Today we’d like to introduce you to Logan Wallace.
Hi Logan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Performing is the only thing that has come to me naturally. There is nothing I’m more passionate about. I went to my first casting call when I was seven years old, and from that day on I knew that I would be acting for the rest of my life. When I was ten years old, I started to do musicals and plays and I continued to pursue theatre through high school. Theatre was the only thing that kept me sane throughout my entire school career. Since I had established my career path from such an early age, acting was the only thing I focused on and cared about, so I seldom thrived in academic settings that didn’t pertain to that. The structure of school itself felt rather suffocating, and I felt as though I didn’t have as significant of a creative outlet as I desired. I knew by my senior year that I didn’t want to go to college. School always seemed like an inessential step that didn’t align with the path I wanted to take, something that was standing between me and my goals that I knew were in reach. Contrary to those beliefs, I decided to attend college to see if I was wrong, which I wasn’t. School simply isn’t for me, which is perfectly okay. With that being said, after a couple of years, I dropped out which was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Alright, 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?
When I initially expressed that I wanted to drop out of school to pursue acting, I was met with a lot of support, but I was also “advised” by many people not to because it would be too difficult to obtain an agent or get auditions due to my absence of a reel and film credits. Despite their opinions, I signed with an agency and booked my first professional film acting gig within a few months of dropping out. Everything was going extremely well until I expressed to my agent that I was uncomfortable playing offensive stereotypical roles and partaking in projects that push harmful narratives against Black people. My stance on this will absolutely never change. As a Black woman, I’ve seen and felt first hand the effects that portraying Black people in such a cynical and fallacious way has on the Black community and myself, and I have no interest in perpetuating those ideals. That is not representation; that’s mockery, and it’s absurd to me that this conversation is still being had. My agent’s response to me saying all of this was filled with bigotry, ignorance and disrespect which was very jarring. In a nutshell, I was told that if I didn’t play these roles, I was unmarketable. Although this was disheartening, I knew it was untrue. I knew that I deserved and was worthy of so much better, so I decided to terminate my contract with this agency. I’m now happily signed with an agency that understands, respects and supports me. It was so nice to be validated about that situation and to be assured that my experience with them would be antithetical. This situation really taught me the importance of transparency and assertiveness, as well as staying true to yourself.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Although my professional title is an actor, I also sing and occasionally model. What I’m most proud of is my progress, not just in terms of my performance abilities, but mentally. I struggle immensely with my mental health, and it’s impacted my career in many ways. From having anxiety attacks before auditions, to almost letting my anxiety deter me from advocating for myself. No matter how hard or scary these things may seem, I push through it every time. I can’t compare myself to others because no two people are the same, but what I pride myself on is my authenticity and integrity. I think it takes a lot of strength and bravery to still be yourself and go for and say what you want regardless of opposing external opinions or any other adversity that may arise. I will always prioritize my mental and physical health rather than allowing myself to be subjected to this toxic work mentality and push myself outside of my limits. As an actor, I want to grow and challenge myself, but I’m also not willing to compromise my morals or boundaries even if it means passing down what may be disguised as a great opportunity; the willpower that I obtain is something I’m proud of.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
People always preach about following your dreams until that dream doesn’t fall under their perception of realisticity. Take everything people say with a grain of salt. You have endless potential. At the end of the day, It’s inevitable that everything you do and say will be criticized by someone, so there’s no point in doing anything other than what resonates with you and makes you the happiest. Everything isn’t always what it seems, so don’t settle for anything less than what you deserve, and always and stand firm in your beliefs. You can’t mess up anything that’s truly meant for you, so always follow your instincts and trust your gut feeling no matter what. Remember your worth; remember who you are.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: loganmwall
Image Credits:
Tiffany and Makenzie Loera Kayla Marcus
