We recently connected with Erica LaRose and have shared our conversation below.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

The question “How I got into the industry?” provokes a feeling of nostalgia for me. As a child I played the piano, danced, and modeled. I longed to act from a young age but never took the extra step to enroll in theatre school or join the drama club. I was shy and along with my desire to pursue acting there was also a lot of fear.

I owe a special chapter of life to my mother (or maybe a few haha 😉) She was aware of my dreams and that truly brought me to my first opportunity. It was during college that she introduced me to her friend and director Michael. He gave me an opportunity to be in the horror movie he was shooting Connecticut. That’s when I was bitten by the acting bug and shortly after decided to pursue my career in the city of Los Angeles. I booked a flight at the Starbucks in my hometown, packed two and a half suitcases along with some faith, and off I went!

I was thrown into the entertainment industry right when I moved to Los Angeles. That’s when I got over my fear and enrolled in drama school at Playhouse West in North Hollywood. I quickly met producers, actors, directors, agents, etc. It was all very exciting when I look back… to experience this enchanting energy for the first time. It wasn’t very long before I felt inspired to create my own projects. One summer I sat at a café with two books. One to help me learn the story/creative side, the other to help me learn the technical side, and wrote my first short film. Without me even realizing it, I became a producer. I was not going to stop at just writing this film…. I was determined to bring it to life. Ever since that summer, it was natural for me to be talent AND producer/creator/etc. on projects even though that demanded a lot of extra effort. I enjoy getting things done. I enjoy the creative process. And I think allowing the two to feed one another, can be a very harmonious and enjoyable experience.

Perhaps what I am most proud of is being able to stay hopeful, inspired, and pro-active about my career and passions through the good times and bad. As a result of me overcoming the fear I held on to as a child, I managed to always take responsibility for my future. Of course, to the extent that I possibly can as we are not in control of everything. Maybe that comes from wanting to make up for lost time along with being grateful that I finally embraced what I really wanted to do. “I have finally pursued my passions and no one can get in my way but me” is a sentiment I hold on to.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Absolutely. After being thrown into the Hollywood experience, four years later I started to feel a bit stuck. I was putting a lot of effort into my career and felt a bit disheartened by the results. I had some very extreme moments of deciding if I should quit. I mapped out the different ways my life could go… literally. I decided to listen to my heart, and instead of running away from what I wanted, I just moved! I’m not suggesting this is the answer to everything but I do feel putting yourself in a new environment can be invigorating and refreshing. I went to New York City and continued studying my craft, going to auditions, and producing projects. I joined a theatre group as well to be around likeminded individuals. Since the first short film I wrote I’ve produced staged readings, independent films, and commercials. Now I co-produce and host popular Star Trek Themed Talk show “The Shuttlepod Show” in Los Angeles where I reside once again. It’s truly been a journey thus far and I can say that without resilience and pushing forward, I may not have had these opportunities.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I talk about this a lot: How acting is in art form in which you use all of your senses, your body, and your voice. I have so much respect for actors because it is a very vulnerable position to be in. And one acts all while listening, staying in the moment, and making sure they know their lines! It is a craft to be admired, and not one for the faint of heart.

In times of frustration surrounding my career, I typically have picked up independent projects to keep my soul alive. I can’t think of one time that did not benefit me in the long term. To anyone looking to get into this industry as a creator, I would recommend thinking about how one thing leads to another or as they say “the big picture.” You may work on something and not get a big paycheck, or some kind of award…. but if you are continuously putting yourself out there, it will pay off in ways you did not expect. Someone will appreciate it,another opportunity might come out of it, or you may learn something new. At the very least, you continue to keep your heart happy which in my opinion can only lead to good things.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ericalarose.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericalarose/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericalaroseactress/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericalarose/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/EricaLaRose
• Other: https://vimeo.com/user11955466

Image Credits
Photo Credit: Simile Photography