Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gabrielle Wedderburn. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Gabrielle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?
I remember the first money I made as an actor! It was in 2014 and I had just completed my first tv role! I played a young hispanic female who was murdered in a non-union crime tv show. I can recall opening my paycheck that came in the mail from the Entertainment Company. I mostly remember being a little shocked haha- I was so new at the time that I don’t think I fully understood that I was going to get paid for the gig. The check was for $175 and I was so surprised and grateful. I think that was an important moment because I realized I could actually make money from acting!
Gabrielle, 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’m very happy to share! I am in the creation process of my online dance coaching business! Latin dancing has been a passion of mine for a long time and I’m thrilled to be able to share my knowledge with those who are seeking it! My business has not yet launched which means that my title or working trademark is still being finalized! I am an experienced Dance Instructor accompanied by ten years of partner dance experience. I pride myself in my ability to efficiently break down popular social dances into learnable sections. My connection- based flow is inspired by various artistic mediums! To keep an eye out for when I launch, follow my personal account on IG @gabriellewedderburn!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I am obsessed with the creation process! I think to create and bring something out of nothing is the highest form of worship! I grew up in Christianity and we were always told we are “made in God’s image.” To me, that means having the ability to create and form new things that do not exist yet directly from our subconscious mind and into the material world. Being an artist and creative allows me to access that universal magic and it’s the most beautiful thing to me!
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
The biggest lesson I’ve had to learn and re-learn is that there is no magical secret to success. For so long I would look at people who were further along in their career (comparison is always a disaster idea btw) be it dancing or acting, and I always thought they must have some kind of magical gift, or worse, that they were just simply “better.” And while I do think there is a little validity to having a natural pull in a certain area, it is not applicable for the majority of artists. These people we want to emulate are simply people who have worked hard, stayed consistent, and allowed themselves to be vulnerable while developing their craft. They have consistently failed their way to success. I was working as a featured extra on a major (and very popular Sci-Fi) Netflix show when I had this realization. The scene was with one of the lead actors, and whether it was due to the hot sun or him having an off day I’m not sure, but I watched him repeatedly struggle to remember his lines. That’s when it clicked. There was no difference between he and I. He simply had been practicing how to act longer than I had. He had been failing and trying longer. It was a profound realization for me and one that really inspired me to buckle down and keep auditioning and trying to book so I could get my SAG-AFTRA eligibility. I and very happy to say that after two years of trying and failing, I accomplished this goal!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @gabriellewedderburn
Image Credits
Gabrielle Wedderburn, Jeremiah Longbear (still footage)