Meet Alyssa Heyer | Actress, Director, Screenwriter, & Casting Director

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

Hi Alyssa, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
I absolutely love this question. I think a lot of people assume that a career in acting is either solely waiting tables at a restaurant or you’re an A-lister on the red carpet for half the year. There is so much in-between the two that I could genuinely write a book on the ambition, talent, and intelligence it takes to truly be a working actor.

If I had to pick one, though, it would be how often we face rejection. Actors don’t just get an audition for the next Marvel movie or a series regular on Criminal Minds the second we step out of LAX. The first thing to do is start to pitch yourself as a nonunion actor to student projects or nonunion films/series that pay little to no money. We’re essentially working for free for the first few years unless you’re REALLY lucky. Even then, there’s thousands of us competing for these student film roles, so you face a lot of rejection in the beginning.

Then, once you’ve built up enough credits working for free, you begin searching for representation. Let’s say you email 50 managers and agents. Most of the time, you don’t get a response, or if you do, and you’re really lucky, you get a meeting to discuss potential representation. This process sometimes can stump actors for years.

Finally, when you get to the point of having representation and starting to audition for professional credits, which I am blessed to be at this stage at such a young age, you still face loads of rejection. Now, instead of competing against fellow beginners for student films, you’re competing against A-listers, people who have worked in the industry for decades, and nepo babies.

If the general public truly knew how much hard work and faith in yourself it takes to be an actor, I think our craft would be so much more respected. I am truly grateful to be pursuing my passion, but I wish more people knew how difficult it is to continue to choose this life every day when we’re told “no” 95% of the time.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
First and foremost, I am an actor. However, I think what sets me apart from others is my willingness and desire to learn about as many elements of filmmaking as I can. Outside of acting, I work as the Head Casting Director for Some Dude Productions, have directed a short film, and am currently working on writing a feature film.

It is hard to pick just one thing that I’m proud of or excited about. Recently, I’m proud of myself for graduating from the University of Southern California right into a strike and still finding the motivation to continue to act in nonunion work, audition through my reps, participate in my studio’s acting classes, and cast productions. I am most excited about a feature film that I acted in last August doing a festival run. I’m immensely proud of the movie we created,

I got to where I am today professionally truly by understanding that there is always more to learn and learning to love the process of never being a “perfect” actor. There is always another technique to try, a dialect to pick up, a random hobby that can turn into a special skill. I’m also incredibly fortunate to have been able to attend the University of Southern California. The classes offered paired with the incredibly dedicated professors and friends I made along the way, I have to credit a lot of my success so far to them.

My journey to where I am today was far from easy. I didn’t have any family or friends in the film industry before going to USC”. I was completely on my own in the beginning, and was quite literally a small town girl in the big city. I had to overcome anxieties of my physical insecurities being broadcast on the big screen, imposter syndrome, and constantly missing my family back home in Missouri. I overcame my anxieties concerning my physical insecurities simply by watching myself on camera more. I eventually became accustomed to what I look like and have grown to like what I see (most of the time; I’m not perfect!). I am still actively overcoming imposter syndrome, but taking the time to reward myself when I book a role or get an audition (my favorite reward is a blueberry matcha from Dulce!) really helps. Finally, I try to visit my family back home whenever I can, and I FaceTime my parents every day, which has helped a ton with homesickness.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned along the way is that this business is all about time and being willing to both find work and live life in between the big wins or the long periods without work (like a strike for example!). I’ve learned that balancing days where I apply, audition, go to an acting class, and work with my friends on a SDP film or script and days where I go to the beach, do an escape room, and get KBBQ with my friends is truly the best way to have a long-lasting career in this industry.

I want the world to know that while this industry is incredibly difficult to succeed in, it is the most fulfilling, wonderful career to pursue. There’s nothing that can compare to the joy of receiving the call or email that you booked the job, the laughs in-between takes on set, and the lifelong friendships you make.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is actually a great question because I got my best friend from childhood to move out to Los Angeles after visiting a few times! My go-to at the beginning of a trip is always to take whoever I’m with to the beach (especially my land-locked Missouri friends). My favorite beach is Manhattan at the moment because there’s always free parking (if you know where to look), a ton of great restaurants and shops to try, and the beach is usually free of tourists and super clean.

As for eating out, where I take my friends heavily depends on what their taste is. If they prefer more casual dining, my favorites are The Win-Dow in Silver Lake for burgers, Quarter Sheets in Echo Park for pizza, or Amara Cafe in Pasadena for Venezuelan food. f they prefer more fine dining or want to experiment, my favorite dining experience of all time has come from Bestia in The Arts District for Italian cuisine”.

Finally, for general things to do, in Los Angeles, the possibilities are truly endless. Some highlights of things I’ve done with my friends have been going to escape rooms, getting our auras read, playing spikeball at the beach, and painting pottery at Color Me Mine.

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?
I would absolutely love to shout out and thank a few people, starting with my roommate, and one of my closest friends Brandon Whipple who is the head of the production company I work for: Some Dude Productions. I met Brandon my freshman year at USC in our dorm building. We lived across the hall from each other, and I would have never guessed then that he would become one of my closest friends to this day. He took a chance on me as an actor, gave me the opportunity to film a movie during COVID which turned out to be one of the greatest experiences of my life, and continues to inspire me as SDP grows.

I would also like to thank my parents, for supporting me wholeheartedly since I decided to become an actor in 8th grade. I know that was a scary thing for me to say as a child growing up in the Midwest, but you have no idea how many times y’all have lifted me up when I was down, and I don’t think I could’ve done all that I have without you and your support.

Finally, I would like to thank my partner, Armando, for always pushing me to be my best, to Sebastian, for always helping me with my self-tapes and listening to my rants about this crazy business, to my manager Nick for taking a chance on me, and to my professors at USC for teaching me not only how to be a better actor, but how to have tough skin in this business.

Website: https://www.alyssaheyer.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssa_heyer/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx28ssDDWO0UiYRY51ogfOQ

Image Credits
Special thanks to Dana Patrick, Brandon Whipple, & Chun Guerue for photos!