On this Episode, Mallory Ivy opens up about the art and experience of acting itself. She discusses the joy she derives from connecting with her co-stars and the mindfulness required in acting. She also gives us a glimpse into the benefits of Meisner training and the often underestimated value of self-observation in honing one's craft.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to I Am Me podcast.
I'm your host, liz Bachman, andon this podcast I want to
celebrate you for being you.
I'm super excited to sit downwith my guests each week and
talk about their journey, theirexperiences and where they came
from.
So, without further ado, let'sdive into this week's episode.
Hey everybody, welcome back toI Am Me.
(00:21):
Today I'm here with my goodgood friend, mallory Ivy.
I love her so much.
I goodness.
I met Mallory back and duringthe pandemic we did a virtual
Meisner class together.
She's a phenomenal actor.
She's an even more amazingperson, I would say.
She also does some modeling andher energy is just so
(00:42):
infectious.
So I think if you're not evenan actor, you could get so much
out of this.
She'll just boost your energy.
So yeah, hi.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Mallory Hi, how are you?
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Good.
How are you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:53):
You know hanging in for a short sunshine.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
I literally just said I'm not good.
I'm not good.
I just said I'm doing the thingwhere I'm like, oh, I'm good,
I'm not good, I'm struggling,but I'm here and I'm excited to
be here.
So I'm glad you're here andyou're excited to be here.
There we go, and I'm glad thatyou're hanging in.
Yeah, hanging in.
I feel like that's a new thing,that, like people are saying
Really.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
I, yeah, I felt like, of course, a person that picks
up the most random things, orI'll say something wrong and
think it's right.
So you know, I have no clue.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Yeah, I, I don't know , I still like say things.
I feel like that I said in highschool.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
So oh, 100%.
There was one that came up Iused to say in middle school and
then it brought up the whole.
I think I said like bees kneesor whatever.
And then my one of my highschool friends was like girl, do
you remember when you used tosay knock your knees out?
Speaker 1 (01:47):
I never heard that one, the knock your knees out,
uh huh.
Oh, is that a Mallory original?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
I think so.
I think it was just I wasslightly violent, but I would
give people a warning.
I was like I'm gonna knock yourknees out.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Like you're being an idiot, I'm gonna knock your
knees out After I just talkedabout how great you are.
She's so amazing, she's sosweet, but she's got a side Like
don't get on her bad side.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
You know I'm an Aries , I'm a fireside.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
I get a little.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
I look I get a little heated, but I be sure to let
you know before I throw a punch.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
I guess there you go.
Oh, my goodness, completely offtopic, but I love it.
Yeah, um, okay, dive intoacting.
Acting is kind of why we'rehere, um, I mean, not really
we're here for you, we want toget to know Malpal, um, but what
, what started acting for you,like, where did that?
You know you're talking tosomeone who's been an acting per
(02:45):
minute when you're like whatstarted acting for you in the
eye roll is just like um, that'sa funny thing though isn't it.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
My story is so complicated and I I don't.
It's not that I hate telling it, it just feels like oh,
everyone expects like the quickanswer, and mine is certainly
not that.
So what happened was?
my neighbor growing up was aproducer for Cartoon Network,
which is like 30 minutes on thestreet from where I grew up.
(03:14):
So, uh, they needed a couple ofkids to do the Cartoon Network
Fridays back in the day and meand my sister would go on it and
my sister ended up hating it.
So she left pretty quickly andI kept going.
I liked, I thought it was fine.
It was nice to meet a bunch ofrandom people.
I got to see Chris do the dineof the dine lady, which was
(03:35):
hilarious.
I didn't understand that, like Ihad no idea what acting was.
So like they would put methrough auditions and I couldn't
understand that.
You know the Muppet, eventhough the guy's underneath you,
like you're talking to theMuppet, and even though the
Muppet said it's still happy,like, still be happy, or, and so
(03:55):
, like I started, he spilledsome M&Ms and I started sobbing
because I felt so bad for theMuppet, even though there's a
dude on the skateboard rightthere too, and having to stay on
camera or whatever.
I mean I guess it was greatbecause I was natural and I bent
down.
They're like no, mallory, youneed to stay in frame.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Wait, how old were you?
