• Conversations with Alya Lei

  • By: Alya Lei
  • Podcast

Conversations with Alya Lei

By: Alya Lei
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  • Summary

  • Welcome to the "Conversations with Alya Lei" podcast; where actor, improviser and audiobook narrator, Alya Lei brings you weekly episodes filled with inspiration and insight. Each episode features captivating guest interviews, valuable resources, and/or uplifting content. Join us as we explore the journeys, challenges, and successes of creatives and entrepreneurs, offering wisdom and motivation to fuel your own path.
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Episodes
  • From Anchor to Actress: Morgan Deer's Journey to Success

    From Anchor to Actress: Morgan Deer's Journey to Success
    Sep 24 2024

    Morgan Deer, now based in Los Angeles, shares a unique and inspiring perspective on her acting journey, rooted in her transition from a career as a news anchor in Humboldt County. Her dedication to the craft is palpable, as she immersed herself in various acting workshops, studios, and improvisation classes, all while living with epilepsy—a condition that has only fueled her determination. Despite facing self-doubt and uncertainty, Morgan draws inspiration from renowned actors like Natalie Portman and Anthony Hopkins, embracing every opportunity to bring memorable characters to life, including her role as a news reporter in the film "Fresh Air." Through her story, she hopes to inspire others, particularly those with disabilities, to pursue their dreams with unwavering confidence and persistence.

    Quick Outline
    (00:01:05) Empowering Actors with Epilepsy through Advocacy
    (00:05:48) From News Anchor to Hollywood: Morgan Deer's Transformation
    (00:13:04) Navigating Obstacles with Self-Belief
    (00:20:15) Overcoming Challenges Through Resilience and Dedication
    (00:24:34) Inspired Journey to Acting Success in LA
    (00:27:35) Acting Opportunities and Pursuing Dreams

    Key Takeaways
    - Morgan Deer advocates for individuals with disabilities in the acting industry and encourages them to pursue their dreams despite challenges.
    - Transitioning from news producer to news anchor and then to actor, Morgan highlights her journey from a small town to Los Angeles.
    - Morgan emphasizes the importance of self-belief and perseverance in overcoming self-doubt and navigating obstacles in Hollywood.
    - Morgan and Alya Lei stress the value of persistence and determination in achieving success and inspiring others to stay focused on their goals.
    - By attending acting classes and securing an agent, Morgan emphasizes the importance of taking action towards one's dreams despite fear and self-doubt.
    - Morgan Deer shares her experience in the film 'Fresh Air' as a news reporter, showcasing her dedication to learning lines and pursuing her acting dream.

    Actionable Insights

    - Believe in yourself and be your own biggest supporter to avoid self-doubt

    - Take inspired action towards your dreams even when faced with fear and self-doubt

    - Persistence and determination are crucial in pursuing your goals and overcoming challenges

    - Leverage your background and skills to create opportunities in your desired field

    - Stay focused on your goals and persist through adversity to achieve success

    - Do not let your identity be defined by any challenges or conditions you may face


    Socials:
    - Instagram: www.instagram.com/miss_morgan4
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    28 mins
  • Vanessa Haney: Horror Stories Author

    Vanessa Haney: Horror Stories Author
    Sep 14 2024

    Vanessa Haney (pen name: Van Haney) grew up in the new age circus known as the entertainment industry. Van was first published in an anthology of poems in 1997. In the early 2000's she was showcased in young filmmaker competitions for her screenplays, and in 2018 while getting her Master's in Education, while also working as VP of Communications at Shoreline Entertainment, she self-published her first book of short stories, "Stories to Curl Your Toes". Now after two children and a move to the Pacific Northwest she's unleashing her stories into the world once again.

    "Bloody Ever After" nine short stories based on re-imagined fairy tales, will be free for digital download on Amazon August 13th through 15th. If you follow her on TikTok: Van_Haney_Books (where Vanessa tells ghost stories), Vanessa will be doing a giveaway for both of her books of horror shorts in September and in October, she will be releasing her novel, currently titled "Safest in the Light".

