Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Grace.
Hi Emily, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I help actress/creators make sh*t happen and am currently developing a program to help womxn write their script already and know what to do with it.
I started my business about 12 years ago as a result of an incredibly rude awakening.
Right now, I’m developing a brand new program with my tv writing mentor called The Creator Lab (launching in late March).
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
After I graduated from NYU, I was hustling my way into every acting opportunity I could find. And somehow, whether by serendipity, magic, or just plain luck, I land the lead role in a feature film.
It felt like the role I was born to play. Not only did I carry the film because I was in practically every scene, my incredibly talented, award-winning co-star gave high compliments on my work.
The dream-come-true continued when the film was accepted to a high-profile film festival, won an award, and went on to win awards all over the world.
I just knew that this was it. The Role That Would Change My Life. And any second now top agents and production companies would start banging down my door with offers for bigger and better projects.
I was the next big thing and all my hard work had finally paid off.
And you know what happened next?
Nothing.
No phone calls. No offers. No nothing.
I didn’t even have an agent. There was no one to give me advice or teach me how the business worked. So my big break came and went and nothing changed.
I thought my performance would speak for itself and people would seek me out with job offers.
And when that didn’t happen, I didn’t understand that it was because the industry doesn’t work like that. I assumed it was because I “wasn’t enough” and made it mean a lot about my self-worth, and the one thing that I actually felt good about in my life was gone.
I learned my lesson the hard way.
After that experience, I worked for an independent film producer which completely changed my perspective. It gave me an insider’s view of how the business actually works, how deals go down, why offers get made, and it taught me all the things I wish I had known a lot sooner.
Once I understood how the business worked, I wanted to help my fellow actors understand it too. To give them the tools they need to create their own success (rather than wait for the phone to ring, like I had done).
That is what inspired me to start my business.
Recently I made the decision to focus exclusively on women, and even more recently I have become even more specific. I love helping women who create content.
I have teamed up with my writing mentor to develop an online program to help women finally write their script and know what to do with it when it’s done. Whether they want to pitch and sell it or move into self-production and go on the festival circuit.
Some of the best content in recent years has been from actress/creators. I’m so inspired by Fleabag, Insecure, Pen 15, This May Destroy You, just to name a few.
Each of these women developed a project that is unique to their experience, perspective, and abilities. I want to see more female-driven content created by women. And my intention is to help as many women as I can get their stories told.
And of course, I’m developing my own tv pilot based on some a questionable job I worked after my acting career completely ripped my heart out. But I’ll save that for the script 🙂
What I love about being a creator, whether I’m creating my business, creating this program, or creating my own content, is that I can take hard lessons and painful experiences and turn them into something that benefits others.
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’m a Business Owner and a Creative
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
There is so much I wish I had known when I was starting out, but here are the things that stand out the most:
In the entertainment industry, relationships are everything. Build your network early, find your people, and be consistent with your follow up.
Lead with what you can give instead of what you can get. You’re relationships will be much stronger.
When you do get an agent, don’t assume that your job is done. An agent isn’t a magical solution. You still need to build your network, create your own opportunities, and ask for the things you want.
If you want to create success on your own terms, create your own content.
So many creatives throw spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. They do a lot of stuff but aren’t productive in a forward moving direction. It’s important to clarify your specific goals and take actions that align with those goals. That’s why I created the Bad Ass Actress Cheat Sheet, to help you streamline your goals so you can get their faster without wasting time on stuff that doesn’t get results.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@emilygrace.tv
- Website: Write the role you were born to play: http://writeyourdreamrole.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonlyemilygrace/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PickfordWestSociety
- Other: https://pickfordwest.lpages.co/
Image Credits
Prospect Photography
