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There’s Something About Her: Kari Wishingrad
by Don Schwartz
Kari Wishingrad, a Bay Area actress, whose name turns up in so many places that friends often wonder how she can do it.People meeting Kari Wishingrad find her warm and gregarious. In the last year, her name turns up in so many places that friends often wonder how Kari has found so much success here in the Bay Area (including production work behind the camera). Her dynamic background has much to do with it, as does her exemplary job of completing all the not-so-little tasks that a serious actor must do to support a fruitful career. And she has much of value to share with her peers.
How long have you been acting?
I first started acting when I was a little kid. I went to a private school in New York City, where many of the students were in the performing arts, and we always were encouraged to perform. So as young as kindergarten, I was onstage. But in 2001, I decided to seriously pursue my acting career, and really take it to a professional level.
So, what were you up to between childhood acting and 2001?
(Laughs) Well, acting was always there in my mind, and I always wanted to be an actress. And so I flirted with it. I did a lot of community theater, musical theater. I even spent my sophomore year of college abroad in France, and performed with a French/English language theater company. You know, I was doing other things, going into other careers, trying to ignore my true calling, but acting always called me forth. And I think once I really claimed it (and said, "I really need to do this for myself, because it's my true love"), that's when it really started taking off.
Was there a particular circumstance or event that catalyzed your decision in 2001?
I think it was getting into my late 30s and realizing that, if I don't do this now, I'm going to be on my deathbed and I'll hate myself. I'll look back at my life and have regrets, and think, "Why didn't I really follow my passion, why didn't I do what I really wanted to do?" So, it was sort of entering into an early mid-life crisis that propelled me.
Did you have a specific career before you made the decision in 2001?
I had a couple of things going. I became an entrepreneur in 1994, and I trained to be a business and life coach, so I had coaching clients. And I also did something very off-the-beaten-path: I was an ear-candling practitioner. I set up a whole business around seeing clients and training practitioners in that modality.
Do you still do any of that now?
I don't advertise the ear-candling anymore, but every once in awhile I'll get a client and I'll do it if I have the time. As for the coaching, I still have a few clients, I tend to draw more actors and people in the industry as those are the people I am around the most. Though I'm trained to coach any occupation.
Would you give us a summary of the acting work you've done over the last eight years?
It's definitely been an evolution. I started out doing a lot of student productions, and small low-low-budget films. My first film, The Waves, actually went to Cannes! I had a featured role in it. I also did a lot of industrials, print, commercials, voice-over, and some theater. With regard to film, I took on more thesis-oriented projects and bigger budget independent films. So it shifted - in the beginning I was willing to do anything and everything, and now I've become more selective and discriminating in all those arenas. And now, when I go out on an audition, I feel that I'm also auditioning them. I've been known to change my mind and not do an audition or take a role, because the communication with the people was so sporadic or incompetent that I realized I didn't want to get involved with them.
So, is it fair to say you've brought your experience as a business woman into your work as an actor?
Absolutely. In fact, I think it's given me an edge over many of the actors I meet. A lot of actors don't have - and this is true of many of those in the healing arts too - business skills. Many aren't trained in the organizational skills, or they don't have the business sense to propel their careers forward.
Have you thought about writing books or articles, or offering workshops?
No, I haven't, because that's a whole other line of business. I'm so concentrated on what I'm doing for my own personal career, that I really don't want to dilute what I'm focusing on.
Do you have a particular focus as an actor?
I'm really moving toward film, first and foremost. I think I'll always want to do voice-over, print, commercials, or television shows, if the opportunity is there. My motto is 'never say never,' and I really love film work. I would say comedy is something I would love to do more of, and I think I'm good at it. But I'm also drawn to drama. Ultimately it always comes down to the script and the production company and the people involved. Is this a story worth telling? Who do I want to work with? Who do I want to spend time with?
Recently you've been getting into some other matters behind the camera.
Yes, I'm starting to get a little bit into producing, which is a whole other side of the industry that I really didn't know much about, and I still feel very na•ve. But I'm learning. I'm working with Ron Schilling, who wrote Pink Dress, and we're working on getting financing for that. He asked me to come on board because I have really great networking and organizational skills. It's been a great opportunity to learn as I go along.
Any other involvements behind the camera?
I am also looking for financing for a short film that was written for me to star in. I have a director selected, and we're refining the script. Once it's finished, we'll shop it for financing. And, I've done a little bit of casting - but that, again, kind of just fell in my lap - people would ask me, "Who do you know? I need some actors." And I wound up doing some casting for a corporate industrial a couple of years ago. And more recently I cast some people for a web-based episodic show. I think that's a fortŽ of mine; I think I have a good eye. I keep a database of actors. When I meet people, and they give me their cards and headshots, I keep them in mind. I like to network and refer people.
We've heard the acting school mantra for so many years: Get-a-rŽsumŽ-go-to-LA. Where do you stand on that?