    TikTok: Van_Haney_Books
    Instagram: @dystopianess

    Show Notes (timing is approximate)

    28s Intro Vanessa Haney aka TikTok: Van_Haney_Books
    1m 15s - Growing up in the Hollywood Circus
    3m 12s - Started acting
    3m 45s - Looking back - wished she focused more on what she was good at in film school - not the “idea” of the path
    4m 6s - Getting into film sales, VP of communications
    5m 15s - Details of film sales 8 years: what is it, how Vanessa got into it, how/why she get out of it
    6m 38s - Miracle and Interview with Shoreline entertainment
    7m 17s - Going to Cannes and assistant to VP of Shoreline
    7m43s - Communications and becoming VP
    8m 07s - Great boss teaching how to market yourself and be an entrepreneur
    8m 34s - High stress job - only 1-3% of films make their money back / profit
    9m 13s - Loved job, but no longer a fit with wanting a family
    9m 43s - Received Masters in Education
    9m 53s - Tends to say “yes” when presented with opportunities
    10m 28s - Improv in high school and college
    10m 36s - One of the main ways independent films are sold
    13m 41s - Picking up films at festivals
    13m 47s - Picking up films that have never been screened at a film festival
    13m 57s - Pitching directly to decision makers at Cannes, TiFF, etc
    14m 47s - Pitched films are not purchased by the company, works as a sales agent
    15m 21s - How independent filmmakers get in touch with companies like Shoreline
    15m 37s - Cinando.com created by Cannes film festival
    15m 52s - look up film sales agents
    16m 02s - Short films?
    16m 13s - Shoreline distribution wing
    17m 01s - Self publish books vs publisher, similar to picking up and distribution for films
    17m 38s - Transitioning into being a mom
    18m 26s - Volunteering at homeless shelters cooking and teaching art, exploring teaching as a new career
    18m 54s - Film set and School community similarities
    19m 27s - Looking back, missing things about Shoreline
    20m 27s - Timeline after Masters degree and moving to Pacific Northwest
    21m 12s - 2022 in Portland, Oregon - teaching and involved in school district
    22m 22s - When did writing, screenplays and books, get involved?
    23m 28s - Started writing 15 years ago, novels and bizarro books
    24m 01s - 2019 wrote short stories and published them
    24m 33s - 1st published book
    24m 48s - Publish another book
    25m 07s - YA fantasy book
    25m 17s - Self publishing books
    26m 07s - Started social media
    26m 31s - Finding your niche
    26m 54s - Ghost stories
    27m 16s - TikTok: Van_Haney_Books (videos) and Instagram: @dystopianess (horror writing)
    27m 52s - Why writing fantasy and horror has always been a part of Vanessa’s life
    28m 37s - Most recent horror book, Safest in the Light, hybrid baby as metaphor for being a parent, juxtaposition LA lifestyle
    29m 58s - Beta readers and editor, out in October 2024
    30m 29s - 2nd book of short stories, Bloody Ever After, 9 re-imagined fairy tales, available on Amazon
    31m 04s - 1st book, Stories to Curl Your Toes, short stories on Amazon
    31m 22s - Books that go out with the Northwest independent writers association
    31m 47s - Giveaways of books and swag - follow Vanessa on social media
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    32 mins
  • Stephanie Bell - Award Winning Producer

