Meet Rita Casman | Entertainer and Lifecoach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rita Casman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rita, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk sounds scary…I can assure you it is part of living your best life because it helps you attract what you want and make it happen. It helps you get over the “what if” by choosing the option that bests suits your needs and dreams! However, you do need to asses risk in the sense that you must analyze the situation. It is important to think about our options but also get into adventure mode. It is definitely easier when we have nothing to lose and everything to win, as well as having tried other options and not having success with them. The best example I can give you is how I got into acting. I am originally from Guatemala and I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Design. My major experience has been mainly in customer service, the call center industry in Outsourcing to be precise. I was tired of that job and tried several times to get higher positions. I achieved a lot of growth but I was unhappy and not where I wanted to be in regards to my positions. I felt that I could not be creative. I decided to go Freelance in Marketing and Public Relations, since I did not count with intern, entry or higher level experience. I did a bunch of stuff in different companies for 3 years. I was happier…still not “it”. One of my previous projects involved me working with Carlos Arguello, an amazing artist in After Effects that has worked in Hollywood. When I got to know his resume, I immediately recalled that when I was little I wanted to be an artist, especially in Voice Over, Acting and Singing. I thought it was a pipe dream and I would always put it off. There is a community in Guatemala, but at that time I was more called to acting in English, so I decided to check out what to do to move to LA. At that time, one of my uncles had lived there for a very long period of time, so I got in touch with him and he offered to help out! I still remember how nice it was when he would give me a ride all the way to Burbank back at our apartment in Korea Town. My uncle Fito passed away from Covid and other complications, I really miss him. Anyway, I have always been a nerd and when I found out that I could get a Master of Fine Arts in Acting for Film I was pumped. The highest level of education in the Arts! Of course that was just the base, in my case, it was worth it because I am an academic freak. I managed to get myself there and then things started to fall into place, I even met my husband. We have been married now for almost 6 years. Oh boy. My life is so different now that I have finally understood what being happy really is and the importance of life. It’s all in the little things, your purpose and career is not all your life, it is part of it. Family and Health comes first. In order for us to help others, we must be well first. The life of an artist is not a horse race, it is a journey. There will be times when you will not be auditioning or booking. There is time for everything. When I lived in LA it was mostly about acting, for me now it has all been about healing and my family, which for now starts with my husband. I moved to Arizona and have started a life here. I’m super excited that now I can live wherever I want and not be attached to LA. It has been like that for a while actually, I just didn’t see it, and it’s good in a way because I took advantage of all the time I spent there. See the high risk I took? I left my life as I have known it. Being an immigrant is super challenging and I was ready for it because I had tried everything I could that was part of my journey and lead me to this point. I had nothing to lose and everything to win and I knew that if I tried and it didn’t work, then I would find my way because when there is a will, there is a way (Pound Puppies lol). Who seeks, finds! Who knocks the door, gets an opportunity! I have also learned to balance the ego as well. You don’t always get what you want, you get what you need 🙂 Life a lot of the times gives you much better options. A plan if great, but it won’t always be 100 per cent what you think. Let life surprise ya! So if you ask me…role of all of my life’s risks, including future ones: The Universe’s presents for me that I also share with the world.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I must say that my specialty is Comedy and Horror, I knew mostly about my comedic side before I started my Master’s at the New York Film Academy. I started making voices and singing when I was little and I would also say that I would be a teacher. It was more like a life coach and mentor, still a bit similar. Actually I just discovered that last year that I started to get certifications and courses. All of my previous experience has led me to where I am, all of my career choices have been correct! I even studied a Master’s in International Relations, Diplomacy and Public Image, which has led me to my Philanthropic side and I really want a Doctor’s degree in Social Work. It was definitely not easy, there were times when I was a youngster that I found myself thinking about quitting or not being able to make it in every sense of the way. I understood that an Entrepreneur takes time, it’s not a structured plan like other careers, it’s more adventurous per say. I persisted, had tolerance with resilience and my support system through the years. I struggled with a lot of mental health issues, but I looked for help and got out of my way. I used tools in my tool box like spirituality and recreation. I learned that you can be happy no matter what. Life is what you do with your experiences not what has happened to you, good or bad. I learned how to feel the feelings and confront them by moving on. Mindfulness is key, being present and not living in the past of the future. Using those last two as inspiration instead.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The Grand Canyon of course! And my favorite place ever, Sedona! That energy vortex is real! Before heading to Sedona, we would go first to Jerome and have an early dinner, it’s an actual ghost town! It is so amazing. We would stay in Flagstaff, better even if it’s almost winter so it can be nice and fresh outside. We would have a delish breakfast and head out to the Grand Canyon and hike our hearts out! Then we head out to Prescott and get some lunch! Since it’s a week I would stay a few days in each place, I was giving the description of what I do with Hubby haha

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh my too many peeps! I choose my parents, Arturo and Rita, my first mentors and caretakers, friends and so much more. The movie Soul helped me understand so much! So Disney, I send this to you too!

Website: ritacasman.com

Instagram: ritacasman

Linkedin: ritacasman

Twitter: ritacasman

Facebook: ritacasman

Image Credits
Dana Right, Fresh Look Photos, Corey Barker, David Hemphill, Adriana Ledesma and Yyyyilinli