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

Hi Ovide, thanks for joining us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

This is the story on how I earned my first DOLLAR as a creative. I am specifying dollar because it was the first job I got after graduating from acting school here in the US, since I technically earned my first money as an actor back in Amsterdam (where I’m from).
I graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City this past February and submitted for this feature film project that really spoke to me a week later. It’s a movie based on a novel called Girl In A Glass Box by Raf Lindia and was going to be directed by Emmy award winner Blanche Baker. I submitted for the leading role Emily and got a self tape request a week later. I had to film a very emotional monologue that is the climax of the story. I decided to listen to my instinct and give the character a darker side to her. The same day after I submitted my self tape I received a call-back that said only 20 other girls from the 600 applications received one too.

And then there was the in-person audition where I had the real LaLaLand experience of entering a room with 20 other girls all going for the same part, all having the same features. I had to trust that if I do a good job at the audition, and the part is right for me, I will book it. But let’s be honest, all you can think is: “oh she looks exactly like Emily would, or oh she has probably much more experience than I do” etc. But I stayed calm and read my book on meditation while patiently waiting in the waiting room. I left the room feeling like that was the best audition I ever had and then letting the hope of getting the part go, because that’s what you have to do as an actor (after celebrating the feeling of doing a damn good audition of course).

And the next day, while being on the subway, I got an email from Raf Lindia himself asking if I could call him asap. The train was stuck for 3 minutes under ground and I can tell you that those were the longest three minutes of my life. When I got to the next stop I immediately got off the train and called him. “Hello?” he said. “Hi, this is Ovide” I replied. “Oh sorry, wrong number,- (my heart sunk)- I thought I was getting a call from Emily Barton.” I wanted to scream, but I held it in since that was in a very busy subway station and I would have probably raised panic if I did, but I think I had the biggest smile on my face I have ever had. I booked my dream job.

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

My name is Ovide and as no one has ever heard or seen this name before, it is pronounced “oh-vee-duh”. I am born and raised in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, but moved to New York City almost three years ago to pursue acting.

So, I always struggle with answering the question “Why did you want to be an actor?” Because to be honest, when you know what being an actor is really like, nobody “wants” to be one. In my opinion it just happens to you and you can’t fight the urge. What this urge is for me, is the human connection that acting is. I would even say acting is the ultimate human studies. You have to be fascinated by human beings and their behavior, and luckily, I am surrounded by them constantly.

What drives me personally is to tell stories that make my body and mind go “Omg… am I really doing this?” And what I mean by that is: we all have stories that embarras us, or make us feel ashamed, but when we realize EVERYBODY has these stories, it makes you feel a little better about yourself. Humor is very important to me, especially in the most painful drama. So I will always thrive to show the light within the dark.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I am not big on learning from reading, I learn by doing and experiencing, but one book that did really spoke to me was ‘The Actor’s Life’ by Jenna Fisher (who played Pam on The Office).

In her book she really talks about how resilient you need to be as an actor and shares very honestly all the hustling and embarrassing jobs and things she had to do before getting her break through after she had already been a working actor for eight years! How making mistakes is okay and your career isn’t over if you fuck up something. How success doesn’t happen over night. How you need. to. be. patient. with. your. journey.

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

Like I mentioned before, in my work as an actor, I strive to show or tell my weaknesses, or things I am embarrassed about, or painful situations in my life and how I overcame them. Because when other artists have done that, it made me feel so much better and happier about my life. I think that life can be so much more fun, and you as a person are so much more fun, when you can admit to your mistakes. Being able to say sorry, when you’ve fucked up, or being stubborn and saying: this is how I am, love me for it. I hope that by showing that, we as silly little human beings, living on this silly little planet, can become more connected instead of divided.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ovidevandervlist.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ovidevdvlist/

Image Credits

Bronwen Sharpe
Anna Perger