Speaker 2 (04:14):
I think I was like six.
I did it from six to eight.
Okay, yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
See, see compassionate heart there.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Right, you know.
So I was just really young andI didn't know what I was doing
and so eventually left and myparents didn't really want me in
the industry, like they didn't.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Understandable.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Yeah, and I get it.
I mean, I was admittedly quitebitter because it was something
I fought for and I would spendmy 30 minutes allotted on the
computer to look up agencies.
But yeah, I didn't get backinto it until theater in high
school.
That was a growing experience,not the best time in my life.
And then in college I wouldjust audition because I was
(04:56):
terrified of it and I wanted toget just.
You know, I was on the careerpath to do science at that point
and just wanted to have someother outlet.
And a friend of mine had anactor drop on a short film and
he's like hey, you can memorizestuff and you've acted before.
I'll buy you a full mellowmushroom pizza if you come to
(05:18):
set Pizza.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
I feel like that's a recurring theme on the podcast
Right.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
But like.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
I mean, I would have done it for a pizza.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Right, I mean especially a mellow mushroom
pizza.
They are like not sponsored bymellow mushroom, but I wouldn't
be mad about getting sponsoredby mellow mushroom.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Yeah, that'd be great .
Speaker 2 (05:38):
They have the best pizza.
So, yeah, I did it.
I realized how much I miss setand from there on out I was
hooked again.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
That's awesome.
I also like something that isinteresting.
I talked to Derek in the pastepisode the one for this we had
talked about how, like he, hewas kind of doing something.
It wasn't acting related, butdoing it like he was scared.
So that's why he was doing itLike it scared him.
So I really like this idea ofdoing something like doing
auditions Like it scared you,but you did it like because it's
(06:09):
because almost because itscared you.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Right, oh, 100% Like.
I'm that person that I don'tlike to be scared.
I don't like to have weakness,because I guess I'm invincible.
I don't know I mean yeah, yeah.
So that was just something.
I was like you know, get getover it.
Like especially because it's amental thing.
(06:31):
If it was like a physical thing, like spiders or whatever, then
you know, maybe I'd let it goby the wayside and not torture
myself.
But especially just because itwas me myself and I in front of
two people and I would go to thebathroom to puke before every
single musical theater auditionI did, I was like this is lame,
get over it.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
But it shows like how intense like that anxiety and
that fear is.
I think it's interesting, too,how many people like have this
idea that actors are just likethese extroverted people who and
I've met so many actors who areactually very introverted and
they're phenomenal actors.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Oh 100%.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Or, and they have like, and some of them have
social anxiety.
So it's interesting.
It's almost like they get totake on this shadow version of
themselves when they perform,which is really cool.
Okay, so now where you arecurrently, what is it that keeps
you like drawn to acting Like?
(07:30):
What is it about acting thatyou're like?
I got to keep doing this thing.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Gosh, I like I can't imagine my life without it.
I don't like pegging it down ishard because you know you're an
actor, you know that 90% of theprocess is just auditioning and
getting rejected, and doingthat over and over and over,
again, over and over Yep, but Iforget I guess it was when I had
the concussion back in 2021.
(07:55):
And I was like, if I'm not ableat the time, like I couldn't
read my side, so my parents hadto read them to me for me to be
able to memorize, and I thinkthat was most terrifying moment
is like if I can't act again, Idon't know what I'll do.
So I think for me is justexploring characters and
exploring the human psyche andwhy we react the way that we do,
(08:17):
and getting to play with otherpeople.
I think that's the most fun, isit and that's why I like film a
little bit more?
Is it has to be on the spot.
You might not get time to getto know your code, like your
costar, yeah.
So you need to be able to makean emotional connection with
somebody very quickly and havingthat vulnerability like that
understood vulnerability is, Ithink, very liberating.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Yeah, I love that.
To the people aspect of it.
I mean that's kind of where Ifeel like I say this every
episode.
That's kind of where thispodcast came from and it's from
something different.
But I mean it's it was matchedout of multiple ideas.
But I think I've met so manypeople that I just think are so
amazing through acting that I'mlike dude, I just want to sit
(09:05):
down and like spend an hour likeinterviewing you, talking to
you, like where you came from,you know how you got to where
you are, yeah, and so that'skind of where that came from.
