We were lucky to catch up with Vivian Ahn recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Vivian thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

My first paid job as a creative was for Supercuts. After rejected by countless auditions and projects, for the first time I got a call back for the Supercuts project. I was super excited! We were always told that the role of an actor is to book the room and getting a call back is a big win. My career coach once said, “Being an actor is very tough. It is said that the average booking rate is about 1%. Therefore, for each rejection each no you get, you have to see it as one step closer to that yes!”

Many times I ask myself, do I really have what it takes to be successful in this business? Do I have the look, the talent, the stamina, the luck? The question remains unanswered. Friends and family constantly ask me when will I put a deadline to the infinite waiting and trying? All I know is I don’t want to give up now! This is what I wanted to do since I was 5!

The first booking proved that never giving up is the right thing to do. And that I do have the look, the talent and the luck!

Vivian, 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?

Growing up I have movie-loving parents and even now my parents still love watching movies. When I was young, whenever I walked out of the movie theatre, I remember wishing I was one of the characters. I loved reading too. I would read anything, biographies, fairy tales, mythologies, non-fictions. No one taught me how, but I wrote my first script when I was 6. Later on, when I was going to Chinese schools, I wrote, directed and edited my first short film starring my sister and my cousins. I didn’t have any professional equipments, I just used the camcorder in the house and edited the tape using the tape recorders.

When I was 12, I finally told my parents that I want to be an actor, but they just said, “movies are just a form of entertainment, not a job.” Since then I knew if I wanted to pursue this path, I am the only one that I can rely on. After taking my first acting workshop, I realized acting is extremely difficult. It is not as easy as all of the great actors made it seem to be. I was terrified of theatre acting, but camera acting is just as hard and very technical too! So I started doing a lot of research on acting schools and I fell in love with Stella Adler’s acting techniques. Without telling my parents, I quit my job and moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. In 2012, I graduated from Stella Adler’s 2 year intensive acting program.

Along the way, not only on-camera and theatre acting, I also learned and fell in love with voice acting too!

The whole journey to where I am now, I constantly doubted myself, but I slowly overcame my insecurities. I learned Astrology because I needed something else to give me the confidence that this is the path that’s meant for me! Maybe everything is written in the stars, I thought. And I do have the talent and the potential to be a performer. However, what I learned is that, inner strength and having faith in yourself is the key! Never giving up and keep striving is the key! The courage to stand up for yourself when everyone tells you no is the key! Not afraid to take risks for something you are passionate about is the key! Acting made me a better person and I am grateful everyday for the decision I made 15 years ago to finally take my first acting class!

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

Yes, I really want to prove to myself, family and the world that I can do this! I was really depressed every day before I finally made the decision to move to L.A. In the middle of the night, I would sit in the dark asking myself, “Is this the life I envision to live for the rest of my life?” And I knew the answer already, and it has always been a “No!”

I remember my acting teacher once said, “No one remembers who the first accountant is or the first lawyer… But everyone knows the great artists and their works are kept and treasured worldwide!” I don’t need to be the famous actress that people remember decades later, but I would love to tell stories that people can resonate deeply with, that can touch their hearts, impact and inspire them and be remembered for the rest of their lives.

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

I used to work a 9-6 desk job and doing the same things everyday. Each day, it would take me an hour to drive to work and then another hour to drive back home. It drove me crazy! I liked the routine but at the same time resented the routine. It felt uninspiring and every day during the 2 hours drive, all I can think about is how can I quit the job and yet still be able to pay all of my bills and make a living.

Not having enough money or financial stability is probably one of the biggest reasons that stopped most people from taking a risk. However, I remembered at my acting workshop, we were told to “Never make decisions based out of fear!” This is the first time I followed my heart’s desire and not let fear stop me. It was the best decision I’ve ever made. Since then, I always followed the motto , and I have never regretted any decisions I made based out of love and passion.

The best and most rewarding aspect of being an artist is that everyday is a challenge. Yes, my financial situation fluctuates, but I have never felt so free and inspired as well as happy every single day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vivianahn.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VivianAhn/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ActorVivianAhn/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ActorVivianAhn/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VivianAhn/
• Other: https://www.weibo.com/vivw

Image Credits
Studio Atoz