Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Lam Tien.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
You know, when you were young, adults would always ask, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Well, my answer was always, “everything.” I’m not entirely sure who was the root of such confidence, whether it was my mom, the teachers I had in school, or probably both, but I truly believed that I could achieve anything I set my little 5-year-old mind to. To this day, this mentality lives on in my 26-year-old body. I’ve always gravitated towards the arts and creativity, although, on the same token, there was a part of me that would tell myself that I didn’t have a creative bone in my body. I’d always been a performer. Putting on my own concerts in my cousin’s living room while playing Karaoke Revolution on the PS2. They’d cover the screen to prevent me from winning… again, but who needed the screen when the songs were already engraved in my bones??? Theater in high school was fun and came easy. I was invincible…until I entered college, auditioned for my first student film, and crashed and burned at my first whiff of rejection. Thank goodness I got over that cause now I have countless amounts of nos under my belt and even a handful of yeses. My journey though, has definitely had its detours. After a couple of years through college, my heart was no longer in the space for the work of auditioning. Instead, I had the calling to travel for some years. And then after the travel bug stopped biting, I wanted the spirit of open-mindedness as a traveler to live on, so I became a host for other travelers coming through my hometown. Through the process of decorating the rooms, I discovered my creativity and finally kicked that “no creative bone” mentality to the curb. I dared to color outside the lines. All this to feed even more fuel to the, “I can do anything” fire. I take after my parents’ knack for business. That, in combination with taking my playful creativity back by the reins, I really feel like I’m just dancing through life, being able to do whatever the absolute f*ck I want. It got me to move to Los Angeles back in September. Since then I was able to land a SoCal commercial agent (MINC Talent), a bi-coastal manager (Brilliant Talent Management), while still working with my two across the board agents in the PNW (Q6 Talent & The Bell Agency). I am so grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve been met with. As most in the industry know, this is a marathon, not no cute 5k. I’ve been so fortunate to make great friends along the way who are unbelievably supportive. Adam Rosko in Portland, Romane Simon here in LA, and my mommy, Kim Lam. Y’all think your moms love you; you have not seen that woman. Sorry, but she wins. Anyway, all this to say, I really wouldn’t be able to be where I am today, being able to pursue every single one of my childhood dreams without the unconditional support and continuous inspirational boosts from those around me, and also from within.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Bumpy with many motion-sickly twists and turns, to say the least! This quote keeps popping up lately, and I’m sorry I don’t remember who said it, but: “the only ones who don’t make it are the ones that quit. Keep going.” Although I also believe in listening to my body and calls that divert from the path sometimes because that can ultimately give me tools to better pursue my end goal.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My willingness to color outside the box. There is no one way to make it in this industry. In my opinion, you have to be willing to get creative even in the ways of keeping active in your work. You have to be willing to collaborate sometimes; It isn’t only the work you do with the auditions that come your way. As actors, we have to create our own opportunities at times. I am always training. Sharpening all of my tools in my kit and adding new ones when I can.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Get used to hearing no! Don’t let it waver your confidence. It will, but pick yourself back up and keep going. Because so often, it isn’t that you did bad work, but rather somebody else had more of the look that they were going for or really any little reason we can’t even think of. Whatever was meant for you will not pass you by. Trust in that. Just keep doing you, and you will get there.
Contact Info:
- Website: jennylamtien.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennylamtien
Image Credits
John Keatly
FlashbackPDX
Steven Bishop
Chapin Hemmingway
Greg Parkinson
Tsen Ee Lin
Tafadzwa Nemarundwe
DeAndré Watkins