But, like on the acting aspectof it, completely agree.
Originally, when I started I waslike, oh, like it's about me,
you know, like the like thingthat you fall into I'm not
(09:25):
everyone, but I definitely myego was like and then all, and
then, as I did more and morework, got more comfortable in it
.
I was like, no, like the fun is.
The fun is when you and yourseam partner are like both
showing up and you're puttingall your trust on your seam
partner, your seam partnersputting all your trust on you,
and like y'all are just likejust back and forth that you
(09:46):
know that's the fun.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Right.
Well, I think I can't rememberif it was Dustin or Clayton
Landy.
Well, and you know, clayton,that for people that are
listening, we met in the Meisnerclass with Dustin Lewis and
Eliana Marienis, and then Liztook a class that I've also
taken with Clayton Landy andEliana.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Yeah, phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Oh gosh, wonderful.
I think it was Clayton that youknow he uses strong language.
He was like I don't give arat's behind about what like you
.
What it's about is your partner.
Are you caring about yourpartner and how they're reacting
?
Like do you see at all what'sgoing on in their brain?
Right?
If not, you are so internalizedthat it's selfish and it's hard
(10:34):
for you to get out of your headlike that.
Like it's you're more.
You're leaning more towardsyourself instead of character,
and even to the point of being acaricature instead of just
being present.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Right, but yeah, that was something cool.
I think mindfulness andpresence is something that shows
up so strongly in acting andpeople don't necessarily realize
that.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
And.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
I think I'm learning that still like absolutely 100%.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
I think Meisner was the net like exactly what I
needed, because it has beentraining me to be mindful and to
see, like, how people perceivethe way I interact with the
world and vice versa, becausethat's personally something I
struggle with is I don't socialcues and like the way that
people interact, I don'tnecessarily pick up on and like
(11:23):
I also noticed through Meisnerthat I look at people's lips
instead of their eyes whenthey're talking.
So I figured I might need to goget my ears checked.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
I think, yeah, it's interesting too, like when you
start watching yourself back theway, the way you hold tension,
even like watching myself backin this podcast, like when I
watch back, I even now like thisis only like third episode.
I'm like trying to be aware ofit.
I'll hold tension in my upperlip like and I like to where
it's like tight across my teeth,like I don't know how to do it
(11:53):
when I'm sitting here thinkingabout it.
But when I watched it back I'mlike why are you, why are you so
?
Speaker 2 (11:59):
tight.
Oh, have you ever heard ofAlexander technique?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, so it's verymuch centered around where do
you hold stress in your body andnatural like your.
It focuses on your tics likewhat do you do subconsciously
that you're not recognizing?
But, that's super cool.
I love watching old stuff thatI did and seeing the growth
(12:22):
because I happen.
I don't know how it happened,but I happened to find a self
tape that I did back in collegewhen I still had no idea what I
was doing, like I was justwinging it, I hadn't taken a
class, oh girl, same Same.
(12:42):
There are some projects thatwere like on my reel at one
point that I'm like I hope toGod nobody ever sees the oh like
oh, there is one in particularthat I have in mind, that it was
my first ever film getting backinto the industry and I went to
the.
I drove two hours to go to thepremiere and everything.
(13:03):
And I was like, oh, that's howI look on camera.
And I had driven with somebodyelse and he asked me he's like,
do you want to talk about it?
And said, nope, nope, I'm goingto go eat some ice cream in the
apartment and do better.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
I think I always think it's interesting too when
you get really excited to likeshow somebody like your work and
like you haven't seen it yet,and they're like I finally got
it.
Gather around here.
You hear you look at my workand then they look at it and
you're like, hmm, I have somework to do, like I am still very
(13:43):
much learning slash growing,which I mean.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
the first thing I'll say is that that's the best part
about acting, is we're alwayslearning.
Absolutely Even a listers arein classes, and that's just.
I feel like people don't knowthat Right.
They don't think of the workthat goes into it all the way
through the industry.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
And then there was Tom Holland.
I was listening to a podcast hewas on and he was talking about
his acting coach that he's goton set and like, and people you
know like, there's actingcoaches on set to help you, to
guide you, so it's which furtheradds to that.
