the dangers of creative burnout. I remember when I first started my novel I went in so hard and so fast that I ended up having to put it down for a good year and a half. I just didn’t have the energy or motivation to even look at it. Which is such a horrible feeling to have to do with your art, but an important lesson learned on the importance of self-care. I love what I do, but learning to balance your physical and mental health, family, other work, responsibilities, etc. is vital.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kcsacting.carrd.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krista.c.s/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krista.cooper.s

Image Credits

Corey Carlson, Crossroads del Sol Photography
Ben Staples, Projector Imagination Studios
Savannah Glenn, Hammerhead Films