Conversations with Sara Cozolino

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Cozolino.

Hi Sara, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have been performing since I was young. I was a dancer, singer, and in theater growing up. In my early twenties, I moved to Los Angeles with a couple friends to pursue acting in film and television, and quickly found my way on sets, which in turn earned my acceptance into SAG-AFTRA. Shortly after I joined the Union, I decided to pause on acting and worked in casting for several years. During this time I also completed an AA degree in Photography from Santa Monica College, and a Bachelors degree in Geography from UCLA. I’ve had my own company as a photographer now for over twenty years, and returned to acting here in Michigan during COVID. In short, my professional career has always been about art and human expression in some form.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Is any career in art a smooth road? It for sure has not been for me. To start, I was very young and naive (and broke!) when I first moved to LA and went through a lot of different experiences that helped shape who I am today, which I am grateful for, as well as being grateful I did not give up and move back here to MI initially. I moved out there with about $200 and a box of canned goods my mother gave me. My friends and I motel hopped for our first several months in LA. We were broke and took various catering and background set jobs to make due. A fun story now is the film Coyote Ugly will always have a special place in my heart as it got us out of that living situation. We worked on it as background for 3 weeks-we called it Camp Coyote- and made a friend on set whose roommate managed an apartment complex in the valley. We were able to make enough for a down payment and initial rent, and his roommate was willing to fudge about how big my husky was to get us in. LA will always be a second home to me but it was a growth experience to be sure. The industry is very honest and upfront about how you are received, so you have to develop a tough shell and motivate yourself fully believe in yourself to keep going in a world of non-selection. There is no linear path, certainty, or direct ratio of hours put in to success expected. Shortly after I joined the Union, I had a horrible audition experience with a Director. It was fairly common back then to “crash” auditions and I believe he thought I was doing that (his AD gave me a callback notice without him knowing). This guy just tore me apart in the audition and kept going. I cried on the drive home and decide to throw in the towel, giving up acting for 15 years. I regret allowing one person to have that kind of power over me, but also the break allowed me to gain a wide variety of life experience that now feeds me as an artist in a different way had I not taken the break.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an actor and photographer. I earned my degree in photography when film was still the only option, so I have worked with and processed 35mm, medium and large format. The degree focused on commercial photography so I can light and tackle just about any type of scenario you can think of: event, food, real estate, portraits, still life, modeling, etc. The variety of my work keeps it interesting and enjoyable. I have won awards and been published internationally many, many times-there’s a decent chance you’ve seen my work somewhere. I have photographed people from all walks of life, including many A-list celebrities. All of that sets me apart as a photographer.

For acting, I am most drawn to and called in for dramatic roles: troubled woman, salt of the Earth types. The variety and intensity of roles are always fun to explore. Mirroring the human experience from different characters with fellow performers is so fulfilling. When you are fully dropped in and living the moment, it’s indescribable. It’s as if your body is buzzing on a higher level. I recently listened to an interview with Dan Levy and he said it feels like you are flying.

For both careers, I am proud I have kept going. Even if I am balancing many gig jobs to fill the slow times, I am not giving up on my dreams. I am proud that in both instances, I already have work out there that will still be here long after I myself am not.

For photography, I’ve been volunteering my photo services with animal shelters and rescues for almost 20 years and I am proud my work has helped find animals forever homes, increased adoption rates, and help shed light on the reality of animal shelters and the perfect family members you can always find there!

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
As an artist, I really enjoy listening to other artists as you realize many of their struggles were the same. The path of unknown *is* the path, and you need to enjoy every aspect of it. A few favorite acting podcasts I enjoy are In The Envelope, That One Audition. Back to One, Scene Stealers, An Actor Despairs, as well as the SAG-AFTRA Foundation conversations and the Actor’s Roundtable by The Hollywood Reporter. Being in SAG-AFTRA is such a help for actors, with many resources to both protect us and help us grow as artists. I am a proud Union member.

I read constantly but read science and environmental based books or heavily historical fiction.

Music. Take a moment and dance. Get out of your head. Music always helps.

Contact Info:

• Website: IMDB: Sara Cozolino
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scozolino/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-cozolino-02833a56/
• Other: https://www.saracozolino.com

Image Credits
Headshots by Joel Maisonet Photography. All other images were done by me.