Today we’d like to introduce you to Audrey Montgomery.
Audrey, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
The easy answer is it all started in high school. But to expand on that and to give a little back story, people have always pointed out my determination and drive. One reason that is, or that I give off that energy is because when I was little, I was told I survived Eric Rudolph’s bombing of the Sandy Springs Professional Building on January 16, 1997. My mother’s law office was two floors above an abortion clinic. I don’t remember that day, but my father showed me the picture of our crib, or what was left of it, covered in rubble. The crib was right next to the window above where the bomb was placed. I was eight months old at the time; later, the thought of the possibility that I might not be on this earth really hit me. I think I was ten when I processed all this, and since then I knew I did not want to live my life in vain. I wanted to find the reason as to why God kept me here.
With all that being said, I always had an affinity toward art and acting. It was my favorite class and after-school activity. I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in art or acting or something in that vein. Studying film did not cross my mind until my dad suggested that I take Broadcast 1 in my freshman year of high school:
“Film is going to be a big business in Atlanta someday. This is going to be a skill that will help you in the future,” he told me.
I was reaching that age where I did not want to listen to my parents. What did they know about what I wanted with my life? But curiosity got to me. What if I took a film class? I wanted to be an actress so it might help to know this information. Why not give it a try?
My father was right about the film industry in Atlanta and that “why not” turned into four years of “Why didn’t I think of this sooner?” Some of my best high school memories were in film class. Of course, I still took acting and art classes. I lived at the school. By my junior year, I would get to school at six in the morning and go straight to the studios, and some nights I didn’t leave until midnight because of tech rehearsal for a play. I worked so hard in high school, and I loved every second of it. It felt right to work hard and being creative. I knew that this is what I wanted to do, and I had to continue that. I had to keep trying.
The college application process was a test. I was afraid of making the wrong choice, that I would regret everything I had done up to that point because I could not make that one decision. However, Oglethorpe University stood out to me and this small liberal arts college known as the “Hogwarts of Atlanta” became my home away from home in the fall of 2014. It was there that I delved further into film and acting. My professors really helped shape who I am as a professional today. I became known as a film student and I reveled in that element—which is funny because I met my husband in college and he was scared I was going to be one of those weird artsy kids. To his pleasant surprise, I wasn’t.
My mom suggested I look for an internship at a talent agency, especially because I was an actress and should probably know how a talent agency functions. I did not want to listen to her, but I knew she was right. So, I googled “Talent Agency Internships.” That is how I found People Store Talent Agency.
I started my first internship there in the summer of 2017. I had no idea what I was walking into. When someone thinks of a talent agent, they think of someone in a pinstripe suit smoking a cigarette that tells you that “You’re gonna be a STAR kid!” That depiction is far from the truth. I worked with some incredibly kind, compassionate, down to earth, hardworking people who have a passion for helping actors. I was able to see a side of the film industry that was in my blind spot. It was then that I had the nagging thought, “Maybe I can do this?” Toward the end of my internship, my dear friend and supervisor at the time asked for me to come back in the spring of 2018 as a Film/TV Intern. I happily accepted.
That turned out to be an incredible year and a roller-coaster. The same week I found out that I was in the second or third round of interviews for an internship with the Television Academy Foundation’s Internship Program in Los Angeles, my People Store internship supervisor pulled me aside and asked about what my plan was after college. I was in the same position I was when I graduated high school; all of the excitement and decisions were overwhelming. I was also having an inner battle of whether I should be an actress or not. I prayed for some guidance and a giant arrow pointing me in the right direction.
God answered. In the spring of 2018 I was offered a position at People Store Talent Agency as a Commercial Agent Assistant. I peacefully and lovingly parted ways with acting. I accepted the job and told the internship program that I was grateful but that other opportunities had presented themselves. They thanked me and wished me luck. To this day, I had no idea if I even would have made it in, but honestly, I don’t care. I am glad I accepted the job at People Store. I am now a Commercial Talent Agent. I have the best bosses and office environment and I love it so much.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not. My journey is a mixture of isolated events, as well as my mistakes and learning from the consequences. I just talked recently about practically living at the school my junior year of high school, and as much as I loved throwing myself into my work, there was a sad reason for that. My parents were in the process of divorce. I did not realize this at the time, but my way of coping with this was escaping into my extracurriculars and my craft. All the hard work I did paid off. On top of the uncertainty of my future and all of the decisions with college and the trajectory of my life, I ended high school with a pretty hopeless view on love as well as low self-esteem.
