We were lucky to catch up with Tommy Ortman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Tommy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Like most young boys, I grew up trying to find myself within the sports scene. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the most coordinated on the field or the court, but I remember finding the most joy in making my teammates and coaches laugh. Whenever things weren’t going our way, I was somehow still able to keep the spirits high. I loved that they all appreciated having me there, and that kept me going through many seasons of strikeouts, dropped passes and missed jump-shots.

Fast forward a couple years later and I was watching Castaway with my dad. I remember, even as an 8 year-old, thinking how amazing it was that Tom Hanks could keep me so hooked in the wake of such a terrifying set of circumstances. And then it hit me. I wanted to be that guy too. I wanted to act, to perform! I wanted to play pretend and make people feel something. Since then, I’ve had the chance to pursue a career where I can be the same entertaining, goofy kid I was on those childhood teams.

Tommy , 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?

The truth of it all is, I have been able to pursue my acting career because of three things: support, risk-taking, and a little bit of luck.

I’ve had endless support from my entire family, especially my mom. From late night rehearsals to auditions halfway across the state, I wouldn’t be out in Los Angeles if she and the rest of my family didn’t believe in me.

Risk taking is free. I learned that from my first ever acting teacher and that is something that has defined my attitude towards the profession. It’s normal to be anxious, to be unsure, and to second guess. The acting game is a waiting game, but it’s also a “go get ’em” game. I am currently creating my first ever short film and am taking steps to become more than just an actor. This industry is all about taking those free risks.

Lastly, I have been lucky. There isn’t much more to this one except that I personally believe in karma. I want to put positive energy out into the world and hopefully the world will be kind to me back. It’s crucial to be constantly working on yourself as a human if you ever want to consider a career in the performing arts. Be someone people want to work with. It’s one thing to book a gig, it’s another thing to book the room.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Growing up in Chicago, I knew that Los Angeles was the place I needed to go in order to get my career off the ground. I wanted to join a conservatory style program that would solely help me focus on the craft of acting. I desperately wanted a BFA program.

When I was accepted to USC’s BA program, however, I jumped at the chance to get out here and see what I could make of my education. It was an extremely intense first year of adapting socially and physically to the LA climate, as well as working my tail off in all of my classes. I was exhausted, but it was a welcome exhaustion. At the end of the year, I received an email from the head of undergraduate acting requesting my presence in her office. She had recognized the work I was putting in and formally asked if I’d like to join the BFA program starting my sophomore year.

I graduated from USC in May of 2022 with a BFA in Acting for the Stage, Screen, & New Media.

This decision to take a risk and move out to LA helped me gain PLENTY of new friends, mentors, and creative colleagues. I was even able to get representation right after graduation thanks to USC’s BFA showcase. Although my love of acting didn’t begin (and certainly didn’t end) at USC, to say it wasn’t a driving force in my journey would simply be a lie.

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

I think a lot of non-creatives may have a certain misconception that the risks involved in choosing this career path outweigh the benefits. I truly cannot think of anything in this world I would rather do than perform at some capacity.

Being a creative doesn’t mean earning enough money to make a living from your art. I make decent enough money from the restaurant industry while still being able to audition consistently (Tip your servers). To me, being a creative means having the freedom to explore life through whichever lens you want.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I would love to do nothing other than act for the rest of my life. If one day I found myself on the next “Friends” level show as the new Chandler, that would be a dream come true. But until then (and most certainly even after), my love for performing does/will prevent me from worrying about my future. As long as I’m breathing and there are stories to be told, I’ll be happy.

Contact Info:

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Image Credits

Sean Kara