We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Becky Bartlett. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Becky below.

Becky , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Once I decided to pursue acting for film professionally, I sought out in-person classes and looked up tutorials on YouTube on a daily basis. When the pandemic hit, classes became available via zoom across the country, and even internationally. I make it a point to be enrolled in a class as consistently as possible, and I find it beneficial to take classes from a variety of teachers. As far as speeding up the learning process, I think it’s important instead to view the process as working a muscle group. Put the work in daily and add a new element as you feel comfortable with each concept. The skill of listening to your scene partner for example, is a foundational skill. But before you can truly listen, you must master your own lines. Once mastered, then you can toss the script and engage in normal human behavior as you truly listen to your scene partner. Your reactions will become true and spontaneous and most importantly, believable. As far as obstacles, I suppose my desire to please the casting director early on, was my biggest block to learning how to act authentically. Once I realized that the CD just wanted to see what I personally would bring to each character, then I felt more freedom in my choices and interpretation of each role. Then, auditions became fun!

Becky , 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?

I discovered the love of acting for film as an adult, almost by accident. I took a weekend class from a relative and actor, Brian Shoop, who was offering a workshop. I was going through a difficult season, and I simply viewed it as a fun distraction. I was immediately hooked by the challenge of it all. The memorization, authenticity, and psychology behind the incredible skill of acting. I was blessed to sign with two agents within the next couple of years and have been enjoying networking and increasing my knowledge ever since. In 2021, I was asked to become the President of Women in Film Arkansas. I’m extremely proud to be a part of this non-profit organization which equips and encourages women to pursue careers in the film industry, both in front of and behind the camera. We provide educational workshops across the state for women and men, covering a wide variety of skills including directing, auditioning, voice acting, screen writing, film finance, and more. As an actress I love the opportunity to travel and meet new people. Each production set is unique, and I love being able to walk away with increased knowledge and insight gained from observing each production team. In addition to film acting, I thoroughly enjoy the commercial industry and voice acting as well.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My creative journey has taken on different forms throughout the years, currently resting on acting. I’m most fond of films which leave an impression long after the credits. Especially films with a message of redemption and hope. My goal is to pursue acting in faith-based productions which can ultimately make an eternal impact. The entire creative process is incredibly edifying when it’s bathed in prayer and focused on lifting each other up throughout the production. There’s an automatic comradery when you’re working together with brothers and sisters in Christ with a common goal of pointing viewers to Jesus. I definitely have enjoyed working on other productions as well, without a faith element. Meeting so many talented people along the way from different backgrounds, has made this journey worth it, no matter how far my personal career may go.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The lesson I had to unlearn was speaking. Hear me out… In college, I was a double major of Speech and Radio/TV/Film. I graduated with a BA as a Communications Specialist. In my professional career in marketing, public speaking with presentations was a large part of my job. I learned how to effectively communicate without the “uhm’s” and other nervous verbal ticks. Rehearsed and linguistically accurate. When I was learning how to act for film, I learned to embrace the real and very human verbal ticks. In facts, the more natural the delivery, the more believable and enjoyable the character is to watch.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.BeckyBartlett.com https://www.beckybartlett.com/
• Instagram: @BeckyBartlettActress https://www.instagram.com/beckybartlettactress/
• Facebook: Becky Bartlett
• Other: IMDb.me/BeckyBartlett

Image Credits
Photographers: Jeffrey Nicholson, Matt Shannon, Matt Martin, Heather Lane, Jim Lindsey, Sean McClintock, Matthew Sewell.