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

Alright, Kris thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

When I first began my acting journey I had a natural charisma, and desire to make people happy and to help them escape.

Natural acting ability, instinct and drive are important foundational elements to have, but you need proper training to really thrive.

At the age of 7 my parents signed me up for acting and modeling lessons. To this day I still upgrade my coaching and acting lessons with both private and group lessons.

Actors need to be able to work with other actors and effectively “play” in very controlled situations where multiple variables are happening simultaneously. We also need to build and strengthen our imaginations. This is especially important when special effects come in, and we’re basically miming.

There can be a lot of distractions as an actor that can take you out of the moment in a scene if you don’t have the proper training. Multiple cameras are on you, the crew is often moving about, the director and many other people on set are watching you, plus you may have to impersonate, or have an accent, the lines may be complicated… and not how you would speak naturally, the weather may be bad, the wardrobe may be uncomfortable… there are so many more variables that you have to either focus on or shut out.

Without proper training it would be difficult to cultivate the skills and confidence needed to overcome the obstacles and stay very involved in the moment.

Kris , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started acting very young. My parents were very supportive of me training and have an acting and modelling hobby. I don’t think they expected it to stick. There was a lot of resistance to my idea of making a career out of it, as most parents don’t feel like performing is a “real job”.

My first love was singing, and I pushed back against a lot of naysayers who argued against me pursuing my performance career. It made it extra difficult to build confidence without support. In that process I made several attempts to pacify people’s ideas of normal, and their insistence on me having a back up plan. It lead me down a destructive journey. I had withdrawn from two college programs; Journalism, and Business Administration when I realized how much time and money I wasting trying to make others happy by denying myself. Since then I’ve been all in as a performer.

It’s been a huge challenge to go against the grain and often not be considered “normal” because of my career choice and subsequent lifestyle. Despite many challenges I have stuck it out, and because of my persistence, talent and training, I’ve been blessed with incredible opportunities.

The creative services that I provide are acting, hosting, singing, and most recently; social media influencer brand partnerships.

I help brands and storytellers relay their message to audiences.

I am most proud of my resilience. Life can be challenging. You need to have a fortitude of spirit to be great at anything. I attribute my fortitude to my faith. Without my reliance and relationship with Jesus, my Lord and saviour, surely I would not have come this far. I can do all things because he strengthens me.

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

I love to see people escape. Life can be hard.

When someone can forget what they are going through and get lost in a performance, I think that is a beautiful thing. I especially love the community that happens with performing, it brings people together. Often times a performance creates new memories for people, things that can mark a time in their own lives.

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

I don’t think there is such a thing as a non-creative. Every work requires an aspect of creation or imagination.

Respective to the arts, I think most people are fearful of stigmas. They warn people about things that scare them, or that they feel are out of reach for them. When I tell people I’m an actress, the thing I hear most in reply is ” I always wanted to be an actor”.

If someone has a calling on their life and has a desire combined with a strategy to accomplish something, stand clear, move out of the way, and aid them in their journey. The place inside of you who feels unfulfilled will feel hopeful when you see other people accomplishing their goals. It will motivate you to obtain and go for your dreams. It’s a very reciprocal process to be generous with your well wishes for others and support. Don’t be surprised if it’s returned to you tenfold!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.krisorticello.com
• Instagram: @krisorticello
• Facebook: @krisorticello
• Twitter: @kriss_o

Image Credits
Jeffrey Miller