We recently connected with Allie Costa and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Allie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
Allie, 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?
Sure! I’m an actor, screenwriter, director, playwright, and singer – an actor first and foremost – so if you’re looking for me, you’ll most likely find me on a sound stage, working on a film or a TV show. Otherwise, check the theatre or recording studio, because I also perform in plays, musicals, and a wide variety of voiceover endeavors, including animated projects, video games, and scripted podcasts.
My most recent acting gig is Slayers: A Buffyverse Story, the new Buffy the Vampire Slayer project produced by Audible. It picks up 10 years after the series finale and stars several of the original cast members. I still can’t believe I’m fortunate enough to be part of it. I truly enjoyed sinking my teeth into it (pun intended) and we’re crossing our fingers that we get another season!
Pursuing all these paths in all these different mediums gives me so much joy. I love approaching a story from multiple angles, and my experience both in front of and behind the camera allows me to direct and encourage everyone involved and offer them support for their specific role and responsibilities.
There’s nothing I love more than acting in an intense drama one day and a lighthearted comedy the next. I pride myself on my versatility, and I also think that balance is important, as is acknowledging that there’s comedy in drama and drama in comedy – and that real life is a mix of both.
Acting also allows me to do things I’ve never done in real life, especially when I’m in a sci-fi project – for example, I fought aliens (while singing!) in Alien vs. Musical, I’ve encountered werewolves and witches, and I survived the zombie apocalypse twice! I’ve been in multiple horror films and thrillers as the voice of a manipulative Alexa / Siri virtual assistant, and I’ve also embodied other A.I. and non-human characters. I even got to time travel in the movie Future Shock. Realistic roles are just as rewarding: I’ve played scientists, doctors, detectives, lawyers, teachers, social workers, reporters, and more. No matter what the genre, my favorite roles tend to be those who are true to themselves and aren’t afraid to speak up – I definitely relate to that!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
As you can guess, I’m happiest when I’m performing, and I also love seeing something I’ve written come to life. The fact that my screenplays and stage plays have been produced internationally is kind of mind-boggling. Hearing from an actor or another creative that my script was their first professional credit or that it gave them a new appreciation for a certain genre or type of character makes me really happy.
When something I work on resonates with someone else, that’s the best feeling. If it helps them connect with others or with themselves, that is just so wonderful.
I love creating things. My mind is always going. I was born asking questions, and I’m constantly in pursuit of knowledge and understanding. I deeply value imagination and creativity. I also appreciate connection and communication. When I take on a new role, a new character, I like discovering our differences and similarities. Sometimes, those discoveries are surprising, or a bit challenging, but I love a good challenge. And when I start writing a new script, I love asking “What if?” and seeing where that takes me. Some stories come more easily than others, but no matter what, the journey’s always worth it.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I would love to be a series regular on a TV show (especially one I created) while working on feature films and other projects between seasons. That is the dream. I’m ready. Let’s go.
Learn more about Allie Costa and her projects:
http://www.alliecosta.com
http://www.imdb.me/alliecosta
http://www.youtube.com/
http://www.soundcloud.com/
https://newplayexchange.org/
Follow Allie on social media:
http://www.twitter.com/
http://www.tinyurl.com/
http://www.threads.net/
For audition advice, artistic encouragement, and more, check out Allie’s episodes of How Do You Juggle? and Behind the Scenes:
https://podcasts.apple.com/
https://podcasters.spotify.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.alliecosta.com
- Facebook: http://www.tinyurl.com/alliecostaFB
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/allieacts
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/alliecosta
- Other: http://www.imdb.me/alliecosta http://www.soundcloud.com/alliecosta/sets https://newplayexchange.org/users/995/allie-costa http://www.threads.net/alliecosta
Image Credits
Photographers include Andrew Joseph Perez, Allie Costa, and Spotlight Photography AV