Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristi Von.
Kristi, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My love for the performing arts began at an early age with my involvement in ballet. I became a part of a dance company and began exploring different styles of dance. I also did quite a bit of musical theater when I was growing up. I took a few years off to attend college and obtain two master’s degrees. I taught middle school for awhile (crazy, right?) and worked in education before realizing how much I missed performing. Although I continued taking dance classes just for fun, something was definitely missing in my life. About a year and a half ago, I submitted to be an extra in a movie that was filming here in Atlanta. That was confirmation that I needed to find a way to get back into performing. After an amazing year of working with some incredibly talented people on various television shows and films, I am pursuing a career in television in film and couldn’t be happier. I’m currently working on sharpening my acting and auditioning skills, adding credits to my name, and getting as much on-set experience as possible.
Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. Even though I’ve had some incredible experiences thus far, I’ve also experienced a lot of rejection, just like all actors do. You have to be okay with people not seeing you how you see yourself, even if you think you’re perfect for a part. It’s okay. It wasn’t meant to be. Very rarely do you find out why you didn’t get called back or get the part, and I’ve learned to be okay with that. This is all part of the journey to reach my goal and I’m enjoying every minute of it (even the rejection).
What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
My proudest moment has to be when I saw myself on national television for the first time. It’s such a rush to see all of the hard work come together, and it’s also pretty awesome sharing the finished product with family and friends.
Tell us more about the struggles you’ve faced along the way.
The struggle is real – haha. No, seriously, the struggle is part of the process, in my opinion. I work hard because I have goals in mind for the future and because I’m determined to turn my dreams into reality. I’ve definitely struggled with wanting to be perfect and wanting to book every single role I audition for. There is no such thing as perfection in this industry. I’ve been getting better and better at dealing with rejection, but it’s definitely something I struggled with in the beginning. No one likes rejection but if you use it to learn something new for the next time, it makes it slightly easier to accept.
If you’re not constantly working to improve yourself as an actor, model, performer, etc., you’re not doing it right. I truly feel like struggling is what motivates me to be better. Sure, there have been times when I’ve wanted to give up because it’s just too difficult. I’m really fortunate to have an amazing group of supportive friends and family who remind me of what I’ve accomplished so far. It’s so important to have people in your life who build you up and support your dreams.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Absolutely. Atlanta is an amazing place to build your personal brand in this industry. I’ve met incredibly talented people who support each other and love to collaborate. The creative opportunities this city offers are endless, so I would definitely suggest Atlanta to someone just starting out.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kristivon.com
- Email: kristivontalent@gmail.com
- Instagram: @kristi_von
- Facebook: @kristivontalent
- Other: Twitter: @kristivontalent
Image Credit:
Shawn White
Kallen Lunt – K Creative Media
Linzey Armstrong IV
