local storiesMay 30, 2023

Meet Austin Valli

Local Stories

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Austin Valli. Austin was introduced to us by the brilliant and talented Walid Chaya.

Hi Austin, we’re so thrilled to have you sharing your story with us today. Maybe we can kick things off by having you introduce yourself to our readers? We’d love to have you go into your story and how you got to where you are today.
My whole life I knew deep down that acting was what I wanted to be doing, but it took me a long time to rationalize a career path of acting. After being involved in creating small sketch comedy shorts in high school and briefly studying film in college, at Penn State and Clemson, I abandoned the entertainment world completely for the safer 9-5 insurance job option out of school. I quickly realized that was not the space for me and I needed to be doing something more in line with my passions in life. It was really during the pandemic, when everyone was given time to evaluate what was truly important, that I decided that I needed to pursue what I always had wanted to be doing. I began to meet with people in the industry over zoom, took zoom classes, read every acting technique book, tons of actors autobiographies, and tried to find some way to make a dream something of a reality. I was extremely lucky to have been recommended by a friend to look up Walid and take some of his programs, because those really helped move my passion into action and toward a real tangible career in acting and modeling. I signed with some agents and a manger, moved to LA and joined the crazy world that is the entertainment industry. I’ve been really fortunate I’ve gotten to work with some companies that I only ever dreamed of potentially working with. Modeling for my favorite fitness brand in Adidas, doing athlete motion capture for the leader in sports video games with EA sports, and living out my childhood dream of getting to be a part of Nickelodeon.

Alright, so we’d love to learn more about your acting career. What should we know?
Acting is such an insane thing, its the ultimate practice of vulnerability and giving yourself up to a process. From the outside its hard to comprehend how much goes into developing your craft and creating different characters. I’m amazed with how much I’ve learned and grown, and continue to grow in my acting skills every single day. I certainly have a few projects that have stood out that I’m most proud of. Mainly, being a lead in my first feature film in Moving Valentine (available on Amazon Prime and Tubi). I love the romantic comedy space, so getting to be a lead in that type of project was a real dream come true for me, and I had an absolute blast filming it. Taking on the role of Michael was so an awesome experience and I hope the joy and time that went in to developing him comes across in the film. Another exciting project coming out soon is Underfunded, Which is a sports film written and directed by NASCAR driver Tommy Joe Martins, following the trials and tribulations of a young driver named JD Marshall who is trying to make it in the racing world. Getting to dive into the world of Nascar and filming on the track, in stock cars, surrounded by real NASCAR drivers and crews was a once in a lifetime experience and unlike anything else I have done in acting. As for what’s next for me- I’ll be the lead in another feature film that begins filming in May 2023, its my first dramatic feature film, which will be a new, exciting and challenging exercise. It will be great to get back on set and truly can’t wait. I have a super exciting project coming out in 2024 that I can’t wait to be able to talk more about as well ;). In a career of so may rejections and “No’s” it’s easy to overlook all of the wins and milestones along the way. I’m so thankful for the awesome projects I’ve gotten to work on and people I’ve met throughout. Some of my favorite other gigs have been the modeling work I’ve gotten to do. Growing up playing sports, Adidas and Under Armor were two companies that filled my closet and in game gear, getting to see myself inside Adidas stores in Los Angeles, Washington DC, NYC and more was such a surreal feeling. Getting to see myself playing soccer for Under Armor was equally as insane and something my younger self would have passed out over. And Some of the most fun I have ever had making something was the group of comedic sketch comedy ads I did for the DMV. The writers and director did such an amazing job of making a hilarious set of spots that have been some of the funniest bits I think I have been a part of.

Walid Chaya has been a great friend to us and I know you’ve got a great relationship as well. Maybe you can tell our audience a bit about Walid and your experience with them.
Upon the early days of trying to figure out how to find some way to break into the ambitious and ambiguous world of acting. A friend of mine suggested looking up Walid Chaya and Studio for Performing Arts LA, and I am so thankful I did. Walid has been such a fantastic mentor, educator and reference point through my career and I really wouldn’t be where I am today without his help. Something that Walid provides that I think is so unique and I have not seen anywhere else in the industry is incredible business advice for actors. It’s often forgotten there is so much more than just learning lines to become an actor, its a business, and Walid provides an amazing blueprint for making sure your materials and personal brand are pristine and in perfect condition to pitch to Agents, Managers, and Casting Directors. Knowing what to have, how to get it, and how to maintain it, from a materials perspective is such a nice skill to have in your backpocket, and makes it easier to focus on the rest of the many tasks of being a successful individual in this industry. On top of the business element, Walid has done an amazing job of curating different industry professionals to meet with his classes, I have built strong true relationships with Casting Directors, Agents, Managers, other actors and so many more through multiple of Walid’ programs, some relationships that have even helped me generate other career opportunities and that’s such a cool thing. I was able to find Agents and Managers to sign with through Walid, who have helped me land some of my biggest jobs so far and assisted in me getting to LA and really chasing my dream to the full extent. Walid helped me grow as an actor, sitting down reviewing audition tapes, reel selections, an so much more and has never hesitated to keep me in mind for any and all industry opportunities. On top of all the rest, Walid is just a great person, he truly wants what is best for his clients, his willingness to help and take time to answer any questions or insight is so valuable and unique, it makes his programs even more worth the while. The reps Walid brings into his class are all reputable too, and looking to add to their roster, which makes the experience such a more positive one for everyone involved and fruitful for many actors struggling to figure out the best way to obtain representation. With Walid’s diverse offering of programs as well, its a valuable studio for actors of any and every level.