Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kate Marley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Kate, thanks for joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

Being an artist and a creative has been a lifelong goal for me–in elementary school, I had big dreams of being a visual artist and a singer (and a vet, but I feel like every kid wants to be a vet), and I never let go. Even in high school, my pursuit of the arts overshadowed my initial plan to get a more typical college degree.

It’s not easy, of course. Quitting the third-wave coffee industry in order to pursue full-time work as a freelancer and creative took a lot of courage, as well as the understanding that finances were likely to be a struggle for the rest of my career. But I have always said that I can’t do anything else. I’ve had assorted day jobs, some at desks and some behind counters, and none of them have given me purpose, freedom, or joy in the way being an artist does. I’m also fortunate enough to have had supportive and understanding parents, who encouraged me to do my best. Every handful of months, my dad would ask me, “Are you still happy? You are stressed about the future and your bills…but are you happier like this?” and the answer has always been yes.

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

My motto is: “Pursue passion, live with intent, and make an impact.”

In all aspects of my work, at its core is one dominant purpose: to use my passions and interests to affect those around me in any meaningful capacity. As an actor, a photographer. and a visual artist, I am a storyteller. I strive to tell stories and incite responses through characters, through colors, and through the world around me. I can share my lived experiences through not only my own eyes but the eyes of roles I portray, and the hope is always that my audiences will walk away changed, whether that be in major or minor ways. Art, in all its forms, is often therapeutic, not only for the creator but for the viewer.

Additionally, as a Korean-American artist, a lot of my work is also heavily centered around the celebration, exploration, scrutiny, and struggles of my Asianness and my experiences as an AAPI person. And as a director, I work hard to use my power and platform to hire and empower other AAPI and BIPOC actors and artists, because it is still difficult to work consistently in the entertainment industry, and lifting each other up will bring us all higher.

In all of my work, I give everything I have. I will always pour my heart and soul into my passions, and I always aim to inspire others.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Personally, the most rewarding aspect is seeing how audiences respond to my work and developing good, continued relationships with them. I’ve had people become fans of my visual art and come to markets and events specifically to see me and my art. But more than that, every time I sell art at an event, I overhear them get excited about pieces they love, call their friends over, debate which piece to buy, etc. The joy that I can bring someone so instantaneously feels tremendously heart-warming. As an actor and a voiceover director, the support I get from audiences, fellow directors, actors I direct, and other peers and colleagues, reminds me why I do what I do. And these days, my work isn’t just local, but available and respected worldwide, and that feels like reaching an ultimate goal.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

We are currently amidst artists and creatives striking to be heard and respected in our industries, and being fought and ignored by the higher-ups. The WGA recently ended their strike after 146 long days, and SAG-AFTRA is still striking. Artists and creatives are rarely given the respect they deserve because a lot of people don’t think the work we do is hard and that we aren’t deserving of the jobs and paychecks that we earn. In many ways, I find society often sees artists as jesters, to play for the public but keep our mouths shut. But we know that the arts truly keep society running–we are the providers of films, tv shows, books, music, video games, board games, museums, art galleries, etc, and should be acknowledged as such. I think it is easy to underestimate the fact that art is a specialized, somewhat rare skill, and can be respected in the way we pay good money for the craftsmanship of a woodworker or glass-blower (both arts).

I think supporting smaller businesses and venues is a meaningful way to support creatives: buy from a local bookstore, see live theatre, support the strikes, visit art galleries with rotating exhibitions. And in this day and age, social media *can* be a great tool for discovering new people, content, and places to check out.

Contact Info:

• Website: Actor: http://www.kate-marley.com / Artist: http://www.jungmisul.com
• Instagram: Actor: http://www.instagram.com/katemarleyis / Artist: http://www.instagram.com/jungmisul_

Image Credits
Kate Marley, Sean Lee Perry