Today we’d like to introduce you to Lainie Smith.
Hi Lainie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
How I started? Since I was a very young girl, growing up in the islands and culture of the Philippines, my fantasy, my dream, was to act. I grew up knowing my mother was a movie star; her friends were movie stars; her siblings and other family members were movie stars or directors or producers, or somehow connected to entertainment or politics. I was born overseas on a military base and grew up during the era of the Vietnam War. I was schooled as a Department of Defense Dependent on the largest military base overseas, strategically positioned to prevent or at the very least inhibit, communist takeover of that area. Whatever the reason, war is always a horrible “thing”, but on that particular airbase, during that particular time, I felt sheltered from it all, privileged if you will. I enjoyed my childhood, growing up in two different cultures. I had birthrights to my mother’s 7,000+ islands and my father’s Virginia upbringing as one of the first families of Virginia. And while I adored my father, my mother was something of an enigma. She amazed me, my mother. I was mesmerized by her beauty, her warmth, and her humor. As I grew into my teenage years, I recognized her strengths, as well. My goodness, she was and still is a strong woman. As a woman, to know your strengths, is amazing; and to know exactly who you are, is total freedom … I wanted so much to be her. And today, while I am NOT my mother, I know my strengths, I know just who I am, and I like who I’ve become.
It’s the total freedom part that somewhat eludes me. I am, from deep within my soul, my heart, and my mind … an actor. That said, I find that when I act, it is usually to be someone else, so I am always searching, observing, feeling to portray that character. Perhaps the antics of that character or the words and feelings of that character are there somewhere within me. Inevitably, I can deliver the role with ease or perhaps with struggles, but to be able to deliver that character well may take me away from who I am. However, delivering that character as completely believable returns me to my center and I am once again free – free to be me, ever-evolving in my strengths and to be just exactly the woman I am.
How I got to where I am today? The daydreaming came to life for me in 1990, when I landed my first role on national television for the series In the Heat of the Night. I was called to audition for Fred Silverman and Leo Penn (O M G! Whaaaaat!) My heart was in my throat! It was the third season of the show; it filmed in Conyers GA, and it was for a role as a hooker, working opposite Diane Ladd as my “auntie” (actually her character was a small town “traveling” madam). I also had a scene opposite Carroll O’Connor, who in between scenes, would quietly sing the sweetest little ditties. One day, he looked me straight in the eye and sang out loud – it was awesome! Harold Rollins was also on set that day, and one line of his was to call me a “niece” and his laughter rang out across the set – he had such a great laugh! I worked a final scene with Hugh O’Connor (quite shy) and Alan Autry (generous). I crept in behind the scenes every day that week and quietly observed everything I could. I found myself in a conversation with the director of photography, Peter Salam, and Ms. Ladd discussing going “full circle” with their respective careers. It was a pretty cool discussion on which to eavesdrop (lol). Then she turned to me and jumped into breaking down the scene we had just rehearsed. She offered me guidance to help me realize the scene. It was so awesome but in that first moment, I literally could hear nothing in my head but “Jesus! This is Diane Ladd looking me in the eye and working the scene with me!” Images of her, her husband and their daughter, and their life, and careers raced thru my brain! I had to shake it off and I had to do it fast! The filming went off without a hitch of course; professional film crew – not certain if they were all LA or NYC or even any for GA, but it was an excellent first film experience.
I continued with the filming of a few music videos but I was married at the time, and my husband was not thrilled with the amount of time it took away from my attention to our home life, so I shelved my dream for marriage … we divorced two years later. I no longer had the confidence in myself and I convinced myself that should not to look back – at least until I could feel strong again about myself – rejection is a difficult “thing” to shake off, and there is so much rejection in the film industry.
In 2010, I started back acting classes, I found an agency, continued with some background work and maintained full-time employment in the corporate world. From my experience of all that, I can tell you, there are some shady characters out there looking to earn their keep (or steal it as it were). I’ve written it off to all parts of the game, I just hate playing games. So in keeping positive, I choose to move forward and chalk all of it up to experience.
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?
Has it been a smooth road? Smooth can be relative — There have been struggles; I imagine there are always struggles… mental (psyched again!), physical (damnit! I don’t look like them), emotional (ugh! rejected again), and financial (I can’t afford what I need); I’ve never been a wise one when it comes to my finances, and sometimes, I see money as “the root of all evil”. I’ve never truly sought out financial wealth – it’s relative. It’s always been enough for me to have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, a bit of food to eat, a good song, a better friend, and a greater God – with that, I’ll get through it. Sounds somewhat Pollyanna but it’s the truth. And there are a bzillion clichés regarding financial struggles “living paycheck to paycheck” “living hand to mouth” “give a little get a little” “it doesn’t grow on trees” “sock it away” “you can’t take it with you” but “the root of all evil” that’s the one that’s all-encompassing for me.
While I manage to quell one struggle, there is always one amongst the others that will rise to fill the open slot. And then, enter the frickin Pandemic and every change imaginable for film work took place. Ridiculous! Auditioning in-person, forget about it! Zoom and Self-tapes! Yikes! Classes on Zoom for Zoom and Self-tapes – UGH! But rolling with change for all of this has brought me to be good with all of it, and today? Today, I say “bring it”! So yes, it’s been a long road for me. Sometimes smooth sometimes bumpy and even sometimes dark. I’m no spring chicken; I started my run late, but I feel I’m closing in on my goal of being a fully supported, and working actor, and continuing to with work to be excellent in my craft. The closer I get, the more freedom I feel, but I also know it won’t “end” there. I see it as a constant motion and I will (because I choose it) “… endeavor to persevere” [from the Outlaw Josie Wales].
