We were lucky to catch up with Amy Chernikova recently and have shared our conversation below.
Amy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
I grew up in a small town in Northwestern Montana where there weren’t many creative outlets or resources to follow my passions at the time. I always knew that I wanted to work in film, I’d call it an inner knowing. I eventually moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where I soon discovered that there was a very well known (not at the time) television series being filmed. I researched online the casting director’s email and reached out to him with a photo of myself telling him that I was interested. He responded rather quickly saying that I matched the main actresses hair and was wondering if I would be willing to cut mine for a featured extra roll. I had no idea what that meant at the time but I trusted my instincts and said, “Yes!” It all happened so fast but I was put on a 3 day shoot for a scene and listened very carefully to the direction I was given and apparently they really liked it and emailed me back a few days later saying that the creator loved my scene and has added a new scene to establish me as a student in the series. From then on, I was casted as a regular background student and stand in, and just kept listening to every direction I was given and eventually started getting hired on as a Production assistant to the other movies being filmed in the area and learned everything I could about departments and decided I wanted to be a stylist. It’s been almost 10 years and I can happily say that I have been able to keep this position as a full time job.
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?
As a stylist and designer, I really enjoy getting to know the people that I’m working for and with and making sure they are happy and satisfied with whatever looks I’m putting out and feeling comfortable in them and with them. I seem to have a really intuitive knowing on what will look and feel the best and from there I just follow my instincts on what I think will work best and every time I end up with a beautiful outcome. I enjoy collaboration immensely and the conversations that take place in the process. From the phone calls, to the shopping, and putting the looks together and seeing the positive expressions on my clients faces fills me with so much joy and gratitude, I am forever grateful with being what I’m able to do.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I have become very resilient from where I was raised and grew up. Where I’m from, it wasn’t always the easiest. I encountered many obstacles that some would think would be impossible to overcome but I always knew it would happen. Nothing was handed to me. I had to work and strive for all of my dreams. I knew what I wanted to do since I was a little girl. How to get there was uncertain but I had such a strong desire to be successful and to be where I am now that nothing seemed to be able to stray me from getting there.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
The mission that has always driven me through my creative journey is to be successful. I could feel and smell success since I can remember and I just followed that scent through every path I’ve followed. Doubting myself was there but never gave into that emotion fully. Believing in yourself is key and trusting the journey that I was given. It’s made me stronger, braver, and more confident in who I am and my work.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.amychernikova.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/amyannchernikova