It's like what's so specialabout you, like that
collaborative?
mentality that comes with thislike art form, is you're working
(14:25):
with other actors, sometimesyou're, you literally have a
coach, like coach and mentorsand all of that.
I think in any way form this issuch a tangent, but in any way,
shape or form in life are solike undervalued or
underutilized.
Yeah, I think people don'trealize the benefits of having a
(14:49):
coach, not just around acting,but, you know, even if you're an
entrepreneur or anything, justlike having a mentor, somebody
you can.
You know such that was atangent.
I love it All around the bush.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
When have we ever stayed on topic, though, right.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
I'm trying to really hard.
I keep looking at my likequestions and then I just like
wise, happening Acting would beabout acting.
I love you so much.
What was we talked about yourfirst job.
What was your first like paidjob or how, or what was that
(15:32):
experience like for you?
Speaker 2 (15:34):
The first page job I did.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
Yeah, you remember.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
That's what I'm trying to do is like when, which
film that I get paid on,because I used to do like a
bunch of scary films and likeshorts that were paid I mean, of
course, a minimal.
It was all like we'll pay foryour gas to drive down here and
oh yeah, you're not making abang, no and you never really
make bank and acting Anotherthing that people don't realize,
(16:01):
but I think the one thatimpacted me the most was I
wasn't even acting, I wasstanding in just to see I was.
It was a big film came toBirmingham for the first time
and it ended up being horrible.
I mean just a lot of lawsuitsand I won't go into that.
(16:23):
But I yeah, but I learned a lotof what the industry is and
what it takes to do what we doand saw all sides.
I the first time since, like2000, I saw grips and cameraman
and how everyone works togetherand even though I was standing
(16:45):
in, I didn't, I wasn't.
They call me to set and theynever needed me and was was part
of the issue.
So all the departmentsrealizing that it was kind of a
great mentorship opportunity forme.
Literally, I think it was weektwo or three of like a five, six
weeks that each departmentwould take me under their wing
(17:05):
for a couple of days.
Oh that's so cool, yeah, and Ithink it was wonderful because
you know there is like some,some fine lines and some danger
to them doing that.
But I mean, I learned how to PA, I learned how to AD, I learned
what a script supervisor doesand grips, and I felt more
(17:26):
confident, even though I mightnot really want to do it.
I felt more confident going toset, but for a while I wanted to
do grip and electric.
Wow, I didn't know that.
Yeah, so I started, I did atthe stand in job and somebody
from that set actually booked memy first paying job on a crew
after that and I was supposed todo grip and electric.
(17:47):
I was going to intern with areally wonderful team and their
AD dropped.
And so the director reached out.
He's like I need an AD, are youwilling to do it?
And I said like I've, all I'vedone is watch these people and
set do it.
And I've seconded before, but Ihaven't been in pre production
process, I haven't done this,like I will be going in blind.
(18:08):
And this director, who I'veworked with several times
afterwards as an actor, was likeI have faith in you, like we'll
figure it out together.
And the friend that hadrecommended me to the job was
like you'll be perfect, you'regoing to do it or we're not.
When was this?
That was I had already, I was.
(18:28):
I think I was almost graduatedat that point, so like 2018.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Oh, I didn't.
So I know because I know youhad done an AD job.
I think in the course of ourfriendship, oh 100%, but that
wouldn't have been that one.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
No, I will.
So that because of how thatwent, like, I studied up and
prepared as best as I could andit felt very natural.
From then on out I was known inthe Birmingham film industry as
an AD and I had trouble gettingcastings because people would
call me when they had a film.
They're like hey, I need an AD,will you do it?
And I'd ask Well, have you haveyou started casting yet?
(19:04):
I'd love to be considered forthat.
And I like, well, we're notdoing that yet, but I really
need an AD.
So I I did that for severalyears, like I.
I stuck with that for about twoyears before I moved back to
Atlanta and said I'm nottouching a d work again, I need,
I need and I would only do itfor friends.
And then it wasn't untilprobably this year where I
(19:29):
decided like, okay, I'llconsider doing it again.
And part of that is justbecause opera is kind of similar
role and so I'm already in itdaily and Mallory is working at
the opera.
