Rising Stars: Meet Helena Geraci

Today we’d like to introduce you to Helena Geraci.

Hi Helena, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a professional actress from Catania, Italy. I also have a background in Marketing and Brand Management and worked for over 8 years in corporate and creative agencies in Europe and US. I originally moved to Los Angeles in 2018 to pursue a career in Project Management and while working in that field I decided to take some acting classes to re-ignite my old passion for the craft. When I was in my early ’20s I did theatre in Italy but I did not pursue an acting career at the time and acting stayed just as “a dream”. Once in Los Angeles though, I felt the “artistic call” again, I felt inspired and curious to re-open that door. I’m glad I did!

Since 2020 I got a Certificate in “Acting” at UCLA Extension and studied in different schools such as The Actor’s Lab, Ivana Chubbuck and currently, I am a member of the Anthony Gilardi Acting Studio.

In 2021, I founded “LA Creative Circle”, with the spirit of creating a supporting community for artists. LA Creative Circle is a community to empower and supports creatives in their artistic journey. I organize monthly gatherings in different locations throughout LA to facilitate networking, group discussions & accountability partnerships to help creatives growing and getting stronger! Recently I also started a monthly webinar series where I invite a guest to speak about a specific topic that can help artists navigating the entertainment industry. We touched topics such as self-tapes, auditions, building healthy habits, setting goals, working on your voice, managing your finances and business. I have an exciting lineup of guests for 2023! Everyone is welcome to join the community by reaching out to me via email or IG, it’s free to join!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road to come this far. First of all, I come from another country and I had to adjust to a new culture, habits, language and way of living in general. Secondly, being an immigrant in the US, I had to work on a long process to get all my paperwork and documentation, in order to work here. It was a long journey but I finally reached a point where I got very good results!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am proud to say that I am an Italian professional actress and that my heritage is what set me apart. The cultural and language background that I bring is different from local actors. I can play roles that have an international flavor and bring them to life in a very interesting way. I am also the founder of LA Creative Circle, a community that I am proud to have created one year ago. I see a lot of potential in this group of artists who want to connect, network and grow professionally. I am planning to grow this community more and more! Through my community, I offer monthly webinars about different topics related to the entertainment business and I also started offring 121 business coaching sessions for actors. They start at a very low rate as I’d like them to be affordable to everyone!

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My advice is to come with an open mind and be ready to change your plans. I came here thinking I will establish my career in marketing and project management and I ended up finding my real self in the acting field and enjoying a creative life! Also, don’t let anyone tell you what you can or can’t do. If I listened to other people I would still be in my home country, working for the same company and dreaming of the life I am having right now! You are the designer of your own journey, now grab a pen and start drawing!

Pricing:

• $50 for 1 hour Business Coaching for Actors

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.helenageraci.com/portfolio
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/la_creativecircle/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helena.geraci
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenageraci
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbeAHN_xtMi_D0KGflcpPcc0FEKyYAElY