2021: Actor, writer, creator Tanya Perez jams with author and Emmy-honored casting director Bonnie Gillespie about the inner critic, waiting for permission to play, and turning pain into art that heals.
2021: Here’s the chat from our live session!
2020: Actor, writer, creator Tanya Perez jams with author and Emmy-honored casting director Bonnie Gillespie about the value of relationships in showbiz, how to offer space to your inner critic, and bringing play to everything.
What are your key takeaways from Tanya’s interviews from the SMFA Summit? Share below in the comments! 🙂
Tanya Perez is living her best life as an actor, writer, and filmmaker who actively campaigns for female-focused inclusion in entertainment. Excitable appearances include Orange Is the New Black, Jessica Jones, and Ned Rifle. Her love of playful creativity is brought to life in her slate of short film comedies featured all over the world. Shout out to France, Canada, and Thailand for all those award winning filmmaker milestones including HBO Insider Women in Comedy Festival. As a member of Brown Girl Doc Mafia, NYWIFT, SAG/AFTRA, and forever SMFA Ninja, her latest venture as business owner of Creatively Independent is a natural fit for this hyphenate, teaching others to bring play to their everyday life while building stronger communities. She is also incredibly talented with balloons, laughs inappropriately during movies, and loves her four-legged roommate Tia Tortilla.
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I always love learning about you Tanya. Honored to call you my friend. #inspired.
Tanya!!! Bonnie! I love this! I love the “Invitation to Play” and the “creative incubation”, even the 3 day rule! (mine for writing is like 3 years. hahah! Cut the shit, Days!!!). You’re the first interview I’ve dived into in the summit, and it was motivating and comforting. Thanks, you two! 🙂
So good to see you, Days! YES let’s shorten that 3 year shit. 😉 You’ve got this!
Wow, Tanya! I definitely relate to having the two voices that tell you your work is pointless vs being stoked about all of the opportunities for your work. I love the idea of setting a timeline to help with that. I also love inviting others to play with you and discerning if they are inviting you to play. Thank you so much, Tanya, Bonnie, and team!
I love that she is a clown! I was a singing telegram for a few years for beer money too! Then I ended up finding I loved it and could pay all my bills. I was paid more then the 9-5 job I had. So I quit the 9-5. It was my joy. I was a wonderful stepping stone for so much more to create characters as you have discovered for yourself. Loved* Built a muscle on the hustle… and ask me the hard questions …it’s OK to walk away from the work and come back to it. Gracias, por su tiempo!
Love the building your own table metaphor!!! Amazing, Tanya! So inspiring!