Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Lea.
Hi Scott, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I remember when I was in 4th grade, I played the role of Jack Frost in the school play. That was my introduction into acting and I remember thinking it was a pretty cool experience. My true love was sports but after that play, acting was always something that really I enjoyed. I started watching movies differently and imagined myself actually playing the character in the movie. Whether it was Marty McFly in Back to the Future or Daniel Laruso in the Karate Kid, I always imagined what it was like to be one of those characters. But I was just a kid from Houston, TX and I never seriously thought I’d ever become an actor. So I just brushed it off and continued playing football and baseball.
But several years later In high school, I tried out for the play Guys and Dolls and remember thinking there was no way I would land a part because I wasn’t even in drama class but I thought it would be fun so I auditioned anyway. Surprisingly, I landed a small role. The problem was I was playing football so I couldn’t do both because of scheduling conflicts. That was kind of a letdown because I felt like that was my opportunity to give acting a fair shot.
Fast forward 25 years later. I’m living in Southern California and I’m at a point in my life where I can revisit that desire and commit to acting 100%. So, I start taking classes and workshops, I get headshots, start meeting people and networking and before I know it, I’m signed by a commercial agent. One thing led to another and fairly quickly, I’m auditioning and landing roles in commercials, short films, and feature films. The experience has been amazing and I’m continuing to ride the wave. There is nothing like being on a movie set and creating and developing a character and working with amazing talent. I’ve been a part of some great productions and I have a couple of feature films in post-production that I’m excited about.
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?
The ride has been smoother than I expected. Sure, there have been some disappointments along the way but I choose not to focus on that stuff. The positive experiences have by far outweighed the negative ones.
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’ve been fortunate to play a wide range of characters from different eras. I play a lot of detective roles as well as dad roles. One of the more challenging roles I played was in the film, Unload, in which I played a man who falls for a financial scam and ends up losing his house, his job, and his family along the way. His life unravels and he’s destined to ruin the lives of many innocent people around him. This character suffers from mental illness and I had to force myself into some dark places to do this role justice. I fully committed and it really took its toll. I think I lost close to 10 pounds during filming. Shortly after Unload wrapped, I was looking for some light-hearted roles which never came but fortunately, I was able to do some fun and goofy commercials which kind of put me back into a pretty good groove. That’s what I love about acting. I get to do things and play characters that I never could have imagined. It’s also amazing being part of the acting community and doing creative work. Last year I became a member of SAG-AFTRA which gave me a lot of confidence and made me believe and realize that I really am an actor. The day my SAG card came in the mail was a special moment for me.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t know if I believe in pure luck. I believe you can create your luck and put yourself in a position to be the benefactor of luck. Acting is a constant grind for me. My agent gets me some great opportunities but I’m also putting in the work to find some great auditions. Networking is key and building relationships with casting directors, producers, writers, and fellow actors. Obviously, acting classes have helped me tremendously. I’ve studied one-on-one with Rod Rowland who is a working actor with a ton of credits under my belt. His coaching has really brought my acting to a level and place that I didn’t think I could reach.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @scottlea
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.me/scottlea
