We were lucky to catch up with Heather Massie recently and have shared our conversation below.
Heather, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
As soon as I could talk. As a young child I spent a lot of time with my Grandma who was very creative and always had I love Lucy on and I would mimic Lucy. That was my introduction to comedy and acting. I was very privileged growing up my parents supported me in any activities I wanted to do. I was a competitive ice skater, dancer and varsity track and field. Figure skating is a unique sport in the sense your telling a story on ice and playing a character. I loved everything about figure skating learning all the moves, choreographing, picking out music for my programs, and helping design my costumes. After I got injured and could no longer compete. I needed a new outlet and a few years later started taking acting, modeling and improv classes. I really fell in love with improv, sketch and stand up. I’ve always loved television, film and music.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I grew up in Kenosha, WI. My parents were more conservative when it came to a career path and wanted me to do something practical. I went to business school at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater and graduated with a bachelor of business administration emphasis in marketing. I thought I could use that to own my own production company someday. After college I went to second city in chicago and graduated their improvisation and acting program.
I got my first agent and after two years moved to Los Angeles. I got my agent in Los Angeles my 13th month in Los Angeles I know that because my goal was to get an agent in my first year. I also graduated Upright Citizens Brigade improvisation program. I ran a comedy show with friends in Alhambra for four years called sleeping with comedy. We had a weekly mixed open mic meaning comedians, poets, singers and artists could world on their material. Then twice a month we had a booked stand up show. Once a month a variety comedy show and storytelling show. I learned so much as a host and producer . We also did live tapings so comics could get good video footage to submit to late night shows and only charged $20. We didn’t make any money it went to paying sound engineers and editors. I’ve always collaborated for ten years with Kingsley and Kalle Pascal they are twin brothers and I was very lucky to meet them my first year in Los Angeles and we happen to like all the same television shows, movies, writers, directors and cinematographers. Naturally it was a good fit to work together. I’ve worked on many of their projects from short films, improvised sketch YouTube channel, music videos and feature films. Everything we do is on a shoe string budget so I’ve learned so much and I’m still learning. I love everything about being on a set. It all excites me.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I started my artistic career now 14 years ago and in that time experienced a lot of loss and a serious auto immune diagnosis. When I was 25 my father passed by suicide and he and I were very close. Now, I’m 36 and time has helped me process and grieve but I’ve learned now thru therapy it’s not linear. Some years are still very hard without him. I also lost an Uncle to pancreatic cancer and three grandparents. I was fortunate to have 6 living grandparents up until I was about 30. Two got remarried so I always had six grandparents and I’m very grateful because they all had an enormous impact on my life. At the age of 35 I was diagnosed with anklosing spondylitis which is an inflammatory auto immune disease I was hospitalized for several days and lost my ability to walk and talk. I’m still in the first year of the diagnosis and it changed my life. I told myself I would give myself a year to process it however I did it and I wouldn’t judge myself. I have a very supportive friend group and family. I’ve had to ask for a lot of help which I really have a hard time with. I’m so grateful for them. I am doing much better now and have had a great team of Doctors at Cedars. Thank goodness for all the very patient healthcare professionals. What I’ve learned from this new diagnosis is that life is short and fragile. There are many things out of your control and that’s okay. Life is also so much fun. You can laugh with friends and eat ice cream. I think if you can do those two things then your doing alright. Appreciate the simple things more. Like walking around and talking I didnt know they could be taken away from you. Now, I really appreciate that I can do both of them.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
This will sound silly maybe but many artists don’t get paid regularly. It can be difficult to find good insurance and a retirement fund. There are resources and I did lots of research. Costco if you don’t have eye insurance you can go to their optical center for only $120 for a check up. You can put money in a rothIRA for yourself since you don’t work for a corporation with 401-K matching. For dental I forget the name but there are subsidized options as well. You can also do income based therapy. I think when you’re in your twenties you don’t always get check ups done and I wish I did that more instead of trying to save money. They would have caught my auto immune disease sooner and I wouldn’t be a severe case. Also to be an artist you need to take care of yourself or how will you be able to create at your full potential.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermmassie?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermmassie?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@massiehm0188?si=FEz6u5-urNt3vOsL
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@massie92061?_t=8nQKKIWQP3H&_r=1
Image Credits
Friends and family took the photos