We were lucky to catch up with Will Lindsey recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Will, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

On February 7th, 2019, I took the biggest risk of my life and moved to California to pursue a career in acting. I had lived in Florida my entire life, born in West Palm Beach, moved to Orlando for college then Tampa for College. I had never been that far away from family and now moving to a completely different coast and time zone. This was a step that my wife and I were taking that we were incredibly nervous about, but had faith in our craft and our ability to be adaptable that it would work out. The year prior was spent taking acting classes and preparing for IMTA (International Modeling & Talent Association) and depending on how that went, deciding what to do after the conference was over. The conference took place in Los Angeles, California in January of 2019, which was my first time ever being in Hollywood, which was so different from FL. After the conference was done, I had 10 callbacks on my list from Agents, Managers, and Casting Directors eager to speak 1-on-1 with me about my plans, goals, and possible signing. From that point I knew, it was time to move to California, and a month later my wife and I were in my car driving 12 hours a day on the road to a new beginning. Once we were settled in, we got to work. I signed with my first manager who later helped me sign with my first agent which led to me booking my first role as a principal character on a short film! It felt like everything began falling into place! Following that, I booked my first national commercial, then multiple commercials after that, all leading up to my first principal role in a feature length film, then COVID hit, and the world stopped. A career that seemed to be on the rise came to a halt, not just mine but a lot of actors, thankfully only for a short time, but once COVID was “over” the writers/SAG strike was right around the corner. Luckily, during this time, casting offices were having actors self-tape for roles opposed to actually going into the office for them. So being able to self-tape or have virtual auditions combined with our son being 1 at that time, we decided it was time to move back home to be closer to family. With this move back I was able to rekindle a friendship with a like-minded individual I had known a few years which allowed us to open up our own production company, Surfin’ Squatch Studios. Under this studio we wrote, produced and shot our first feature film “Worlds Apart” which will be premiering January 24th at the AMC in Disney Springs and will be streaming at a later date. The rest of the story is still being written, but I have faith that it will continue on a path that I can be extremely happy with.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I got into this industry after taking Theatre as an easy elective in High School, without knowing how much I would fall in love with it. I was always interested in movies and TV, like most people are but after being cast in my first role as ‘The Baker’ in “Into the Woods”, my perspective changed. My interest extended past just watching films and TV because that was the realm of media that I enjoyed, it began to click in my brain that I could or that I wanted to not just watch but help create. After being in multiple projects, every time I’m on set that feeling is always solidified and I know this is what I should be doing because this is what makes me the happiest and most excited to get out of bed to do. I am most proud of my inability to give up. This road hasn’t been incredibly difficult, but it hasn’t been easy either. Like most actors, I have received a lot of no’s, stayed up late to prepare or finish an audition, missed out on roles that I really wanted, or was so close to booking a role but ultimately lost to another actor. Despite all of that, I am still here pushing forward because one day it will work out and with the opening of the production studio, I have a feeling that day is coming soon.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

My most rewarding aspect of acting is being able to bring out emotions in the viewer. It makes me feel great knowing that my work caused them to respond accordingly. Whether it be laughter, happiness, anger, tears, or all of the above, being able to accurately convey an emotion that makes the audience feel something means that I am doing my job as an actor.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Something I think that can be a struggle to understand is the path to success. If someone wants to become a doctor, police officer, teacher or anything of the sort there is a set path which leads you to that result, starting with school and following the steps laid before you. However, being an actor or creative is much more like entrepreneurship, there are things that you can do that can have a positive impact on your career or possibly put you in the position to have that “big break”, like taking classes or going to workshops, but it is not guaranteed. Sometimes when an actor books a big role with only just starting out acting, some people tend to think it’s easy or think it should happen that quickly for everyone and wonder what’s going on with the person who’s been working at it for longer. In reality, those people that book big life changing roles quickly like that are among a very small percentage. Booking a big role also doesn’t always mean you’re set. Sometimes, depending on the role, once it’s done, you could be back grinding for the next one. This industry is a matter of hard work and dedication working towards that moment that makes it all worth everything done prior. That is what most of us are looking forward to.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @theerealwill
• Facebook: Will Lindsey
• Twitter: @theerealwill
• Other: TikTok: @theerealwill
  Red Note: @theerealwill

Image Credits

Surfin’ Squatch Studios