We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amber Rhabb a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Amber thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I will never forget the moment I knew I wanted to be an actress/performer/creative. I’m originally from New York City and a family friend would take my brother and I out to explore the city. We would go to museums, visit all the famous sights, go to performances and try new restaurants. She bought my brother and I tickets to see THE LION KING, the first year it was on Broadway. Back in 1998. I was 6 years old and I’ll never forget the feeling of excitment and wonder I felt. The Lion King, the movie, is still one of my favorite to this day, so when I found out I can see it live, I was beyond excited. It was one of the first Broadway shows I’ve seen. I still remember the velvet seats that I sat on and the red velvet curtains that the round spotlight illuminated. The house lights went down and the audience was transfered to the African Pride Lands. I ddin’t know how, but I knew then and there that I wanted to tell stories and to make an audience feel the same way I was feeling.

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?

I started acting and taking acting classes when I was 13 in NYC. My mom put me in acting and dance classes when I was younger and I’ve always performed on stage. I’ve performed around all five boroughs and New Jersey in smaller venus and was also able to perform in the New Jersey State Theater. I attended Pace University where I studied Communications with a media focus and a minor in Spanish. I moved to LA in 2014 to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Hollywood. There is a NYC campus, but I wanted to explore my options and start a new chapter in my life. After graduating, I’ve worked on different TV and film projects. Everything from background work on major tv shows and movies, to being the principle actor in student films/indie projects and commercials. I’ve worked as a hand model for a little while and even worked on a commercial with LaToya Luckett. During my time in LA, I’ve built strong relationships with people who are in the same level as I am and also artists who are ahead of me. I approach my career as a student. Always learning and being curious about the film industry.

Recently, I decided to explore a different part of the industry and now I’m in pre production for my first SAG short film. I’m a big believer in unions and having the protection of them. I’ve always loved to write and I’ve written short scripts before and filmed some stuff, but never had the courage to produce a longer script. I had an idea in mind for a short film and I was looking for a challenge in my life. Both the writer and actor strikes took place and that gave me all the motivation I needed to write and produce a film. I started writing and submitted all my paperwork to SAG. It was approved and now I’m working on securing funding, assembling my team and locking down locations. It’s a lot of work, but I allowed myself to say yes to myself, instead of waiting for a yes from the industry. I decided to have a mind shift and to validate myself and my talents instead of waiting for the industry to validate me. I’m working like no one’s watching me. And it’s beautiful because I can create art how I want to create it. When I decided to shift my thoughts, things started happening and I’ve been getting excellent advice from other artists in the industry and even a few recognizable names. ;-)

I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve built and maintained over the years in the entertainment industry. I still have a lot more to do and a long way to go, but my relationships keep me sane in this energetic city as well help me to get work. I’m excited to enter a new phase in my creative career as a writer/producer. I’ll still act, because that’s what I’ve always wanted to do, but as I transition into adding on these new titles, there’s a wave of excitement and fear that comes over me. I believe if you’re living you’re life and you don’t have an element of excitment and an element of fear, you’re playing it safe and safe doesn’t help your fellow man.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

There are so many books that I adore and take so many lessons from such as START by Jon Acoff and YOU’RE A BADASS by Jen Sincero. Both books give practical steps on how to start living your best life and going after the fantasy that you’ve had in your head for forever. For living truthfully on stage and on screen, RESPECT FOR ACTING by the legend Uta Hagen and THE INTENT TO LIVE by Larry Moss. Both books show actors how to breathe life into any character. THE TAO OF ORDINARINESS by Robert J. Wicks and AS A MAN THINKETH by James Allen are beautiful pieces of literature that speaks about the human experience and how to change your prospective on life.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

People can donate to and support smaller and larger theaters by attending live performances. People can support local art galleries, go see big blockbuster films in movie theaters as well as friend’s indie short films on YouTube. Give money to crowdfunding campaigns and tell people about art that they’ve seen. Word of mouth is POWERFUL! I also believe that society should stop telling children and adults to have “backup plans” if their creative pursuits don’t work out. That puts doubt into people and will make them so afraid to fail, that they wouldn’t even try. As a society, we forget that the words we speak effect others. We need to make a conscious effort to choose them carefully.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @ambertiara24

Image Credits
DISCO STELLA’S PHOTOGRAPHY