Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Elyse Buckley.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In pre-school I started watching Julia Roberts movies and fell in love with her work and her magical way of storytelling. I knew by age four that I wanted to be an actor and that passion and drive has only continued to grow. I acted in my first play in first grade and knew I’d never want to do anything else. I continued doing theatre through my school and local theatre until graduating high school. I then moved to Los Angeles to attend college at Loyola Marymount University, where I studied theatre and screenwriting. I have been focused on film and television since moving to this city, though I still try to do one live theatre performance every year. I have been fortunate enough to meet some really incredible filmmakers in my time out here and to collaborate on and act in many fantastic indie films, my favorite of which, “Isabel” was just released on Amazon Prime Video. I have also been on the YouTube Premium and AwesomenessTV series “Foursome” for the past four seasons. I started off with only one line in the pilot, but the creators, being the incredibly generous and supportive women, they are, brought me back for season two and continued to grow and expand my role and character arch throughout those next three seasons. I have been on several other tv series, TruTV’s “You Can Do Better”, Netflix’s “Bill Nye Saves the World”, and Awesomeness TV’s “Chat Like Love” that have all been the result of friends I’ve worked with in the past recommending me to producers. I feel incredibly lucky to be surrounded by so many supportive film makers who continue to bring me back to projects and suggest me to others. The greatest lesson I’ve learned so far here in LA is that we all grow together. I know I wouldn’t be where I am without the generosity of those who have helped me, and I love finding ways to help other film makers and be a part of their journey too.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My journey so far has been filled with ups and downs. It has been far from smooth or consistent, but that’s the actor’s journey. I’ll have a month where I’m working on more projects than I could count on one hand, and spend more days on set than not. And then I’ll have several months where I can barely get an audition and have no upcoming projects on the books. The key is to always stay motivated and moving. To always have projects of your own you can control in the slow times. I have produced and directed comedy sketches for different online platforms when I have down time between my own acting projects.
I have feature films and a tv series that I am writing and when I have slower months in acting, I put more of my time into my writing. There are also ways to generate your own momentum when things feel slow or stalled. You have to treat your career like a business and like you yourself are the C.E.O. I am always looking for ways I can grow as an artist and expand my reach to get seen by more casting directors and producers. Sometimes this means taking new classes, catching up with old co-workers to see how you can help them in their current projects or pursuits, or attending screenings and festivals where you can meet and connect with new collaborators. It’s not easy, but the key is to keep pushing towards growth in your art and your business. I’ve had to learn to not let the slow points discourage me, but to use them as an opportunity to find new ways to grow.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about your business – what should we know?
The project I’m best known for is the AwesomenessTV series “Foursome” on YouTube Premium. I have been fortunate enough to be a part of the show since season one, and we just released the fourth season last month. The show is a hilariously brilliant story of the struggles of being a high school student and navigating that tricky world we all know so well. One of the projects I’m most proud of, is the new film “Isabel”, where I played the title role, that has just been released on Amazon Prime Video. It’s a beautiful and haunting story and was one of the best on set experiences I’ve ever had.
The writer and director gave me old artifacts and family letters to read through to help build the character and better understand the time period. The filming process was so fluid and about being in the moment and discovering the magic as we went. The crew were all incredibly professional and creative and worked together seamlessly to create the world and the atmosphere we were going for. I can only hope to be on more films where I’m given that much creative freedom and the chance to collaborate with such passionate and giving teams.
So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
I love seeing the different organizations that are now focused on providing opportunities to film makers. In my first couple years out here, it was common to be on sets without a single female crew member. Now, in the last couple years, I’ve been on numerous sets that are made up of all female crews or at least more balanced teams. Thanks to organizations like Women in Moving Pictures and production companies like WhoHaHa, women are being given more and more opportunities to work and showcase their special talents. There have been some extraordinary female writers and directors I’ve worked with recently that lend a personal perspective to the female experience that male story tellers rarely give. The gender gap in the industry is far from gone, but we’re getting closer to equality and equal opportunity every day and for that, I am incredibly grateful.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lauren-elyse-buckley.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenelysebuckley/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenElyseBuckley/?ref=bookmarks
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaurenBuckley23
- Other: www.imdb.me/laurenelysebuckley
Image Credit:
Shirt with the eye on it image: Katie Liz Robbins
Orange dress image: on set of “Isabel”
Dirt on the face image: on set of “Thirst”
Headshot: Leah Huebner
Baseball image: on set of “Throw Like A Girl”
Headshot: Leah Huebner
Lockers image: on set of “Foursome”
Holding slate image: on set of “Blood of Drago”
Cheerleader image: on set of “Foursome”
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