Today we’d like to introduce you to Rob LaColla.
Hi Rob, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up in a very blue-collar, hard working family where the arts weren’t looked at as a pursuable “career.” My father worked at IBM for 40 years and my mother was an elementary school teacher. However, I always loved Broadway theatre and movies as a child, especially music. I played the drums at an early age and had dreams of pursuing music in college. Graduating high school during the recession in 2008, I realized getting a job in the arts wouldn’t be as easy as I thought, so I decided to use my athletic background to get me into a good college with a promising degree. I played division 1 baseball at Manhattan College where I graduated with a Civil Engineering degree in 2012. It wasn’t until five years into my engineering career I knew I wouldn’t be able to shake my desire to pursue some form of entertainment, whether it be music or film. One of the biggest decisions I had to make in my life was when I decided to leave a promising career in engineering and begin my career as an actor. I became a personal trainer and group fitness coach at a local gym called Crossfit 845, which gave me the flexibility to commute to NYC for auditions. It wasn’t until the summer of 2020 I decided it was time to move to CA to work as an actor full-time.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It’s true that nothing good comes easy. I, unfortunately, lost a great mentor along the way in my pursuit of an acting career. I needed to learn how to be adept and resilient in the entertainment business as fast as possible. Knowing the odds aren’t in your favor, constantly being turned down after countless auditions, and competing with thousands of other hard-working and talented actors, you realize quickly how hard you need to work and how impervious you need to be in pursuing a career in entertainment. Having most of my family back on the east coast didn’t make my decision any easier in moving to California. I can’t thank them enough for giving me their support and being there for me when I need them.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Sports and music were a huge part of my life growing up. I grew up playing the drums, swimming, playing football, golf, snowboarding and playing baseball in college. I believe being a part of so many team sports and groups, the mentality of working together as a collective and not as an individual has helped immensely. You need to trust the person next to you and know you’re all striving for the same goal in creating something amazing. When I get any role that involves playing baseball or football or any sport that will bring me back to my “glory days,” it’s a reminder of why I pursue this career. Of course, I’ve had my nightmare projects like I think most actors have, but I’ve also been given the opportunity to portray characters I have the utmost respect for. My auditions tend to gravitate toward police officers, first responders and active or former military. One of my proudest moments was working on the set of a show for VetTV as a 1st Lieutenant. Many of my close friends and family are veterans and former or active military, so working with the cast and crew who were also former military was an honor.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Following a 2+ hour commute into NYC, I walked away from one of my first serious auditions. I remember getting to the studio in lower Manhattan, peering into the audition room and seeing the panel of casting directors and producers and cameras and I just walked away. I was walking around the city fairly upset with my decision and I found myself at the reflecting pools at ground zero. I called my mentor up, and we talked about how you only have one shot at life and you can’t let fear hold you back or impact your decisions. You WILL be turned away more often than not. Having the vulnerability and confidence to put yourself out there in the first place has been a huge character-building process for me. Now, I enjoy every opportunity I get to audition.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9449317/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rob.lacolla/
Image Credits
Matt Stasi Micaela Rodriguez