The funny part was, my escapism worked so well. I did not realize the pain I had penned up inside me until I walked into Team Greatness Acting studio right before I started college. People say they want to become an actor because they want to be anything but themselves. My acting coach had more of a realistic approach when it comes to acting, otherwise known as the Chubbuck Technique. Acting went from the vacation to the mirror I had to face, and God helped me bridge the gap along the way.
So, I kept trying. I kept putting myself out there, auditioning for the school shows, joining clubs, working on films, trying to escape my escapism. I didn’t want to break that routine until I met my husband my sophomore year of college. I was sitting in a coffee shop studying for my Spanish final when he came over right after his last shift and we talked for four hours. The conversation even led to him giving me a ride to meet up with my mom. I remember the car ride vividly because I kept trying to build up the courage to ask for his number or give him mine. That didn’t happen and I ended up leaving his car saying, “Have a nice life!” knowing after that point I was not going to see him, and he was never going to work at the coffee shop again.
I was wrong. My friend gave him my number and told him to call me that night. We talked for six hours on our first date, and four years later – as I like to say – we are still talking. During our relationship, I realized I couldn’t engage in my escapism and date someone at the same time, so one of them had to go. I learned about the balance in life and forced myself to unlearn my urge to escape. I married my husband on November 30, 2019.
My friends also helped me tremendously. I thank God for them every day for their patience and love. I believe that sometimes God uses your friends to remind you of the wonderful things that make you special, the things that you tend to forget sometimes. I also appreciate everything my parents have done for me and for loving me and supporting me every step of the way. I know everything happens for a reason, and life is never easy, but it got me where I am today, and I have never been happier.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
At People Store Talent Agency, we are a family. Everyone in the company supports you and they also have a passion for making sure our actors get the best. I am happy to share that passion. The best part of my job is when I call an actor and tell them, “You’re booked!” I know that might be cliché, but seriously it makes their day and yours.
As a Commercial Talent Agent, my job is to acquire and negotiate opportunities for our actors in commercials, industrials, print jobs, and voiceover. I negotiate the deals from the first time we hear about the project to the moment they arrive on set to the renewals after the fact. I also enjoy standing up for our talent. It is one of my pet peeves when I know someone is trying to take advantage of an actor. My co-workers call me a bulldog sometimes because of how I fight for our actors. I think this is because, in middle school and elementary school, no one fought for me. I feel like sometimes, this is my way of filling that gap.
It’s incredible working at the best talent agency in the Southeast and experiencing the Atlanta film industry not only grows but also succeeds. The actors, crew members, and film community are incredibly talented and professional. If you’re sleeping on Atlanta’s film industry—you need to wake up.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I am pretty ambitious and when my heart is set on something, I give it my all. I also am very detail-oriented and thorough. On a project, I like to have all the answers upfront and establish that line of good communication before diving in. However, I would definitely say that discipline is the most important key to my success. I have that determination, drive, and motivation, but without discipline, I would not be where I am today.
However, I just turned 24 and I know I am just getting started. I love being a talent agent and to help exercise my creativity, I have been writing and editing scripts. I am looking forward to seeing where that takes me. I just know that I have to keep trying and take each new outcome with grace. One of the best pieces of advice I have been given was not to close the door on an opportunity that presents itself. My ten-year-old self wanted to live her life intentionally. I just hope I am making her proud.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://peoplestore.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audrey.almost.hepburn/
Image Credit:
K. Barber Photography – https://www.kbarberphotography.com/
Abigail Sykes – https://www.abigailsherrodsykes.com/
Sonny Pimentel – https://www.sonnypimentel.com/
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