Yeah, the Atlanta opera as a anoperations manager.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Hey, hey, woohoo.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Actors hustle.
I'm telling you.
You know, hey, and I'm thankfulthat, like my hustle is still
in the industry, I think if Iwere to do what I used to do
like seven jobs between, like,candle making and nannying and I
would be so bored.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
Yeah, I've been there , though, too, like I feel like
every actor not every actor, buta lot of us have the like.
Yeah, I'm working four jobsright now.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
Right.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
The conundrum of acting finding a job that you
can also, at a moment's notice,be like.
Hey, I booked something.
I'll be gone for two days or aweek, next week.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
You know Well and that's what I love that the two
jobs that I found were the mostflexible with that was
restauranting, and part of thatwas just like I got a thick skin
and I was like, all right, if Iworked at one restaurant for
probably three years and usuallythat was not the case that's
the only place like I've workedthe longest.
But you know, every job I everpicked up I said, hey, if I get
(20:44):
an audition, if I get a gig, I'mnot going to come to work.
I will do everything in mypower to cover my shift, but I
will not come to work.
And there was one situationwhere a lot of people were not
able to come in and I got a lastminute gig out in Tennessee and
I had to drive out and I toldAaron I said, hey, I got a gig,
I'll try to find somebody tocover my shift, but I have to
(21:06):
leave Today.
And she was like Well, you needto find somebody cover your
shift.
And I said, yes, of course I'lldo my best, but if I don't find
someone, I'm leaving.
And I ended up not findinganyone and so she gave me an
ultimate and she was like If youdon't come in, you're fired.
I said, cool, I'm not coming in.
And then she did end up hiringme again afterwards.
Yeah, I mean, yeah, it's justthe ability to be flexible, be
(21:29):
like Okay, fine, this is mypassion, I will find another job
Right.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
I think it's funny too that you're up front,
because I'm always up front andmy dad has always been like
Don't, don't tell the boss that.
That's what my dad says, when Iget an interview, I'm always
like Okay, so like I'm an actorand like if I book something
like I same thing, I'll try andget my shift covered, but I'm
not gonna.
And my dad always says Don't,don't tell him, don't do that.
(21:56):
Just you know, but you know Ikeep getting jobs, so it's, it's
, it's working out, it's workingout.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
Right, well, like sometimes it will bite you in
the butt Like I have had acouple of jobs that were strict
in their boundaries and good forthem, but they did not want to
hire somebody like me, andthat's fine.
But I've also not had a periodwhere I could not find a
restaurant job.
Right, no, especially nowthere's so many places hiring
and, as as many people thatdon't enjoy it, it's still
(22:26):
income.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
Oh, I hate restaurant work.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
I hate it, I hate it, I hate it.
But yeah, I've absolutely doneit and I would do it again if I
had to.
Yeah, um, as I say, I say alittle prayer, as I say that,
god, please don't make me, butyou know like.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Another one that I really enjoyed was, um, working
with a small Etsy shop.
Okay, cool.
I have no recollection of how Ifound this job at all.
I mean it honestly might havebeen a Craigslist thing, um,
which is terrifying.
But she, I do remember going tothe interview and kind of being
(23:06):
nervous because it was at herhouse and she requested that I
meet her in the basement, oh God.
So I was a little nervous, butit was at the time I was working
on a show Um, I think it wasmom and me, or no, it was
private lives.
So I was working on a show andit was halfway of my drive to
(23:28):
the show and she was just acandle shop or a candle maker,
and she had her whole Etsy shopin her basement and it was
wonderful, of like, I couldessentially choose my own hours.
She's like, as long as you getthe candles finished for orders,
I don't care.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
I didn't know about your Etsy job, did you?
When you said?
When you said candle making aminute ago, I was like what?
Yeah, I feel like all thesejobs make actors better actors,
because we're like, yeah, I'velived that part, I've been that
waiter I've been that cashierI've done that thing, oh 100%.
I've been a candle maker.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Right, You've done all the odd jobs and it's
character building, you know,like working in the basement by
myself, burning myself onboiling wax it smells like
pumpkin spice and working.
There was one time that was thetime I was working seven jobs.
