We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashley Rose Folino a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ashley Rose , appreciate you joining us today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?
My career in TV Production has been a bit of journey! From a young age, all I wanted to do was be an actor. That was my craft and I was going to be the one in a zillion who made it! I received my BFA in Acting at Pace University, and while I was there I had a Professor who worked on a famous game show. One day, I asked him if he knew of any TV/Film internships I’d be interested in. Instead he referred me to a real life job at “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” as an Audience Page — which is a glorified title for paid intern who does crowd control. However, my Professor made the staff aware that I was an actor, so every morning I got to stand-in as Meredith Viera and play a practice round. No, I wasn’t paid any extra for this — but I couldn’t care less. I was just so happy to be there learning how TV gets made from real life TV-makers in a real life studio. That “happy to be there” attitude got me to all of my jobs thereafter. But the problem was that I wasn’t sure how these jobs would get me to the job I really wanted: actor. At the time, I was commuting to New York City from New Jersey every morning and spent my commutes writing scripts and started dabbling with the idea of writing my own material.
A few more entry level jobs later, I was accepted into the CBS Page Program, where I hoped to gain more connections in scripted television. And I did, but not because of the programs assignments, but because of a good friend I met in the program who nabbed a job as an Office Production Assistant on a scripted TV show unrelated to the Page Program, who then referred me to be an Office Production Assistant there too. I couldn’t believe it. On my first day, she gave me a tour of the sound stages and I literally had to choke back tears. Once again, I was so incredibly happy to be there.
After this, I continued to work on various scripted shows as an Office Production Assistant, was ultimately promoted to Production Secretary, and was on the fast track to becoming a Production Coordinator. But once again, I wondered how all of my hard work would translate to writers and casting directors. I started spending every job trying to get closer to creatives. And ultimately I did, as an Assistant. I took a step down in both title and pay and assisted Producers, Writers, and Directors on various TV shows, but once again I didn’t care, because you bet your bottom dollar I was SO HAPPY TO FINALLY BE THERE IN THE ROOMS WHERE IT HAPPENS…until I wasn’t. Until I completely burned out and felt farther from my dreams than ever before. So I quit. Just for a little! I took a sabbatical if you will. Because despite my ten year journey, I wasn’t completely broken yet. I was and still am in love with TV & Film. But I needed to reassess and figure out a new game plan. So I went back to my roots to remind myself what I’m doing and why I’m doing it. I started auditioning again and picked up where I left off on all the unfinished screenplays sitting on my desktop. (And most importantly, I started therapy to help me get through this risky new chapter).
And it was during that time, another friend I had met on the set of my last Assistant gig asked if I had written any short film scripts that would be a match for us to make together. And weirdly enough, I did. I had a short film written with two characters that would fit us perfectly. The sets were simple and doable for a low budget and I, for the first time in about ten years, had some free time (and a little bit of savings).
So I co-produced and starred in a movie that I wrote for the first time ever. And to say that I was happy to be there is an understatement. And most importantly, I could have never done any of it without everything I learned from every production job I had ever worked in the decade. So to answer your question, the most important lesson I ever learned on a job(s) is that the journey really is the destination. And I apologize that you had to read all of this just for me to recite a quote you can find on home decor at TJ Maxx. But maybe there’s a reason that stuff sells?
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I come from an old school blue collar Italian-American family with a special admiration for the movies. I was raised very strict but I was allowed to watch mostly anything — especially anything my family considered to be a classic or something with music that they knew I’d enjoy. For instance, I should not have been allowed to watch Saturday Night Fever as a child but, despite my sheltered upbringing, my admiration for a classic was encouraged and overrode the VERY adult themes in that film.
As for my professional “brand,” for so long I felt like I had to choose between being a musical theater kid, a dramatic film actor, a comedic actor, a writer, and a producer. But I’ve decided that I don’t want to choose anymore. I want to be all of those things. So currently, by day I am a Post Production Coordinator for CBS’s Elsbeth, and by night I am preparing to enter the short film I produced/wrote/acted-in for the festival circuit, rearranging my apartment for audition tapes, jotting down screenplay ideas, and occasionally singing at piano bars to keep that muscle kicking too!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
When I was kid, Grease was my favorite movie musical. So much so that Danny and Sandy were my imaginary friends. No really, they were. Can you believe I was bullied as a kid? Ha. But it really does #getbetter because around that time, I discovered Grease had a sequel. Stephanie Zinone was my alter ego. I was barely allowed to go to slumber parties, let alone hop on the back of a motorcycle with a handsome mysterious man! She was the rebel I wish I could be. My family expected me to live at home until I was married. Stefanie Zinone claimed she could “kiss who she wanted, when she wanted.” She had every cliche feminist trait in the book! She worked at a gas station and chewed gum like a boss babe!
Grease 2 is notoriously considered “a bad movie.” (I will not confirm or deny.) But as Maya Angelou said, “people may not remember exactly what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” This movie makes most people feel like changing the channel. (Especially after the bomb shelter number. If you know you know.) But for a kid who felt a bit different and alone, it made me feel happy and empowered. And when I turn it on twenty years later, it still does. So while I’ve absolutely held up a hairbrush in the mirror, reciting variations of acceptance speeches through the years, the most rewarding thing I could ever accomplish as an artist is to be a part of making someone’s Grease 2. Whatever that means to them.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
Where do I begin? Ha. First and foremost, most of the non-creatives in my life struggle to understand the hours I work. Which is fair, twelve hour days are foreign to most people! And then you throw in overnight shoots, filming in the woods, traveling to different cities on a whim, answering emails at dinner, etc. It’s hard for nine to fivers to grasp and understandably so!
Secondly, I think it’s hard to comprehend that the hustle never ends, no matter how far you get. And to be honest, it’s something that I had to really grasp too. There isn’t always a clear linear latter to climb in show business — especially if your job is project-based. It just goes back my epiphany about “the journey.” You’ve gotta find what works for you; find the right day job that doesn’t burn you out; find the right work-life-art balance and structure that fulfills you. Or else you spend a lot of days living in the future instead of the now.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ashleyrosefolino.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashrose124/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-rose-folino-40083b61/
