We were lucky to catch up with Kendall Slocum recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kendall, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I’m lucky to be pursuing acting. Some of my happiest memories have certainly been spent auditioning, rehearsing, or filming.

That being said, there’s a lot of uncertainty. For one, I never know when my next job will be. If I don’t book a role, I never know why. Somehow, the auditions I feel I did really well I never hear back, while the ones I think I bombed are the ones that get me the callback or booking.

The thrill of booking a role is entirely different than the reality of showing up on set. I’m still learning that acting is a job in the most practical sense. There are deadlines to meet, unforseen complications, and potentially having to collaborate with someone you don’t get a long with. An actor needs to learn how to navigate the work environment as an equal. Countless departments come together to make a production work, each masters of their craft. Everyone’s job is to make sure the show runs on time.

When I think about it like that, it takes the pressure off. An actor never works alone.

And by the way, like many actors, I too have catering/restaurant experience.

Kendall, 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 fell in love with making movies at Chapman University. Focusing on screen acting made it possible for me to get experience and learn from my mistakes. I cannot overstate how valuable this time was. I learned a lot in the classroom, but to be trusted as a professional and collaborate with my peers as equals was the most gratifying part of my education. I was always memorizing several scripts/scenes a week, trying my hand at all sorts of characters, and working with a diverse panel of creatives. One project led to another, and lasting relationships were made. I especially appreciate the bonds formed with directors, cinematographers, editors. I worked with people who knew their stuff and it was humbling to be a part of their films. These were my formative film experiences. By the time I had graduated with a B.F.A. and won the Benning Award for “Outstanding Performance in Screen Acting”, I had a sizeable network of friends, colleagues, and some great footage.

I was lucky to graduate before the pandemic, but it cut my time in LA short. I’ve since grown my career in NYC, joined SAG-AFTRA, booked national commercials, and more recently, television guest/co-star spots. Some dream roles of mine are: space odyssey, apocolyse thrillers, and historical fiction.

In the mean time, I continue to take classes, communicate with my reps, and update my material!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Some people struggle to understand the nature of the creative process itself. Emphasis on process- it’s NOT perfect right away. The majority of the time it’s trial/error, discovery, and learning from your mistakes. It takes patience.

Just because someone hasn’t booked in a couple of months doesn’t mean they haven’t been auditioning or getting callbacks. An audition invitation is a HUGE win. With selftapes here to stay the actor is mostly left on their own to be camera operator, editor, director, AND compete with hundreds, sometimes thousands of other submissions- much more since COVID. That being said, I learn something new every audition and it’s a great opportunity for casting directors to get to know my work.

As more actors fight for opportunity, it’s becoming increasingly necessary to distinguish ourselves from the competition. Better footage, headshots, audition choices, etc… There are many ways to do so, but the bottom line is that this industry truly demands greatness if you want to succeed. An actor needs to be on top of their material, network, and talent.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Having a record of my footage. I enjoy being able to show friends and family what I’ve been working on. Even more, I can see myself getting better and better. It serves as an important reminder of who I’ve met, where I’ve been, and where I’m going.

When I watch old projects of mine, I find myself appreciating a performance I gave that I’d originally been critical of. I’m reminded of just how great an opportunity it was, of how much fun I had, and humbled by the hard work that went into making it.

I love being on set. I like working as a team and meeting passionate, smart people. I make a point to remember names. Oftentimes I learn the most not by acting, but by watching because there’s so much talent around. The education never stops.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kendallslocum.com
• Instagram: @kendallslocum
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/0g_9ErSo2uU

Image Credits

Will Hart, Stefano Carannante, Jeffrey Mosier.