Well, I think it really depends on the individual. I mean, there's definitely a bigger percentage of the industry there. But I believe a lot can happen here. It's a lifestyle choice. For me, I have been going to LA on and off for a week or weeks at a time over the past 3 years. I take classes, go to networking events, take meetings, auditions - keeping myself connected there. People in the industry who I respect keep telling me I should be in LA. I recently went down there and took a week-long audition workshop with Caryn West and she encouraged me to stay in LA. I figure it's one of those things: when it's right, it's really right - and then it feels easier to make it work. I feel like I'm moving toward that, and it's more a financial issue at this point, being able to afford a second home there. You never know when that may happen.
What are your thoughts about the Bay Area as a production center?
I'm rootin' for the Bay Area big time! I really want to see the Bay Area get it together for film production. I think there're so many talented people here, and there's so much opportunity for great films to be made here. I really hope it will happen, and I think there are so many people like me who question being in LA full-time, be it financial or the lifestyle change, as our families and communities are here. There are so many people here who have so much to offer on a creative level.
You mentioned Pink Dress. That seems to be the most significant project you're involved with behind the camera. Can you say anything about the script and the process of getting it produced?
Pink Dress is about a family man who one day is perusing the web, and stumbles upon what appears to be semi-naked photos of his twelve-year old daughter. So, he gets dragged down into this whole underground world of youth exploitation. The tagline is: "While we sleep, they steal our children." It's a timely piece because of the whole world of the Internet and people's unease with some of the scary stuff out there. Ultimately, it's a heart-moving story of a father struggling to hold his family together in these confusing times. Very inspirational. Ron has already created a lot of movement on it. He's been working on it for several years. The script has received a lot of industry acclaim. He has a great team of people that he's put together, and we're really excited about recently bringing in Peter Quarteroli of Table 21 Films as producer.
Do you anticipate producing it in Northern California?
Yes, absolutely, that's the goal, in Sonoma County. But you know how that can be? Sometimes, if a name got attached and they have a production company, and they want to shoot it in New Mexico, for example, we would certainly consider. But as it stands now, we're looking forward to producing locally where our independent community is growing - amazing amount of talent here to be discovered.
Is there anything else you want to say about your work behind the camera?
Just that it's interesting. People keep handing me scripts. I have seven scripts sitting on my desk right now, and a lot of these people don't even know that I've started producing...
They just want my feedback. But, again, I don't want to dilute my energy and interests too much. Right now my main focus is my acting and Pink Dress. Once Pink Dress is out, I'll be able to introduce other projects.
Well, it sounds exciting, and there's no reason why you couldn't or shouldn't be in front of and behind the camera.
Thank you. I think what's really fun as an actor is learning about as many aspects of the industry as possible. It gives me a new appreciation, and a new understanding about what really goes into the making of a film. Anybody who makes a film that gets distribution - boy, hats off to them, because it takes a tremendous amount of focus, dedication, and hard work. I really admire that.
Posted on Feb 04, 2009 - 11:12 PM
by Don Schwartz
Kari Wishingrad, a Bay Area actress, whose name turns up in so many places that friends often wonder how she can do it.How long have you been acting?
I first started acting when I was a little kid. I went to a private school in New York City, where many of the students were in the performing arts, and we always were encouraged to perform. So as young as kindergarten, I was onstage. But in 2001, I decided to seriously pursue my acting career, and really take it to a professional level.
So, what were you up to between childhood acting and 2001?
(Laughs) Well, acting was always there in my mind, and I always wanted to be an actress. And so I flirted with it. I did a lot of community theater, musical theater. I even spent my sophomore year of college abroad in France, and performed with a French/English language theater company. You know, I was doing other things, going into other careers, trying to ignore my true calling, but acting always called me forth. And I think once I really claimed it (and said, "I really need to do this for myself, because it's my true love"), that's when it really started taking off.
Was there a particular circumstance or event that catalyzed your decision in 2001?
I think it was getting into my late 30s and realizing that, if I don't do this now, I'm going to be on my deathbed and I'll hate myself. I'll look back at my life and have regrets, and think, "Why didn't I really follow my passion, why didn't I do what I really wanted to do?" So, it was sort of entering into an early mid-life crisis that propelled me.
Did you have a specific career before you made the decision in 2001?
I had a couple of things going. I became an entrepreneur in 1994, and I trained to be a business and life coach, so I had coaching clients. And I also did something very off-the-beaten-path: I was an ear-candling practitioner. I set up a whole business around seeing clients and training practitioners in that modality.
Do you still do any of that now?
I don't advertise the ear-candling anymore, but every once in awhile I'll get a client and I'll do it if I have the time. As for the coaching, I still have a few clients, I tend to draw more actors and people in the industry as those are the people I am around the most. Though I'm trained to coach any occupation.
Would you give us a summary of the acting work you've done over the last eight years?
It's definitely been an evolution. I started out doing a lot of student productions, and small low-low-budget films. My first film, The Waves, actually went to Cannes! I had a featured role in it. I also did a lot of industrials, print, commercials, voice-over, and some theater. With regard to film, I took on more thesis-oriented projects and bigger budget independent films. So it shifted - in the beginning I was willing to do anything and everything, and now I've become more selective and discriminating in all those arenas. And now, when I go out on an audition, I feel that I'm also auditioning them. I've been known to change my mind and not do an audition or take a role, because the communication with the people was so sporadic or incompetent that I realized I didn't want to get involved with them.
