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

Alright, Luna thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights 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?

It’s truly a blessing to be able to say that I earn a full-time living by providing an audition taping service for actors. What’s crazy is that I initially bought all the equipment for myself. I had no intentions on creating a business, but rather started taping friends for fun and gradually learned about all the technical aspects of self-taping (framing, lighting, optimal camera settings, etc.) purely through trial and error.

My friend Juani expressed to me that she believed many actors would enjoy working with me. Her words meant a lot to me because I know she doesn’t give out compliments lightly.

As word of mouth spread, requests started coming in from actors I didn’t know and I realized I had a potential business opportunity. I only started charging people when I knew I could offer a valuable service that I myself would be willing to pay for.

For starters, I wanted to take care of all the tech stuff, so that the actor could focus on what matters the most: their performance. Self-taping can be overwhelming, and it’s easy to get sidetracked by technical details like lighting, sound quality, and finding someone to read with you.

To promote my business, I made a separate Instagram account dedicated to showcasing the success stories of actors who have used my audition taping service. I regularly post about what they did in their auditions that stood out to me. Having an internet presence, combined with positive word of mouth, has been the foundation of my ongoing success from the very beginning.

The journey has been an exciting one, and I’m still in awe of how much my business has taken off. I believe that my commitment to learning every aspect of the audition taping process before launching my business was key to its success. By taking my time and not rushing the process, I was able to provide a high-quality service that actors could rely on and enjoy, which led to a steady stream of referrals and new business.

Something that I’ve had to figure out early on was tailoring each session to the individual needs of the actor and gauging where they’re at emotionally and mentally on that day. I know that actors come in with different levels of stress and anxiety, and with my background in therapy and yoga, I aim to create a comfortable and fun environment for them to let loose and showcase their skills.

There were moments of self-doubt in the beginning, especially with imposter syndrome creeping in. I don’t have the most substantial resume and that can play a number in my head. I remembered thinking, what if someone thinks I’m a complete hack? Then I think about the wise words of my acting coach, Anthony Abeson, who says that he’s not everyone’s cup of tea. To hear that statement from one of the most established acting coaches in the industry, that’s something that really stayed with me and has helped me overcome moments of self-doubt.

Now, after six years of running my business, I’m still in love with what I do, and I feel incredibly grateful for the lovely community of actors I get to work with every day.

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

As a former NCAA Tennis Player with a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy, I often get asked how I ended up in the entertainment industry. Believe it or not, it all started with my love for the movie Conan the Destroyer, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. As a kid, I couldn’t get enough of the magic, sorcery, and sword-fighting.

Years later, after obtaining two college diplomas, a Master’s degree, and pursuing a career in Social Work, I decided to fulfill my childhood dream of becoming an actor and taking up martial arts again. Sometimes, we forget to dream as adults, but the child in us often had it right the first time.

One day, while working at the Cheesecake Factory, I had the chance encounter of dropping off a Chinese Chicken Salad for an agent, who gave me the invaluable advice to study with Anthony Abeson. Following her advice, I joined Anthony’s class and never wanted to leave. Soon after, I had the honor of sharing the screen with Susan Sarandon, Naomi Watts, Aidan Quinn, and Donnie Wahlberg.

And, thanks to Hinds Combat Sports opening up in my neighborhood, I took up Muay Thai, which led me to Thailand for three months of training at a Muay Thai camp. Not long after, I added Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Tae Kwon Do to my training. It’s been a journey of following my dreams and stepping into my gifts.

As an actor myself, I know firsthand how important it is to have strong on-camera auditioning skills. That’s why I started investing in self-taping equipment – I wanted to be better prepared and take control of my own auditioning process. Unfortunately, like many actors, I’ve had my share of self-taping disasters, from bad lighting to poor sound quality, which can be incredibly frustrating when they take away from the actual audition.

As someone who has experienced the ups and downs of being an actor, I wanted to create a self-taping service that truly resonated with other actors. It’s not just about capturing their performances on camera, but creating an environment where actors can feel supported and empowered to give their best performances. When actors walk through my door, I make sure they feel welcomed and heard, and that we work together to create the best audition tape possible.

I also feel incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to train with some of the most highly regarded teachers in the industry. Whenever an actor comes to me for help with their audition tape, I’m more than happy to provide them with any notes or feedback that I think could help them improve their performance. When working with actors, I like to see their interpretation first. This allows me to get a sense of how they approach their character and what they want to do with the material.

From there, I ask questions that help them delve deeper into their thought process. I may ask them about their character’s past experiences, their relationships with other characters, or any specific memories that their character may have. These questions help the actor flesh out their character and bring more depth and nuance to their performance.

When it comes to constructive feedback, I have to go there with actors. If something isn’t landing or reading, I tell them. But, I do it in a kind and honest way and I think actors appreciate that.

Working with actors is such a rewarding experience for me. I love being able to help them discover new layers to their performances and bring their characters to life in a way that feels authentic and engaging. Seeing their growth and progress is incredibly fulfilling and I feel so grateful to be a part of their journey. Celebrating their successes with them, whether it’s booking a role or nailing an audition, is one of the most satisfying feelings in the world.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I first started auditioning on-camera, I was extremely self-conscious and overly focused on doing things “right,” which made it difficult for my acting to translate on camera.

To make matters worse, when I submitted self-tapes to casting directors for feedback, I received harsh criticism about my lack of charisma and presence. It was a difficult period for me, but thankfully, a good friend stepped in to help.
During one hangout session, he decided to record me just being myself. Watching the footage, I saw a version of myself that was alive, free, and engaging. I realized that I needed to let go of my self-consciousness and start having fun with my craft.

To challenge myself to be free in my body I began taking a variety of classes, including: hip hop, contemporary dance, pole dancing, heels, gymnastics, and various forms of martial arts. I also worked with a private coach to improve my voice, diction, and resonance.

To further develop my on-camera presence, I started recording myself in my everyday life, capturing moments where I was relaxed and in the moment. I would simply let the camera roll as I moved around my living space.

Eventually, these efforts paid off. When I submitted a self-tape for a casting director workshop a while back, she gave me the following feedback, “You are so magnetic, I would watch you read a phonebook.” It was an incredible validation of all the hard work and personal growth I had undergone.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

As a child, I had big dreams and aspirations. As an adult, the process of choosing a college major proved to be quite overwhelming. I ultimately decided on pursuing a double major in Psychology and Communication, but after graduation, I found myself at a loss for what to do next.

During my year off, I worked as a manager at Hollister Co. and also provided companionship for a remarkable woman named Jane Hardester, who had a background in opera singing. It was Jane who suggested that I pursue a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy, and I decided to collect more degrees and certifications along the way, such as TESL (Teaching English as Second Language) and Vinyasa Yoga.

After graduating from Hofstra University with a 4.0 GPA and earning my Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy, I failed my licensing exam by just one point. One! Despite this setback, I was able to secure a full-time position as a Social Worker at Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth.

During this time, I found solace and excitement in my weekend acting classes in the city. It was something I had always enjoyed as a hobby, but never considered it as a potential career.

However, six years later, when the Social Work program was eliminated due to budget cuts, I saw it as a sign from the universe that it was time to take my passion for acting seriously. It was a terrifying, but thrilling decision, and I knew that I had to take the leap and pursue acting full time.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/lunatieu

Image Credits
Deborah Lopez