Today's episode is with talent manager and career coach Anastasia Edwards.
Born in Georgia (the country) and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia, Ana moved to the United States at 18 after studying at the Theater Academy of Dramatic Arts. She built a solid on-camera resume, featuring roles in NCIS Hawaii (CBS), Chicago Fire (NBC), and Little America (Apple TV+), in addition to award-winning film credits. Ana has always been passionate about the business side of acting, which she fully explored during the pandemic by launching career coaching for actors. Her coaching quickly gained popularity, helping actors define their brand, build strong teams, and establish industry connections. Her clients have been signed and booked in major markets across the US, Canada, London, and Australia, confirming her belief that this was her true calling. Now, Ana is excited to join Malissa Young Management as a manager, bringing a unique perspective from her experience as a former actor and career coach. She speaks the actors' language, understands the journey and craft, and combines this with her years of coaching experience in marketing, positioning, and networking.
In this episode, we discuss…
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How to pick which market actors should pursue their careers
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How she booked TV roles after relocating
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What to remember when listening to other actor podcasts and interviews
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Spotting scams & avoiding pay-to-play agencies
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How being laid off from her day job led her to coaching actors
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Her transition to becoming a talent manager
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The importance of networking and creating your own career momentum
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Why branding and networking make actors “squeemish” (and what we can do about it)
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Why branding is an empowering thing - not a limiting thing
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Anastia’s own mental health journey with anxiety and panic attacks
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What Anastasia believes takes agency away from the actor
Quotes from the episode...
“Happy actor = happy career”
“Prioritize yourself and your own well being first”
“Just because something works for one person doesn’t mean it will work for another.”
“Just take a break and see if you miss it…”
“So often, actors put all their eggs in one basket in an agent and a manager.”
“Branding has become a dirty word. Sometimes we get hung up on what the label is, rather than what it actually means.”
“Branding is the foundation for your marketing. But how can you market something you don’t understand?”
“At 21, I had my first anxiety attack. I was sure it was a heart attack.”
“Sometimes, we’re just on autopilot without asking ‘Do I still want this?’”
“If you educate yourself enough on the business and take agency, you’ll be less likely to be swayed in the wrong direction.”
“Don’t try to get it perfect. Try to get it going.”
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