Interview: Actor, Screenwriter and Artist Jennifer Field
Jennifer Field is an actor and has starred in television shows such as the K-Town pilot, and the highly acclaimed television/web series Caribe Road. Today she talks about her struggles with adapting to Los Angeles, balancing career building versus personal life and her upcoming project as a screen writer.
What were some of the challenges you faced trying to get situated in LA as well as meeting and networking with a new group of people and what did you find was the best technique for you to overcome these challenges?
I'll tell you the move was life-changing for sure. I think for some people moving comes easily to them, but for me, it was a real challenge adjusting to a new city. I was fortunate enough to have a strong support system and social network in my hometown of San Jose. I think that was the main reason why getting situated in LA and making a new home out of it was so tough...I rely strongly on my friends and family to uplift me and ground me. I came to Los Angeles solo, no boyfriend or friend in tow to conquer the town with. It helps if you have someone you are close to in LA...and the few people I knew from the Bay Area who were down in LA I sure went running to. So I went to what's familiar, the people I knew from home. It is one major reason why I never chose to do New York--too far from home! One of the biggest challenges for me upon moving here, was, yes, then, my social life and making friends. That was harder than learning the ropes of the entertainment business and gearing up to start working as an actor. I never knew that my personal and social life would be the most difficult adjustment of all! I went home to the Bay Area very often, sometimes a few times a month, to remedy my loneliness. LA has a lot more people that come from other states in the U.S. who were new to California altogether. It was hard for me to connect to people especially females in social settings because I felt I didn't have much in common with them. I always wanted to find a homegirl to go to concerts with, or liked the same movies I was into, or had similar music tastes. That was the hardest part! I often connected easily to new people if we had similar interests...and that took me a while to find.
You were honest about how your parents feel about your diverse career decisions (how they felt it was only a hobby). Many entrepreneurs and people in different (non corporate) career tracks can relate in some respects (some successful entrepreneurs still can asked from their parents, "So when do you plan get a real job?". What do you do to deal with this mental game and does this often discouraging feedback sometimes affect career decisions you make?
In the beginning, like the first couple years, it was harder than it is now. I think now I've learned to build up a protective wall from those doubts and discouragement of choosing a career path they don't think is reliable or worthy of me. It bothered me always because I don't want to disappoint them because I do care about what they think of me, that they are worried about me, I want them to be happy too. I will admit that the negative script in my head has crept in from time to time and it's largely because of my parents! So thanks alot guys! No, it's part of the cycle of life I have found, to rise from the ashes...to do what you were set out to do no matter the obstacles...to prove others wrong and be a role model or hero for future generations to do what I did...which is follow your dreams.
In some industries, there's often conflict between the "regularly dating" phase and the "successful career building" phase of your life, have you found this to be the case in yours? Do you find a way to strike some type of balance in both? If so, how?
I often told guys I was dating, that I was in my "successful career building" phase (hahahaa!), and so could only date lightly and feign lack of interest for a relationship. I did it so I could stay focused on career, and not get tied down to a guy. But in the back of my mind somewhere, I knew that if it was the right guy, I'd totally make time for him and something more serious. Because for me, but not for everyone, falling in love is a part of my life-movie too. And the truth is, the right relationship actually can enhance your career, not hold you back. But that is hard to find. I think being in the same career as someone I was dating helped with understanding one another's time restraints and needs.
Finally, what's some exciting upcoming projects we can expect to see you in and you'd like to talk about?
I started screenwriting for the first time. It is a feature film, and my co-writer is one of my best girlfriends. We are writing it to create a vehicle for ourselves, it is so empowering to write a role for yourself. I have also been cast in the Muse Productions' feature film Tranzloco which begins shooting this spring, and marks the directorial debut of Will De Los Santos, the writer/creator of Spun. The upcoming television series My Thai Life, from Travis Romero, the writer of USA's White Collar is currently in development and I will also be a part of that cast too! Stoked for 2014!
Connect with Jennifer Field
Website: http://www.jennfield.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferField