Breaking Big Panel and Awards
Written by Katherine Severin. Photo by Katelyn Myrick.
On Friday, October 27, four breakout actors shared invaluable insights in a candid panel at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival. Entertainment Weekly sat down with the stars Chloe Coleman, Aria Mia Loberti, Taylor Zakhar Perez and Maddie Ziegler to discuss the highs and lows of their careers.
Like many careers in the arts and entertainment industry, no two paths to success are the same. Loberti was in the middle of getting her Ph.D. when she booked her first acting role through an online Zoom cattle call. “I spent my entire childhood wishing I could be an actor, but for me, that would be the equivalent of being a fighter pilot,” said Loberti, who plays the lead role in “All the Light We Cannot See.”
Loberti is legally blind and landed the role through a global search for low-vision actors. As someone with low vision, she says that her community has not been represented in the film industry. She hopes that she can be a role model and help “hundreds of millions of people to realize the potential of this community.”
Perez has loved comedy and acting since his childhood, when he recreated SNL skits with his siblings. But his passion began behind the camera. His mother signed him up for theater camp, where he did lights and audio work. “After that, I was excited about it and started auditioning more. I think that’s what lit the spark in me to continue in comedy,” said Perez.
While honing his craft in acting, Perez worked in the art department building sets with his uncle. “You meet incredible people, and you also meet some not-so-nice people.”
Job hunting can be one of the most stressful things that a person goes through in their life. Entertainment Weekly asked the panel to share their job-seeking horror stories and what they learned from their audition fails.
Coleman said, “A couple of years ago, there was this huge heatwave, 118 degrees outside. Two days before a chemistry read with Adam Driver on Zoom, my AC went out. I could not think, it was miserable. I should have gone to a space that had AC to be well rested and prepared. Making sure you’re in a good mindset and a good space before you do a chemistry read, especially on Zoom, is important.”
Perez shared personal stories about juggling auditions and gave the advice he’s learned from these experiences, “You’re going to go to a lot of auditions. I would say you have to be ready for everything, every situation. My dad taught me to wake up with a goal, see the goal, go through the day with it, and go to bed seeing it or else you’re not going to get what you want.”
Perez also gave students the advice to celebrate themselves after auditioning. “Get ice cream, get fast food, go to the beach, do something that your body and mind can associate with a feeling of goodness.”
Ziegler said, “I think the best advice I have ever gotten is that you are always going to get a lot of nos. But just keep pushing because something really special is going to happen if you want it and if you are hardworking.” Another thing that she has learned is to be specific about how to define authenticity and choose projects that make you happy.
“I think the best advice that I have received is to find a way to speak truth in everything you do,” said Loberti.
Coleman’s piece of advice is, “Some of the best advice that I carry with me and live by is something Jean-Marc said to me, ‘work a little, play a little, work a little, and live a little.’” Coleman is a big advocate for taking time for living and making friends.
To wrap up the conversation, Perez said, “Worst advice: Sneeze in your audition, so you can restart. Best advice: be kind to everyone, build a network of peers, and learn as much as you can!”
