Meet Kristi Taylor | Actress, Director, Producer, Singer

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

Hi Kristi, what do you attribute your success to?
Having a great attitude and always being 100% prepared on the day of filming has led to my success. It’s more than just talent. It is having the willingness to constantly learn and grow in my craft. This is vital to becoming successful in the Film Industry. I understood that I needed to take the time in between filming gigs/jobs to take a class to expand my skill set. Dialects, Improv, script analysis, methods of acting, on camera classes etc. I did my research and took or attended these workshops or classes from reputable people and studios. I also believe we can learn a ton from those we work with on camera. Please, listen to your castmates and crew. They might not be in a scene with you or even on camera, but you can always learn something from those around you. Analyze it and see how you can use it in the future. I’m not saying copying mannerisms or how an actor does their actions…but rather, it’s noticing the minutia around you that make the difference when you apply them in the future. Why does an actor make that choice to say a line a certain way, or move their body the way they do when they say that line? These small things can make or break the believability barrier to the audience. Your mind is a huge sponge, soak up your surroundings!

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I’ve been told that my willingness to share my knowledge of the industry and having a vivacious, somewhat contagious, positive attitude set me apart from others. It’s important to realize that most of us in this industry do not just shoot up to the top and book life changing roles or positions the moment we start. We all start somewhere and need to earn our way through learning, auditioning, and practicing our craft. I truly believe you can’t do better, or be better, until you know better. What better way to know better than from others who have more experience or different points of view in the industry? Pay it forward is always the better way. Who knows, maybe someone you’ve helped will do great things or change lives through the stories they tell…and you might even get to work with them in the future and do the same. Now, the road is not always easy. There have been many challenges growing in my craft and the best thing I have accepted is learning the power of the word “no.” If you realize that the material is something against your moral beliefs or you get the gut feeling it may not be a good idea to go forward or step into a production-trust that. Learning early on that I don’t have to say “yes” to each and every role or position that presents itself has saved me from unnecessary issues that have come about in those productions.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Georgia is not my native state, Texas is. So, in saying that-I’m still technically learning the ins and outs of the Atlanta area. However, I’ve found a few gems within a couple hours drive of the metro Atlanta area that I’d love to show my best friend Melissa Shank. Since she lives in the Houston, TX area, it would be a planned out set of events such as:

1: Pick up from airport
2: Laugh, cry, hug and allow the excitement to commence.
3: Decide which place to visit first-but usually a quick lunch/dinner is in order. We both love Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, so
we’d probably set our menu on any of the places Guy Fieri has listed from the Atlanta area throughout her entire visit.
4: Catch up on all the chaos life has brought to each of us.
5: Visit a museum or an art exhibit such as the Van Gogh exhibit that was here for a while.
6: I’d love to take her to a film set, of course with permission of the studio and/or production team. She’s only seen my work
on television and in the movies and it would be an amazing opportunity to actually show her from my perspective on set.
7: Of course, we’d have to visit the iconic Coca-Cola Factory and Georgia Aquarium.
8: Ruby Falls or any waterfall within a couple hours.
10: Elijay, GA. I filmed for a couple days on the set of THROUGH THE GLASS DARKLY in that quaint little town and it was
beautiful and the people were just awesome. I honestly love going there and reminiscing.
11: Take back to airport and cry, laugh, and begin discussing along the way what we’d do the next time either of us visits each
other.
I’m sure there are tons more and every time a person tells me a new place they love, I tend to mark it down on a list and keep it growing. Each time I visit, I mark it off and rate it according to how much fun I had and if I’d visit again.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people who have helped me along the way become who I am in the industry…where to start? Firstly, my parents have taught me how to work hard at what I love and stay humble with any successes that come my way.  Secondly, I’m extremely thankful to all of my professors at Texas Wesleyan University. Without them, I’d have no clue of what I was doing or have the courage to have started down this crazy road in the Entertainment Industry. Thirdly, Steven Lindsay, my previous Director from Neil Simon’s LOST IN YONKERS, in which I portrayed the character Bella-he saw something in me and really helped to steer me to the deepest parts of my abilities to play that character. This role alone gave me so many opportunities for other important people in the industry to get a glimpse at who I was as a person and what I could do with my raw talent. Next would be Kevin Peeples.  He is another fantastic Director of mine from the movie, LIKE ARROWS. He was patient, kind, and such an inspiring force to work with. Moving on to Nadira Pankey, whom I call Naz, has been such a wonderful person to work with as well. Not only was she my Director on GERALD’S HANDS, but she and I are working together on a short film at the moment that will grasp at the heartstrings of the viewers. But, I have to say, the most important person in my life that has helped guide my path, is God. He has always led me in the right direction and every time a door opens for me in life, I give all the credit to Him. He has never once steered me wrong and I’m genuinely excited to see what door He opens next.

Website: www.kristi-taylor-actress.com

Instagram: official_kristi_taylor

Other: www.imdb.me/kristi.taylor