Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Gordon.
Hi Victoria, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m an LA native and the daughter of two LA natives–rare, I know. But my family had ties to the industry long before I was born. My paternal grandfather was a comedy writer who wrote for 40 straight television seasons and in radio before that. He wrote for all the greats: Jack Benny, Carol Burnett, Flip Wilson, even teenage Regina King on 227! My mother’s uncle, who was like a grandfather to me, was a symphony conductor, so everyone in my maternal family plays instruments. His orchestra, the Jr. Philharmonic Orchestra of California, is the oldest young people’s symphony in the state, and through his work, I got to meet so many incredible people in entertainment. Between my musical and comedy backgrounds, I was hooked on being on stage from a very young age, and I knew that I wanted to work in entertainment from the time I was little. Now, I work both in front of and behind the camera, or onstage and backstage, depending on what I’m doing. I sing cabaret (I’ve been called the “Queen of Classic Showtunes”) and direct and produce my solo singing shows. I also write, produce, direct, and act in film and TV productions, so I’ve definitely worked on a few different sides of production. I started producing my own work while I was still in college, and I’ve been at it ever since.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like everyone, I’ve faced twists and turns along the way. I’m really fortunate to have a great support system and a family that understands what a career in entertainment is like. But I started performing very young, which is challenging for even the best-supported child. I’ve had to fight for myself a lot, and again, luckily, my family is always there to help me. My parents went above and beyond to make sure I was always safe. I started producing at a young age, too, and on a very low budget, so a lot of people struggled to take me seriously. I would contact managers and agents to try to get actors and be met with all kinds of negativity. I just had to keep pushing through that and expect rejection. Which isn’t fun, don’t get me wrong, but it’s taught me that asking has zero consequences. Because of that, I’m less afraid to ask for what I want–I know that the worst I can hear is “no.” But sometimes, I get a “yes”!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m what I think the industry likes to call a “multi-hyphenate.” I act, write, produce, and sing. I’ve even done some directing, and because I’ve done a lot of smaller projects, I’ve done many of the behind-the-scenes jobs that usually go to others, like casting and art direction. I’m a lover of all things classic: classic television, classic showtunes, and classic people. I’ve often been told that I seem like I stepped out of a different era, so I embrace that in my work! I began singing when I was 12 and acting at 14. I made my Walt Disney Concert Hall debut at 13, and according to my dear friends who work backstage there, I am the youngest-ever person to perform solo with a full orchestra there. I won the IFS Film Festival Vanguard Award for Breakthrough Performance–this was, and remains, huge for me because the award has only been given once in the festival’s 30-year history: to me!
As a writer and producer, I’ve created several award-winning short films and TV pilots. My work has been seen throughout the US and Europe at film festivals and online. In 2020 and 2021, I took advantage of the time at home to create and produce a few projects, where I was able to use my acting and singing talents, too.
I performed ten bimonthly virtual cabarets between March and August of 2020 and developed a new show each time. It was a lot of work, but so worth it. My whole family participated, too. All the way down to my dog! I then performed two seasonal shows, one for Halloween and one for Christmas. But I decided to open 2021 with a totally different project.
I created, produced, and co-starred in Pilot Season, a series of five different comedy pilots that aired, week by week, this past winter and spring. Each episode set up its own series, and all were produced via Zoom. I called them “enhanced readings” because we had stock footage, music, and a mix of different shots, but we also never came into physical contact with any of the actors and performed in more of a reading style.
What’s next?
I just got to do my first in-person cabaret show, and I’m looking forward to doing more! I think we’re headed in a positive direction there, and I can see hybrid in-person/virtual musical events becoming popular. I also have some leads out on a few Pilot Season episodes. We may get to see more from one or two of these pilots! I’m also really, really grateful that I’ve been able to have such a productive year, despite, well, everything. But now that things are reopening and people are emerging again, I hope to connect with more people. I miss performing alongside others or collaborating on theater and film projects. I just miss that energy, and that’s something I’d love to have back.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thevictoriagordon.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevictoriagordon
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2GT4BrssBeDdNH_nyFAAxw
Image Credits:
Teren Oddo, Matt Kamimura, Temma Hankin, Brad Buckman, Vince Bucci
