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

Hal, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I have been a full time actor for about 10 years. After a business degree in college I spent 25yrs in logistics before becoming an actor. I was burnt out career wise and decided to take a step back and take some time away and pursue something different. I had always wanted to act and decided to start doing extra and background work just to get on set and see if I liked it. I loved being on set and just learning the process of filmmaking. I soon found a great coach, Richard Hempton with In Our Image Productions, who I’m still training with today. I began taking classes, going to workshops, and booking small speaking roles in short films, student films, and indies. As soon as I had a few credits and built enough of a resume I signed with an agent and started auditioning and booking roles. I felt that any career change meant you had to go back to school so to speak, so I found classes and training was the best way to gain enough knowledge and experience to get work. I went at it full time so I don’t think I could have sped up the process in any way and still respect the process of acting.

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

(Sorry, previous answer applies to some of this so I wont repeat) I soon found out that acting is extremely competitive. And as the Atlanta film industry has continued to grow, we have actors moving here from L.A. and other places to get work. So persistence plays a huge part in being a full time actor and making it through the dry spells when not booking roles. You have to look at every audition as an opportunity to act and just welcome the fact that casting directors will at least see your work. A lot of my inspiration comes from seeing fellow actors book roles, even some I know who auditioned for the same roles. It takes discipline to continue working on your craft looking for the next project. A few of the things that sets me apart from others is that I am available full time and willing to travel anywhere, being older I have a big age range that I can play, and having long hair allows me to play different characters.

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

My goal is always to build a character and help tell the story. Its not about “me”, its about doing the project justice and help move the story along. Building a character involves making choices that allow me to have meaning behind the dialogue, why am I saying what I’m saying, know who I’m speaking to in the scene, and overall do my job as directed. When on set, the director may have a different take or vision of how the character should be played, so I should know my character so well that I can take direction and still remain within my character.

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 believe most people think actors sign with an agent and kick back and wait for job offers. First it takes alot of work just to get signed with an agent, they need to see that you have been on set performing speaking roles on multiple film / TV projects. They also want to see that you have been training, taking classes, attending workshops etc. Then it comes down to the needs they have for their particular roster, they may already have too many actors in your age / look category. Then when you do get signed you still have to train, network, and continue working on the craft so that when the opportunities do come along you’re ready. In addition to the auditions agents send your way, actors should always be self submitting for projects that may not come through agents. Just like any other industry it takes networking, selling yourself, and immersing yourself in the craft.

Contact Info:

• Website: halwhiteside.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/halwhiteside/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hal.whiteside.9
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/HalWhiteside

Image Credits
Joe Funk Photography