Story & Lesson Highlights with Esther Haltom of West Hollywood

Esther Haltom shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Esther, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I have always been a writer and have been wanting to pursue writing a screenplay for many years. Last January, I had an idea brewing for quite some time and I went ahead and hired a production company, who really helped provide structure and deadlines to get me settled into the writing process. It took several months, but I was able to get my screenplay done. We filmed in July and are getting ready to submit to festivals. It is quite nerve-racking putting your art out there for everyone to see. It’s been a very scary process but very rewarding. I’m so glad I was able to accomplish it.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am an actor, producer, and writer with a passion for creating original stories. I have been living and working in Los Angeles for over 20 years and feel like I am just hitting my stride. I recently completed my first short film, Ascendance, which I wrote, produced and starred in. This film has been years in the making and I was able to finally make my dream a reality this past year by filming with Hot Lunch Productions. Through my work, I have been able to collaborate with a variety of talented people across every genre of film making. I love to challenge myself, and continue to develop meaningful projects across film and storytelling.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
When I was a child, I didn’t believe I had the ability to navigate my own future; it felt distant, uncertain, and out of my control. My dreams existed, but they were untethered to any real sense of agency or direction. I never truly believed I could rise out of the small community I was in or become anyone important. As I’ve grown into adulthood, that feeling has shifted. Experience, self-trust, and resilience have reshaped how I see myself and the world. Now, instead of fearing the unknown, I believe in my capacity to create it. I’ve learned that what once felt impossible can be shaped through intention, discipline, and belief, and I move forward with the conviction that I can manifest anything I can clearly see in my mind’s eye. I often think of the Bob Proctor quote “If you see it in your mind, you will hold it in your hands”

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There was a period of time when I became disillusioned with acting, after going a long time without being cast in any meaningful roles. What once felt exciting started to feel stagnant, and the passion that initially drove me was overshadowed by heartbreak, which left me feeling unanchored. The passion that initially drove me was eclipsed by doubt and frustration. It was a humbling experience that forced me to confront the gap between my love for the craft and the reality of the business, That time was deeply challenging, but it became a turning point.that forced me to confront what my expirations were for a career verses a love for the art and craft of acting, ultimately it pushed me to reevaluate what acting meant to me and how I wanted to move forward.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is carefully filtered and limited, showing only what feels safe and necessary, while the real me exists mostly offline,. I’m very private and have a bit of a phobia around social media, I rarley choose to share personal details or moments online, which means what others see is only a small, controlled snapshot rather than a full picture. In real life, my thoughts, experiences, and personality are deeper and more complex than what appears publicly, but keeping that separation helps me feel more comfortable and in control of my own space.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Giving everything my best has never been about recognition or praise; it has been about intention and staying true to the dreams that guide my life. Even when no one notices the effort or acknowledges the dedication, I keep showing up because my motivation comes from within, not from external approval. Every choice I make is shaped by the belief that living with purpose matters more than being seen, and that quietly pursuing my dreams with consistency and heart is its own reward

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Estherhaltom.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esther_haltom/?hl=en
• Twitter: https://x.com/estherhaltom
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@estherhaltom756

Image Credits
Esther Haltom