Today we’d like to introduce you to Kasian Wick.
Kasian, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When I was younger, the only thing I ever talked about was movies. I was obsessed with upcoming releases—to the point where my mother would get annoyed. I knew I had to do something related to film when she told me “Can you not talk about movies for five minutes” and I could not
In elementary and middle school, I participated in school plays, but I never truly loved acting. My high school didn’t have a theater program, so I didn’t think much about performing. What I did love, though, was creating characters and writing stories. Every day on the bus ride home, I would jot down ideas, building worlds and narratives in my head.
When I moved out for the first time, I decided to give acting another shot—just to try something new. To my surprise, I enjoyed it a lot more than I remembered. I started booking roles and even got an agent. As I continued writing stories, I noticed a pattern: every character I created was someone my age, almost as if I was writing roles for myself. That realization led me to shift my focus from writing to acting. I knew I needed to move to LA, but before I did, I set three major goals:
1# Build a strong resume with at least one noticeable role.
2# Put together a solid acting reel.
3#Save at least $10,000 to start fresh.
In 2021, I worked tirelessly to achieve these goals, and by the end of the year, I had completed two out of the three. I was willing to wait another year before making the big move—but then tragedy struck. My mother passed away.
She was my greatest inspiration, the one constant in my life. She shaped me into the person I am today and was one of the main reasons I pursued film. We often argued about when I should move to LA or If I should, but deep down, I think she always wanted me to chase my dreams. I can’t confirm it, but I believe one reason my family moved to California before I did was, so I’d have the support when I eventually made the leap.
My mother had been battling pancreatic cancer since 2019. She beat it once, but when it returned, it came back even stronger. In the final months of 2021, when she passed away, I made a split-second decision: I was already in California for the funeral, so why not stay?
I moved in with my stepdad and began looking for a place. Grief clouded my judgment, and in my rush to leave my mom’s house, I fell for a scam. I lost half of my savings, leaving me with far less than I had planned. But just a week later, I found an agent, a job, and a real apartment—all in the same week. A unicorn, I called it.
As I started acting in LA, I also focused on healing. I joined a grief therapy support group. At first, I hated it—being the only guy there, combined with it being virtual, made me feel out of place. But over time, I grew to appreciate it. I realized how important it was—not just for me, but for others going through the same pain. Grief is one thing we’re all destined to face at some point in life.
That realization inspired me to write my screenplay, Group—a film about people who, despite their differences, discover they have more in common than they ever imagined. I truly believe this film can change lives. When you’re grieving, it can feel isolating, like no one understands, like people are walking on eggshells around you. But Group is meant to show that it’s okay to feel that way and that therapy isn’t a weakness—it’s a tool that can help you move forward.
I still act and write, and I’m currently working on two other projects that I’m excited to make. But Group is the big one. It’s the film I want to bring to life because I know it can help people understand that they’re not alone.
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?
No, it hasn’t been easy—not even close. Like I said earlier, my mom’s passing hit me hard, and losing half of my savings to a scam made it even worse. Even after making it to LA, I faced another blow: I got laid off in July 2023.
I pulled from everything—my savings, my retirement—just to stay and keep going. But it still wasn’t enough. I had no choice but to move back into my mom’s house. It was the strangest, most painful experience—living there without her. For the first time, I was in that house alone. I still had my stepdad and my little brother but there always felt like something was missing.
But I persevered. I worked, I saved up and eventually made enough to move back to LA—this time, with a friend.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I want to change the way we view therapy and show just how beneficial it can be. As a society, we’re getting there, but I can’t stress enough how important it is. Group therapy saved me. I was suicidal, not caring whether I lived or died. I wasn’t okay. I lost friends. I felt hopeless. But therapy gave me a second chance.
Now, I want to make an impact—big or small. If this film helps even one person understand that it’s okay to feel what they feel that they’re not alone, then I’ve done my job. More than anything, I want my work to matter and to help people
I also have my own clothing brand that I started also in honor of my mom because I felt like we would do something like that in the future, what’s cool about my clothing brand is that for every purchase 73 percent of what I make will go to cancer research AND what I make left over from the cancer research goes to the funding of my film “Group”
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t know if it was luck, but at one of my lowest points, I found myself struggling to decide—should I move back home or stick it out in LA? I asked the universe for a sign.
Shortly after, I went for a walk to clear my head while still questioning how I would even recognize a sign if I saw one. That’s when I looked down at the sidewalk and saw a lottery ticket. No, it wasn’t a winning ticket, but at the top, it had the number 777.
People say 777 is a lucky number in horoscopes, but for me, it means something much deeper. My mom’s birthday had three 7’s in it she was born in 1973, 73 meant 3 7’st and 7 × 3 = 21 which is the year she passed away. I even have a tattoo that represents this connection.
After finding that ticket, things slowly started shifting. I got some exciting auditions and felt like opportunities were coming my way. I didn’t end up booking that audition, but who knows? Maybe it will come back around in a way I don’t expect. I believe everything is connected—you either make the connections yourself, or they were already there waiting to be found.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kasian.wick/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kasian_wick
- Other: https://www.bonfire.com/store/kas-klothing-1/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZOPy4viPH9hdSElY9icvCkxHnIOuGhAyf37DjapUFJT3TX8LYdD5rCgO4_aem_81iIniEqCZErSleGZHAmuA
Image Credits
https://www.instagram.com/laviient/ – Shirtless photo and blue :I hoodie
https://www.instagram.com/jhotophoto/ – Blurry multiple people photo
https://www.instagram.com/photosbykunal/ – Main photo
