Daily Inspiration: Meet Presley Novak

Today we’d like to introduce you to Presley Novak.

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?
I started acting at 15, I was living in California at the time and had just started at a new school. I was trying to meet new friends so I went to the school’s 1 Act auditions. Later on, I was cast as the lead in a two-person play, the rest was history. I’ve been working in Film & TV for five years and started modeling and creative directing photo shoots last January.

I find modeling has helped me with my acting in knowing how to pose and show expression through no words, only movement. Being able to create these shoots from concept to styling, to shot list has also challenged me in the best way possible!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The industry is not easy, and it is not the same as when I started. It is always changing and evolving and there have been many things and/or people around the corners that want to make sure you get knocked down and don’t ever get back up. Some days it’s hard to believe in yourself when you’re creating a whole career from scratch, there isn’t a guideline… just drive and pure will.

My art is the only thing that keeps me going and pushing, I know how important art is to communities and for a person’s soul. So there have been many struggles, and I’m sure I will continue to have bumps in the road, but it’s how I choose to handle them that helps me grow as an artist and professional.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What sets me apart from others is that I have expertise & experience in so many different areas. I’m a published writer, a published model, a painter, an actor, a creative director, a stylist, and a graduate with a B.S. in Film & Digital Media which has given me a very broad education across all forms of media and communication.

I never in a million years would have thought I’d be able to make some of these dreams a reality, but betting on myself has been my proudest achievement.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I think so much of the industry I am in has been based on trusting that other people want the same things you do. So much of the time you have to put faith in a lot of people to have your or the project’s best interest at heart, but a lot of the time that’s not the case.

I feel very lucky when I have met collaborators who understand the vision set forth and are willingly involved in making it better. And then there are others who have willingly taken from my creativity and marketed it as their own. Both the good and bad luck I’ve encountered in my journey have taught me valuable lessons, but I believe luck is on my side for the future.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @presleynovak

Image Credits
TJ Baker, Amisha Nair, Kevin Harry, and Javane Stewart