We recently connected with Sarah Ann Santos and have shared our conversation below.

Sarah Ann, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I started as a background actor 5 years ago and I loved working in film so l studied the actions happening in film, from cast to crew. I have learned things that can help me in this industry – like being fit, resilient, professional and staying kind and nice to people whatever their profession.

I knew a local actor who advised me that I should sign up with an agent and try to do acting as he thought I have a unique face. Shortly after that, the shutdown of film came, so I took as many free acting classes as I could. I then found myself signing up for longer acting classes and IATSE film classes and working out to be fit and strong. I joined sports, learned stuntwork and just keep being active as well in modeling and runway. I did sign up with an agent and Volition Management getting hundreds of auditions and to this day, I am still submitting, getting callbacks and bookings. Doing all of this, takes much time, dedication and passion because as an actor, we are not paid until we are booked onto set.

If this were easy, everyone would be doing it, right?

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a graduate of Hotel and Restaurant Management and worked as a hotelier in the Philippines and Egypt. After immigrating here more than two decades ago, I worked as an Admin Manager for Armed Services YMCA. My main job was to assist the returning wounded warriors from Iraq and Afghanistan at the Naval Medical Center – booking over 500 flights for their family visits, providing over 2000 baseball and football suite tickets to the ill and wounded warriors & family and also to active duty members who were taking care of the military patients at the hospital. I also travelled to 19 countries and lived in 4 countries as part of my journey.

My life as a creative artist makes me happy because I am increasing my artistic skills each time I work. I learn from mistakes made on my eye-line, my spoken lines, or my character emoting. The same goes with pose modeling, feeling every part of my body as I project where to put my fingers and position my legs and how I arch my body to look correct in camera. Projecting my face and movement in that frame is so important because people look at it and will criticize every movement. So I have to keep training how to be a better actor, model, stuntperson, or film crew. There is a saying, as a stuntperson, training is very important so you will bleed less in a battle. Keep your physique ready for anything they require you to do while on set.

I am proud to say that I have done well in modeling, I was able to walk in 9 runway shows in my first year and book for 3 more native fashion runway shows that are happening soon. I was one of the models selected to be in a designer photo shoot for Jasmyne’s Jewelry & Couture in preparation for her upcoming Hawaiian Fashion Show. I was also featured in a few commercials where friends noticed me on the screen and let me know they saw me.

Looking back, I didn’t get many opportunities at all when I first started. Working hard and keeping disciplined has brought me to this level and learning from people who criticized me. Believe me, everyone can do better in their chosen field but never underestimate a very determined person.

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

Always think positive, choose friends that believe in you and learn from people that put you down. Stay away from negative people and show them what you can do after. Love yourself first and have fun!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I had a friend tell me that I was not special which stuck in my mind because I feel everyone has their own God given talent to show. I was told that l was not marketable, but that didn’t stop me from believing in myself because I worked with nice Casting Directors that trusted me. And I got bookings for commercials, designer shoots, signed a contract with a designer, and bookings for runway shows. I get call backs now because I did not stop auditioning and working in my craft. No matter what age you are, you can still do better than you did decades ago. I was a badminton athlete in my college years and am playing better now than in my younger years because I have learned so much from others.

I prayed for guidance and promised myself, I will show my best to the world, I can and will do it better next time. I thank all my Casting Directors, my Talent Manager Geneva of Volition Entertainment, the fashion designers who trusted me to represent their fine work on stage, and my friends and family who have had my back. They are my greatest support and I am honored to have them in my circle of life. Thank you for being part of my journey and for your time to know my story.

Contact Info:

• Website: Https:Imdb.me//sarahannsantos
• Instagram: @Sarahann0180
• Facebook: @SarahSD

Image Credits

Photographed by: Morning Glory Studios
( in a japanese robe)
Photographed by: Davee Spirit
( Black outfit)
In white suit- taken from my Iphone