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work in the film industry is varied. I consider myself a Creative, stemming from my desire to act. I’ve also written a few (three) screenplays: one drama, one Christian, one fantasy; only one of those is actually complete and I’m still in the process of raising funds to produce it (see a sizzle reel for THE SECRET OF SHADY LANE at https://youtu.be/ANp7-Vkd5d4, and the fundraiser at ffnd.co/ydS2n5). Often I wake in the wee hours of the morning with ideas for stories. I’m always certain it will be clear to me when I rise for the day… but alas… I am many times wrong (lol).
I’m a big fan of IMDB (internet movie database); some of my friends, not so much. While some of my work is not on it (or worthy to be on it – God knows, I could go on about the various disasters I’ve worked, but I choose to be positive so I’ll leave well enough alone). In 2018, I worked a film project with students at the University of North Georgia, Gainesville campus (UNG). They were awesome. The story for DEAD WINTER was written and produced by one of their professors and then directed and filmed by another of their professors. I will give you a bit more on those two lovelies a bit later; what I will say is that I felt so much truth as an actor working that project; I couldn’t get enough of that set! Turns out, that project while running the film fest circuit, was nominated for a few things, and the lead and I each won for our roles, a respective BEST ACTOR AWARD in an Independent LA Film Festival. The film was to carry forth in to other festivals. One which truly excited me was to take place in the Stephen Spielberg Hollywood Theater, but in waltzed the pandemic and California shutdown and, enough said. So as it stands today, I have one credit to my name as a Best Supporting Actress in a screenplay and one Merit Award for Acting which I was won here in Georgia at the Southern Screenwriters Film Festival, another very proud moment for me.
Since that time, I’ve had various projects run the gauntlet. I studied at a theater in Little Five (PNO Theatre) and the wife of the Theatre Director pulled me in from a self-tape I’d sent in. The scene was hilarious! However, the character had only one line – so tough to find the exact delivery of for a self-tape… so, my usual do-what-you-want-self, delivered it five different ways … and with props on some of the lines (altho I’ve been told that’s a no-no). My reader and I laughed for an hour! Mostly because he made me repeat it 28 times! It was a fun audition, and that truly is what it should be about – having fun; Lord knows, fun isn’t always easy to come by. That little show was titled MARGO AND THE UNIVERSE, and they screened it as a full feature to a sold-out crowd at the PLAZA THEATRE here in Atlanta – it was absolutely awesome! And the biggest thrill for me was that my mother sat next to me during that screening—right next to me! My heart was truly so full that night!
Currently, I’m in a film titled GRAVEDIGGER that has been accepted in this year’s FILM DE CANNES FESTIVAL. Best film set I have ever had the pleasure to work! Part of it was that the same film professor that I mentioned earlier (the director and cinematographer from the UNG winning film in LA) was the Director of Photography. Total surprise to me when I was cast! Full story, I was on set for a feature as a lead/antagonist of the film here in Atlanta (it was a good storyline, we wrapped at the end of August, it unfortunately hasn’t progressed beyond editing; but I digress, so back to me). While on that set, I received a call back from a self-tape audition I had completed the week prior. The call was for an in-person audition in a few days, for a film just beginning its casting. While on the full feature film set, espousing my joy over the callback, I was told “No you’ve already a call time on that day that cannot change” [ouch]. So, with a heavy-heart, I responded to the callback that I would not be available for that day and time. Lo and behold, I received a most uplifting response from the producer “…per Jason Winn (the Director of Photography), please just accept the role – it’s yours.” OMG! I did backflips! God is truly good!
I try to do it all but I’m not there yet… one step at a time, right? I am enamored with being able to create. Acting is my biggest passion, see my film, commercial, and print work on my IMDb page by viewing this link:
IMDb.me/LainieSmith (and thank you, in advance btw).
Any big plans?
While I always look forward to filming, I’ve found that storytelling and writing about those stories are things I enjoy and do well. Usually, one if not both of those two things cross my mind everyday. I mentioned earlier that I’ve written a few screenplays, and there is one for which I’m still crowdfunding and to trying produce. There is a Sizzle Reel for the project and it can be viewed by going to this link: https://youtu.be/ANp7-Vkd5d4. If the story interests you, and you’re feeling charitable, please connect with the project and donate by going to the crowdfunding link or reach out to me on Instagram @lainiesmith.actor or @thesecretofshadylane (and again thank you in advance btw) There are a few other things I enjoy and hope to do more of in the future, and those are drawing and painting. I feel I have a long way to go with that though. I’ve studied charcoal and pencil, I’ve used various other mediums (acrylics and watercolor) and have painted and gessoed some old paintings and repainted them. I’ve thrown clay, and I’ve completed a few worthy pieces; I’ve free-formed masks and faces, with incredible results. I’d like very much to start from building and bust creation. I’ve blown glass – it isn’t easy but it’s awesome and I created some unusual pieces there. I would like to finish a glass mural I’ve started, and possibly get into carving and chisels — all this in my “copious spare-time” (lol).
Contact Info:
- Email: talent.laraine@gmail.com
- Instagram: LainieSmith.actor
- Facebook: Lainie Smith
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/2eFklmV0NLg
- Other: IMDb.me/LainieSmith
Image Credits:
b&w John A Zincone, Canton GA @johnzincone headshot: Slingshots Photography, Atlanta, GA commercial shots: Total On First, Tyra R onset: Years of Yesterday UGA Film project onset: Men On Pause Series Title Screen
