Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Analisa Wall. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Analisa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I started singing at the age of 3 and by the age of 7 I was working professionally in theatre. I started my operatic vocal training a few years after and went on to have a career in Opera and Broadway starting in my teens. Believing this to fully be my path, I continued this journey by earning my BFA in musical theatre. I worked primarily in Equity productions in New York and Philadelphia and started a small jewelry business on the side. Without this business, I would not have been able to fully embrace this career without feeling the financial setbacks. A career in the professional performing arts is complicated with serious cash flow issues. I wish this complication was expressed to me at any point in my training but unfortunately that was vastly overlooked. I moved to the south and continued my performing arts career and also began to work in film. This opened many more doors to earning capital and I eventually started working as a professional stunt woman. Now my day to day is full of auditions, contracts, photoshoots, band practice, day player and stunt double gigs. I am always grateful when I get a longer contract but this life is not for the faint of heart. Right now, I am focusing all my energy on producing my own film based on a 16th century real life person! I am passionate about this project and am eager to step into the shoes of “producer” for the first time. I believe that with this production company, I will be able to start planning ahead again and won’t be so reliant on day to day gigs and bookings.

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 touched a bit on this in my previous answer, but my entire life has been performance. I am grateful that this was my upbringing but at times feel at a loss for something more stable. Working as a professional for over 20 years, I have the ability to navigate through various fields with ease and confidence. I strive to make certain that all my artists on a project I’m working on are taken care of. I love the ability to blend my musicianship, my acting training and my athletic ability all into one career.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, it has never been about vanity. I remember clearly someone expressing to me that they believed actors to be involved in the most self serving profession. From my experience, it is quite the opposite.
I whole heartedly believe that my career stems around the art of “story telling.” My job is to ensure that the viewer or listener can fully be transported to a time and place that isn’t their own. I want to reach across the aisle in ways that books and literacy simply cannot do. Whether in song or script, these stories need to be told.
In addition to that, I have discovered a new sense of belonging now that I am pivoted more towards film. Whether I’m working on a Marvel movie, an indie film, or a short, every individual involved collaborates in a unique way is not seen in many fields. We all are a part of something beautiful and it’s so fulfilling to witness the process.

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

Lately, the performing arts industry is crumbling. It is sorely underfunded in this country and demeaned and degraded as “useless.” In fact, almost everything in your life has been brought to life by an artist in some way. Without art and storytelling, our world will go dark and grey.
As for myself, I will be crowdfunding my upcoming film. This is how most films get off the ground and if you stumble upon a creative trying to get their idea off the ground, it costs nothing to share it!
Additionally, I strongly encourage parents to pay close attention to your children and if they show signs of interest in art, lift them up. Guide them towards this world of creativity. Summer camps, clubs, choirs etc. show up, support them. I believe we can turn this around and keep the performing arts alive and well.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/analisa.s.wall?igsh=ZXlrYTNlbmh3eHFy&utm_source=qr
• Other: IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12732141/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

Image Credits

Luke Charles Stafford
Kayla Gibson