Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristi Taylor
Hi Kristi , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
As a child, I was somewhat shy and quiet. I started off doing little school programs for special holidays and whatnot. As I grew in years and confidence, my cousins and I would make homemade movies on our camcorder of our versions of SIGNS or MURDER SHE WROTE…even went as far as to write our credits on toilet paper and roll them in front of the screen at the end. Once I got into High School, I joined the Drama/Theatre Department and fell in love with all aspects of the craft. Began learning how to build and design sets, then on to sound and lighting…eventually onto performing. A few years went by and in college, I changed my major because I longed to be able to tell a story. Not just through writing papers for necessary assignments…Not just be in the spotlight but somehow I wanted to make a difference. And I felt as though my purpose on Earth is to be an actress and singer and tell my story through actions and/or lyrics with live performance or on screen.
My Sophomore and Senior years in college, I was lucky enough to be able to perform OFF Broadway at the Rattlestick Theatre and the Cherry Lane Theatre for two original works by my colleagues at the university. It was surreal and just further proved my love and drive to pursue and perfect (as much as possible) my craft. I’ve continued on with Community and Professional Theatre companies in many different states and eventually shifted more into film in 2008. I had a wonderful opportunity for a huge project in 2015 that brought me to Georgia. In 2016, I released my first EP, UNTANGLED on all platforms as well as two singles: STRENGTH BE GLORIFIED and SANTA BABY. Since then, I’ve worked on a variety of productions and met some of the best of the best in the Film Industry. I love what I do and I strive more and more each day to share a bit of what I know and do with someone else who is yearning to be in the industry.
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?
Acting is tough. Don’t get me wrong, it is very rewarding in many ways. But the road to success is a tough and winding one full of curveballs and strikes. You have to have very tough skin to survive this industry. There were times when I’d heard thousands of people say “no” and thought that I was not meant to do this. But, somehow, by the grace of God, I stuck it out and learned that those productions that were a no go for me, meant there was an open door waiting for me to walk on through. And each open door gave me the courage and knowledge to continue on auditioning live or via self-tape. There were also many nights were I knew that I’d need to work another job or two to get the bills paid for that month. And even though I was exhausted, I continued to search for the light at the end of the tunnel, work hard and get by each time. It does get easier. For some, it’s just a few years or roles that boost them up. For me, it’s taken a long time. But, through those years of constant struggle, performing, and succeeding, I have made friends and colleagues for life and the knowledge to continually boost me onward and upward in the industry. I still get the excited butterflies each night before a day of filming. As silly as that sounds, I feel truly at home when I’m in front of a camera or audience.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an actress and singer by trade. However, I’ve also had many wonderful opportunities to direct short films, episodes in various shows and numerous stage productions.
I’m most proud of seeing how my work is read by an audience. I mean that non-narcissistically. When performing on stage in front of a live audience, we get instant gratification if we have delivered a line or action properly. But, on film…normally, we must wait until the project has been released to see how our work played out.
We as actors hope and pray that all the blood, sweat, and tears that we have poured into our performance reads appropriately to the viewers. And if it is well received, that is a success. And if not, then I still consider it a partial success, because I can always go back and see what I could’ve done differently. It helps me for future roles.
I’m really known for doing comedy. However, to be honest, I truly feel my best performance and style of acting is Drama. My favorite role of all time was from Neal Simon’s LOST IN YONKERS in which I portrayed Bella Kurnitz. She was a mid 30’s woman with some mental issues. Nothing was described in full about her limitations. And, because of Simon’s clever writing, I had several very comical lines throughout. But, the most important and impressionable thing about this character is that she teaches and gives the moral of the story while working with those mental limitations. When playing this character, I poured my heart and soul into research. It was imperative to not cross the line between making fun of someone like her, but also giving just enough to keep the audience invested in her storyline throughout. I knew my hard work had paid off when I was giving the two most emotional and heart wrenching monologues of the play, and I could hear people crying and sobbing in the audience. The entire cast and crew of this production were superb and I am so grateful that I was able to be a part of it.
Something I feel sets me apart from others, is my willingness to share my knowledge with new people in the industry. I LOVE to help people and sometimes the smallest thing can make the biggest difference. I teach Improv and other On-Camera acting classes in between filming productions and it’s always a joy to see the students succeed by using some of what I’ve been able to teach them.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was shy as a younger kid. But I was huge into sports growing up. Softball, soccer, tennis, cheerleading, band…theatre! As I progressed in sports and my years, I became a confidently loud and humorous ADHD kiddo. Until I discovered The Giver by Lois Lowry, I wasn’t much of a reader. That book changed my perspective on the hobby and I became obsessed with reading a variety of genres, especially Sci-Fi and Fantasy or really any type of Post-Apocalyptic or Dystopian storyline. One of my other hobbies became painting and writing. I even took lessons in painting creating my first work of art at the age of 9.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kristi-taylor-actress.com
- Instagram: official_kristi_taylor
- Other: https://www.imdb.me/kristi.taylor
Image Credits
Hair and Makeup for the headshots done by Patricia A Reed-Striplin and those are taken by Marie Thomas. Other HMU done by a variety of MUA on set.