So, is it fair to say you've brought your experience as a business woman into your work as an actor?
Absolutely. In fact, I think it's given me an edge over many of the actors I meet. A lot of actors don't have - and this is true of many of those in the healing arts too - business skills. Many aren't trained in the organizational skills, or they don't have the business sense to propel their careers forward.
Have you thought about writing books or articles, or offering workshops?
No, I haven't, because that's a whole other line of business. I'm so concentrated on what I'm doing for my own personal career, that I really don't want to dilute what I'm focusing on.
Do you have a particular focus as an actor?
I'm really moving toward film, first and foremost. I think I'll always want to do voice-over, print, commercials, or television shows, if the opportunity is there. My motto is 'never say never,' and I really love film work. I would say comedy is something I would love to do more of, and I think I'm good at it. But I'm also drawn to drama. Ultimately it always comes down to the script and the production company and the people involved. Is this a story worth telling? Who do I want to work with? Who do I want to spend time with?
Recently you've been getting into some other matters behind the camera.
Yes, I'm starting to get a little bit into producing, which is a whole other side of the industry that I really didn't know much about, and I still feel very na•ve. But I'm learning. I'm working with Ron Schilling, who wrote Pink Dress, and we're working on getting financing for that. He asked me to come on board because I have really great networking and organizational skills. It's been a great opportunity to learn as I go along.
Any other involvements behind the camera?
I am also looking for financing for a short film that was written for me to star in. I have a director selected, and we're refining the script. Once it's finished, we'll shop it for financing. And, I've done a little bit of casting - but that, again, kind of just fell in my lap - people would ask me, "Who do you know? I need some actors." And I wound up doing some casting for a corporate industrial a couple of years ago. And more recently I cast some people for a web-based episodic show. I think that's a fortŽ of mine; I think I have a good eye. I keep a database of actors. When I meet people, and they give me their cards and headshots, I keep them in mind. I like to network and refer people.
We've heard the acting school mantra for so many years: Get-a-rŽsumŽ-go-to-LA. Where do you stand on that?
Well, I think it really depends on the individual. I mean, there's definitely a bigger percentage of the industry there. But I believe a lot can happen here. It's a lifestyle choice. For me, I have been going to LA on and off for a week or weeks at a time over the past 3 years. I take classes, go to networking events, take meetings, auditions - keeping myself connected there. People in the industry who I respect keep telling me I should be in LA. I recently went down there and took a week-long audition workshop with Caryn West and she encouraged me to stay in LA. I figure it's one of those things: when it's right, it's really right - and then it feels easier to make it work. I feel like I'm moving toward that, and it's more a financial issue at this point, being able to afford a second home there. You never know when that may happen.
What are your thoughts about the Bay Area as a production center?
I'm rootin' for the Bay Area big time! I really want to see the Bay Area get it together for film production. I think there're so many talented people here, and there's so much opportunity for great films to be made here. I really hope it will happen, and I think there are so many people like me who question being in LA full-time, be it financial or the lifestyle change, as our families and communities are here. There are so many people here who have so much to offer on a creative level.
You mentioned Pink Dress. That seems to be the most significant project you're involved with behind the camera. Can you say anything about the script and the process of getting it produced?
Pink Dress is about a family man who one day is perusing the web, and stumbles upon what appears to be semi-naked photos of his twelve-year old daughter. So, he gets dragged down into this whole underground world of youth exploitation. The tagline is: "While we sleep, they steal our children." It's a timely piece because of the whole world of the Internet and people's unease with some of the scary stuff out there. Ultimately, it's a heart-moving story of a father struggling to hold his family together in these confusing times. Very inspirational. Ron has already created a lot of movement on it. He's been working on it for several years. The script has received a lot of industry acclaim. He has a great team of people that he's put together, and we're really excited about recently bringing in Peter Quarteroli of Table 21 Films as producer.
Do you anticipate producing it in Northern California?
Yes, absolutely, that's the goal, in Sonoma County. But you know how that can be? Sometimes, if a name got attached and they have a production company, and they want to shoot it in New Mexico, for example, we would certainly consider. But as it stands now, we're looking forward to producing locally where our independent community is growing - amazing amount of talent here to be discovered.
Is there anything else you want to say about your work behind the camera?
Just that it's interesting. People keep handing me scripts. I have seven scripts sitting on my desk right now, and a lot of these people don't even know that I've started producing...
They just want my feedback. But, again, I don't want to dilute my energy and interests too much. Right now my main focus is my acting and Pink Dress. Once Pink Dress is out, I'll be able to introduce other projects.
Well, it sounds exciting, and there's no reason why you couldn't or shouldn't be in front of and behind the camera.
Thank you. I think what's really fun as an actor is learning about as many aspects of the industry as possible. It gives me a new appreciation, and a new understanding about what really goes into the making of a film. Anybody who makes a film that gets distribution - boy, hats off to them, because it takes a tremendous amount of focus, dedication, and hard work. I really admire that.
Posted on Feb 04, 2009 - 11:12 PM
