We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tori Sen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tori, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

Yes, I am happy as an artist and creative. I am grateful to be able to pursue what I love and there is nothing I would rather do. However, being an artist entails a wide range of emotions. One cannot be happy all the time, but I am an artist all the time as it is a part of my identity whereas happiness, like any other emotion, is fleeting by nature. I feel more like myself when I’m being creative, which in turn leads to more consistent moments of happiness and authenticity. Even the moments of sadness are somehow beautiful when you’re an artist. I believe some of the most beautiful art comes from pain, so I channel my emotions and my pain into my art as an outlet, resulting in some of my best work. I have had and currently do have a “regular” corporate 9-6 job to support myself as many artists do when first starting out. I work in sales at Warner Bros. in order to be able to pursue my art. While it is a business role, I like that it is still related to the entertainment industry. Practicing my art does not feel like work since it’s something I love, but there is still lots of hard work involved in succeeding such as applying, putting yourself out there, having to vouch for and market yourself, etc. However, I am happy to do that work since it is for myself and in my best interest, as opposed to working for a corporation where all my efforts benefit the company. While it can be difficult to juggle a traditional job as well as my creative career, I am happy to make these sacrifices to continue pursuing what I love. Even if I was not able to pursue it as a career or ever succeed, it wouldn’t negate the joy that practicing my art brings me.

Tori, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have been involved in the arts from a very young age- singing, dancing, performing in all of my school’s plays and musicals, etc. I always knew I wanted to pursue the arts as more than just hobbies, so once I moved to NYC for university, I continued my training and began putting myself out there- applying to agencies, going to castings and auditions, performing at open mics, etc. My first time acting on a real set was in 2021 for HBO Max’s Gossip Girl reboot. I immediately felt at home and as though a fire started in me. I loved the feeling of being on set, meeting and connecting with like-minded creatives with similar interests, and learning about the production process. I graduated from Fordham University in 2022 with a Global Business degree and began working at Warner Bros. in the sales department, but I continue to pursue my creative passions simultaneously, appearing in several music videos and short films. With the current SAG-AFTRA strike, I have been more focused on modeling work through my agency, Cano Management, as well as working on some new original music. I am excited to continue my journey and share my creativity with the world.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission and goal driving my creative journey is to evoke an emotional response from my audience. I believe one of the marks of great art is its ability to make people feel something, whether it be a laugh, a cry, or an eyebrow raise. It is far too easy for people to grow out of touch with their emotions in the society we live in; one that judges us for caring too much, pushes phrases like build a bridge and get over it, is unkind to the sensitive who feel every word like a dagger. One that teaches us that it is not practical to emote so strongly in the capitalist environment in which we live because it hinders our productivity. My goal is to create art that nurtures the emotionally intelligent and encourages those who may not be as in touch with their emotions to dig a little deeper and avoid suppressing because feeling is an undervalued superpower. My favorite movies and songs have brought out intense feelings in me, feelings that I cannot even put into words, whether it be a chord structure that elicits feelings of nostalgia, or an acting performance that leaves me with no choice but to empathize with the character. Certain stories need to be told to comfort, inspire, or teach an audience, so if someone witnesses my art and feels something, mission accomplished.

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

Aside from the seeing impact my art has on my audience, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is transforming my pain into something beautiful. The self-expression and vulnerability required to be an artist, while initially daunting, is freeing and cathartic. The attention to detail necessary in my primary art forms makes me more appreciative for the little things in life. Playing a character who is completely different from who I am as a person strengthens my empathy since I am quite literally putting myself in that character’s shoes. In essence, while the final product is what sells, the journey is the most rewarding facet of the creative process.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/171sSvEDP5xhaMv5TtULMGDSB35mWy5yV
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tori.sen/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tori-sen-712955183/

Image Credits
Kevin Link, Ola Wilk, Jason Bates, Danny Higgs, Vante