We were lucky to catch up with Samantha Van Sickle recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Samantha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

One of the most common questions you get after telling someone you work in the entertainment industry is “so what do you do for money?” or “what’s your side hustle?”. There’s absolutely no shame in working hard to keep your dream alive, in fact, it’s inspiring. However, after working for over 6 years professionally in various fields, I’ve discovered something beautiful… There are SO many jobs that need to be filled within the industry, so at the end of the day, your “side hustle” can just so happen to be a stepping stone for your end goals, and in turn, you’re technically making your living with a job that coincides with your creative work.

Early on, I knew I wanted to work both behind the camera and in front of it, and I decided that my strengths were in acting and producing. I’ve worked a variety of jobs: equipment check-out clerk, a reader for an actor taping studio, actor, director, editor, accounting clerk, payroll clerk, wardrobe assistant, locations manager, casting assistant, casting director, production coordinator, associate producer, producer, set PA, office PA… the list could go on.

The point is that all of these jobs were research and networking opportunities. Whatever your creative goal is in the tv/film industry, knowing how all of the pieces come together is essential.

You aspire to be an actor? Working as a reader is an amazing way to get a peek at how other actors work, and in some cases, you know what booked a role. Or if you work as a casting assistant, you’re networking with a CD who may be more likely to give you an opportunity to audition because you’re a familiar face and they trust your professionalism. Or if you cast your own project, you’ll get an even better idea of what CDs go through, and you’ll discover for yourself that mythical “booking factor”… and you’ll probably learn to cut yourself some slack because more times than not, the decision is a close call, and you might be that actor that they didn’t book, but will keep you in their minds for the next opportunity.

You aspire to be a producer? Working in as many fields as you can sharpens your ability to make educated decisions. You need to know how each piece of the puzzle fits in before you can run an efficient set. It’s also a way to get teams together. I’ve been so blessed to work with people on other shows who have been willing to work on my independent sets because they believed in me after working with me in some other capacity. And if you can learn even the basics of editing, it will help you make decisions that will help you not run into problems in post, and in turn, will make your final project that much better.

You aspire to be a screenwriter? Knowing the ins and outs of production and post-production will help you to fine tune elements in your script that may be great for a multi-million dollar production budget, but if you’re writing for a low-budget independent feature or short, you’ll be able to understand why some aspects need to be adjusted for the production you’re writing for.

I’m lucky to say that all of my income lately has come solely from acting, producing, and associate producing, so I feel like I’ve finally crossed into the “earning a full-time living from my creative work” category, and I don’t think it wouldn’t have happened this early in my lifetime without the many other jobs in the industry that have gotten me here.

After co-founding Time Fray Productions in 2020, we’ve been working hard on development for a variety of projects, and I believe soon I will be able to make my full-time living from producing solely for Time Fray, and if I continue to work hard and audition, I can make a living from my acting as well.

Cheers to all the fellow creatives out there. I hope this might’ve helped in some way. Keep on hustling. I believe in you.

Samantha, 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?

My name is Samantha Noel Van Sickle, and I’m an actor/producer/music artist.

I got into the industry early on, because my middle and high schools all had acting and production programs, so I worked my way up to a producer role at each school and landed a few lead roles in our plays and musicals.
I then went to Florida State University where I majored in Digital Media Production with minors in Business and Psychology. I’ve continued my education through programs with University of Southern California and UCLA Extension.

I worked a variety of jobs in the industry, but most recently I’ve been working as:
-Actor represented by People Store Talent
-President/CEO of Time Fray Productions
-Associate Producer for Storyteller Studios which is a local production company that primarily makes movies that are distributed by Lifetime Movie Network
-Career Consultant

I think what sets me apart from others is my boundless curiosity and appreciation for all aspects of filmmaking, my ability to adapt easily, and the fact that I love connecting with people and genuinely hope the best for everyone I encounter.

I love to learn about other people and provide opportunities for them when I can. I also know how this industry is very “who you know”, so I like to connect people together that I think might be able to help each other.

A service I’ve started to provide and have been loving is my work as a career consultant. I help actors and creators to review materials and craft up a game plan based on their goals and where they are currently.
I have more information on my website (samanthavansickle.com).

Another venture I’ve embarked on is creating music. I’ve always written lyrics and loved to sing, but it wasn’t until recently that I decided to actually pursue it. I released my first single “Muse” by samantha van sickle, available on all streaming platforms, and I hope to release more music soon. It was my first song release so I didn’t know exactly what I was doing, so I didn’t submit it to playlists– so if anyone is feeling generous, go give it a listen and share it with your friends :)

I believe I’m most proud of all of the connections I’ve made so far, both for myself and for others. I’ve gotten many people jobs and to see them continue on their career’s trajectory after that initial stepping stone I was able to place for them warms my heart like no other. And nothing makes me feel more proud than when people I work with go out of their way to express how much they enjoy working with me.

We all emanate energy, and I try my best, even on hard days, to be a light in the sometimes crazy, stressful, and wild ride a film set can be.

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

I think the most common concern I get from non-creatives is “are you sure you can do it all?” In the hyphenated industry we’re in, it’s more common than not now to see actor-producer, producer-writer, actor-music artist, or some variation.

I understand the concern. It sounds crazy that out of hundreds of thousands of people, the brutal industry will choose you for even one of your goals, let alone multiple.

The downside is that there’s nothing in your control to change their minds. You just have to keep your nose to the grindstone, believe in yourself, and eventually you may get to have that “oh I’m so glad you didn’t listen to me” moment.

In terms of productivity and time management, what works for me might not work for everyone.
I find that working on each goal simultaneously helps me to not experience burnout. If I’m feeling overwhelmed, I’ll take a break and write some lyrics or play my guitar. Or I’ll focus on a project I’m producing if I’m feeling overloaded with auditions.

I utilize a productivity timer as well, which is one of the most amazing things I’ve bought to keep me on track. If I don’t feel motivated, I’ll set it for just 5-10 minutes, and anything I can get done in that time is better than nothing. I can also have timed breaks, so that I’m not sucked into the binge watching or scrolling void when I want to let my brain rest.
I also find that having apps with affirmations and motivational quotes help get me back on track because you have to learn how to hype yourself up.

I think at the end of the day, if you can prove your professionalism and work ethic in one job, you might just be given an opportunity to show what you’ve got for another, especially if you have experience and work to back it up.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is to be a part of creating. Sounds self explanatory and bleak, but the truth beneath it is so much deeper than that.

No matter what role you take on as a creative, getting to see something you have a part in being made feels surreal. The energy that surrounds you from development to on set, to post, and finally to the viewing of your final product is spellbinding.

Filmmaking is not a one person show– it takes a community, and to be a part of a community so vast and so expansive is the part that I find most fulfilling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.samanthavansickle.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samvansickle/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samanthavansickleofficial
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthanvansickle
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesamvan
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCjeSuWFSwaKOK5S3EPjQH9Q
• Other: https://www.timefrayproductions.com https://imdb.me/samanthanvansickle https://lnk.bio/samvansickle

Image Credits
Mike Glatzer, Lola Scott, Joshua Stringer