    Stephanie Bell - Award Winning Producer
    Sep 6 2024
    STEPHANIE BELL, PGA A member of the Producers Guild of America, Stephanie is an Emmy nominated & multi-award-winning producer and line producer with over 25 years experience in film, TV & digital content. Her films (both features and shorts) have screened in over 75 film festivals around the world, garnering more than 50 awards, including 14 for “Best Feature”.
 Stephanie’s goal is to tell daring and provocative stories that spark a dialogue about the human condition and how our actions impact it.
 She is the founding partner of three production companies, BelLipoma Entertainment, HatLine Productions, and Remote Films. She is a member of the Producer’s Guild of America. Stephanie is also an adjunct professor at College of the Desert in Palm Springs, CA, where she teaches producing and line producing. She also serves as a casting director through her casting company, 2 Tall Dames, based in Palm Springs.
 In addition to her teaching, Stephanie has served as a mentor to high school and college students in the Coachella Valley. As a member of the Palm Springs Women in Film & TV (PSWIFT), Stephanie served as Co-Chair of the Events Committee. Stephanie also has a background in business and legal affairs, having worked in the legal departments at Paramount Picture, Interscope Communications, and Franchise Pictures.
 Stephanie began her career in the entertainment industry as an actress, performing Off- Broadway and regionally. She had the honor of studying in New York City under the tutelage of the Oscar-winning director, Mike Nichols. www.bellipoma.com www.hatlineproductions.com IMDb Show Notes (Timing is approximate): 7sec Stephanie Bell Intro - 1min - 3 production companies - Bellipoma Entertainment, HatLine Productions & Remote films 1min 10 sec - adjunct professor at the College of the Desert in palm springs 1min 20s - casting director at 2 tall dames casting company 2m study under oscar winner Mike Nichols 2m 30 sec oscar winning producers, directors, actors always want to do more 3m 04 sec mike Nichols and improvisation - new actors workshop 3m 20 sec Paul Sills and Second City Improv 3m 30 sec Paul Sills, George Morrison broadway director - 3 teachers for improv training program 4m 07s - Viola Spolin’s sister 4m 43 s - how is Stephanie so prolific, how did Stephanie get started, how is Stephanie so successful? 5m 02s - growing up in family where acting is a hobby 5m 9s - environmental lawyer, english literature major, public relations 5m 28 s- started acting as a young child 5m 35 s - decision to be an actress 5m 54 s - regrets article by Erik Erikson, therapist 6m 20 s - oldest all female theatre company, The Snarks 6m 35 s - left job, in NY city, auditions, etc. 6m 45s - accepted into the New Actors Workshop, acting took off 6m 54 s - workshopping off broadway play brought to Los Angeles 7m 09s - stayed in LA, temp job at Interscope 7m 15 s - hired full time at Interscope, late 90’s, lots of activity in small theaters 7m 45s - involved with Sacred Fools Theater Company 7m 53 s - asked to produce a play 8m 6s - fell in love with producing & why 8m 15s “Don’t wait for people to create work for you, create your own work” 8m 26 s - started doing short films, produced 35 plays in Los Angeles, won awards, segue into features 8m 57 s - always said yes, accepting every offer, can’t give it up 9m 28 sec - recap and timing of decision to act and progress 10m 37 s - great advice Stephanie received from a working actress 11m - get your process and use it to build your acting career 11m 38 s - new actors workshop 11m 42 s - George Morrison taught wesley snipes, edie falco, and more 12m - new actors workshop - so many formats of teaching, find what works for you - your own process 12m 52 sec - 2 years at new actors worksop, then 4 years doing theatre in NYC, then went to LA and never left 13m 22sec - George Morrison said it takes 10 years to hone your craft, ie Sharon Stone, Hank Azaria 13m 54sec - use every audition as an opportunity to work your craft 15m 36sec - everyone has a special quality and finding your special quality 16m 14sec - Stanley Tucci story, right out of school 16m 40 sec - hard part of being an actress - can’t be worried about what other people think about you. Believe in Yourself. 17m 36 sec - remembering who you are 18m - Trust your instincts 18m 51 sec - LA timeline 18m 57sec - 45 yrs old and want to be an actor? 19m 36 sec - involvement with Sacred Fools 21m 50 sec - finding the yes within the no 22m 25 sec - learning which mountains to climb and which battles to fight 22m 50 sec - compromising with other producers 23m 03 sec - producers as writers 23m 54 sec - being too close to the material 24m 57sec - transition out of acting into producing 27m 40 sec - Stephanie teaching 27m 56s - getting involved with the palm springs women in film and television 28m - networking and teaching film development and producing at College of ...
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    45 mins
Art Entertainment & Performing Arts Leadership Economics
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