We recently connected with Chaney Belle and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Chaney, thanks for joining us today. Looking back at internships and apprenticeships can be interesting, because there is so much variety in people’s experiences – and often those experiences inform our own leadership style. Do you have an interesting story from that stage of your career that you can share with us?
Before moving out to LA, I came here for the summer to do two internships. I worked for a talent manager and a commercial casting company. After living in LA for two months, I was able to decide that I absolutely loved it here. Los Angeles is my home. I also learned the “other side of the table.” I learned about the business of the film acting industry and could see first-hand audition requests, self-tapes, callbacks, bookings, etc. I saw the process: client, casting call, auditions, negations, bookings, and final products. I realized that the majority of things that go on behind the scenes, actors have no control over and, therefore, should never take anything personally and remind themselves that this is a BUSINESS!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a film actress from Orlando, FL. I’ve had wonderful experiences in front of and behind the camera, ranging from feature films to student films to commercials to experimenting at home on my camcorder. I am a huge foodie, beach lover, and adventurous hiker. Going to the movies and sneaking in my own popcorn is a passion of mine – along with trying new places and meeting new people! I aim to create magical, successful, and powerful Films and TV shows with other talented, lovely artists. I studied acting in London for a whole semester, along with traveling around Europe, and it indeed was the best experience of my life. Since moving to LA, I have been blessed to be a part of so many wonderful projects: music videos, video games, shorts, features, photoshoots, etc. I strive to create and grab every opportunity by the horns. I respect all types of artists and hope to learn from those around me. My brand is storytelling. I dive deep into my characters, grounding them in their own reality. With the help of my scene partners, director, and everyone else on set, we get to tell magical stories. I am a piece of a giant puzzle. I’ve played all types of roles: the young innocent victim in a horror film, the bratty mean girl, the nerdy warrior girl, but most of all, the vigilant, unassuming, sincere girl. My favorite movie is The Sound of Music. My favorite color is pink. My favorite activity is reading a book on the beach. My favorite food is seafood. And my favorite dessert is dark chocolate. I got into the acting industry when I was five. I performed at the White House, Disney World, Magic Basketball games, and other live events. I then started my theatre career at the age of eight. I did plays, musicals, one-acts, monologues, etc. I lived, breathed, and slept performing. I had voice lessons, dance classes, play rehearsals, choir practice, scene analysis, acting class, and more. By my senior year of high school, I started taking film acting classes at Star Catcher Acting Studio. I soon realized that with this different medium came another kind of acting. I learned quickly and jumped at every opportunity to act in a film. Since then, I have been trying to even count how many films/shorts/commercials/etc I’ve done. It’s a lot! But I LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT! The camera is just a piece of technology that captures the magic created by the artists surrounding it. I am most proud of my peers and the other artists who allow me to learn from them daily. I never want to stop learning, growing, or acting.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
Acting classes have had the most significant impact on my career, along with having a great relationship with my manager. They are both places for me to ask questions without any hesitation. There is no one right way to make it as an actress here in LA. Everyone has a different journey. Having a great acting teacher to help you grow your craft and keep you in shape for all your auditions is EXTREMELY NECESSARY. Going to an acting class and working on materials consistently every single week allows you to work your muscles. Think about it this way: don’t athletes work out every day to get them ready for the big game? So why shouldn’t actors do the same? My manager is phenomenal: Brent Paxton from Kreativ Media Partners. He knows how to take care of his clients and how this industry operates. I do not see everything behind the scenes, and it’s not my job. Having a manager, they are the ones who are there to help guide and advise you through your career. I would not be in the same position I am today without him.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
I wish I knew more about the technical side of the film industry. If you have the opportunity to work behind the camera as an actor, DO IT! I have had the privilege to work as a first AC on a couple of projects, and the experience of operating and focusing on a camera is priceless. It allows me to see the full narrative of the story and, therefore, opens my mind to the possibilities as an actor. Camera Crews are also filled with highly talented people who are always so nice to learn from.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chaneybelle.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CHANEYBELLE_/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaney-belle/?original_referer=
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@chaneybelle_
- Other: tik tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chaneybelle?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Image Credits
Bao Song Nicole Mitchem Getty Images Abby Tarpey Hannah Perala