So I was working eithernannying and candle making in
(24:23):
the morning and then the eveningI was going to rehearsals,
working at a lab and princessingand a restaurant, and so Just
so people know princessing isn'tus sitting around being a
princess.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
It's dressing up like a princess and going to a party
for kids, so kind of the same.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
but you have to.
It's like adult, not adult,like character driven
babysitting yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
And princessing sounds like I'm just sitting in
my bed waiting for princecharming Right Just heading, as
princesses don't need no princecharming, but you know, say it
again for the people in the back, butter woman.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Oh, but yeah, it was just funny.
I remember just feeling, beinghaving just a serileness to it
of Walking into this woman'shome in the middle of the night.
She's got a family andeverything and just I hadn't
done my candles that week and soI had to work from midnight to
two After my lab job, or I'd goto the lab from.
(25:27):
I was on night shift at the lab, so I'd go in from nine to like
midnight one and just being theonly person awake, the only
person working by myself.
It was just odd.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
Yeah, the weird stuff .
I will say I'm gonna go aheadand just manifest this for you.
You're gonna get like ahallmark movie where you're a
candle, like hallmark, you're acandle maker that's been stuck
in your hometown for years andincomes From New York, the big
(26:02):
city, and and you haven't seenthem since high school.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
And he falls in love with you and the art of candle
making and I we make out over apumpkin spice candle like you
want to smell it.
Honestly, not a bad idea.
Hallmark, if you're listening,let's write.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
You got a cast, mallory, though.
Right, it's got the right,right, I know all right music
Okay, cuz I know your.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
your former housemate used to write a lot.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
Yeah, zach, he's.
He really likes writing, he didhe's really good too.
Yeah, but All right, it soundslike you just said this, but I
want to dive a little deeper.
Yeah, so I was gonna ask youwhat the most challenging part
of being acting and afterhearing about the like onslaught
of different jobs, that soundslike it, but let's go like pass
(26:54):
that to what is the mostchallenging part of Acting, like
actually performing or doing it, anything around that.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Um, I mean, first thing that comes to mind is it
doesn't matter what's going on.
It doesn't matter if yoursister just had a baby, it
doesn't matter if you're likecongratulations.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
By the way, I was an auntie, I'm an auntie.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
Oh, that's just surreal.
In and of itself it's wonderful, um, but yeah, it doesn't
matter what you're going through, where you're at mentally, what
you, what just happened before.
You can carry that into yourwork and kind of inform and make
different decisions with it,but nobody gives a shit.
Yeah, no, nobody cares.
Honestly, and it makes sensebecause if we want to get
(27:46):
something done with a communityof anywhere from 22 500 people,
yeah, you have to be available.
And so, like I mean, I rememberlike there's instances where
I've missed really importantmilestones and important
celebrations because I was onset and Part of me really
(28:09):
regrets that and part of meknows it dots.
What I signed up for.
That's yeah, that's thecommitment.
Yeah and if I care, if it wassomething important enough to me
, I would have quit.
But I think that is the hardestis you know like I struggle
with migraines and going on toset with a migraine and having
to connect with another human is10 times harder.
(28:32):
But you know like recognizingthat you've gotten through that
before I think just and Right.
I physically write it down likehey, today was a really tough
day and you still made itthrough.
Or like you are satisfied withthe work that you did.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
You weren't in your head and you, you were honest.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
I think that's how I've kind of picked myself up by
my bootstraps in those kind ofsituations.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
Yeah, for sure I think to like so for me, like
I've had moments where I've toldmy agent like I need a break,
like I need, and she's wonderful.
I and I really think goodagents can recognize that
because she's really about likeour mental health and recognizes
the emotional mental toll thatacting can take on you,
(29:21):
especially when You're notprimarily supporting yourself on
acting Not that that'sdifferent, but when you are
doing the thing you love andthat is paying your bills and
everything.
That is different than tryingto work three or four jobs and
also Make acting Primary likeConcern.
(29:46):
That's not right or like makingit a priority.
Thank you, priority primarykept coming in my brain and then
I went like primary colors andthen like Like what is happening
, I'm sure.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
Somebody reboot me.
Well, that's why I end upcoming up with so many words is
just my brain goes somewhereelse and I'm like, well, what is
a word that feels like I'mtrying to convey right?
But yeah, I mean, I completelyagree with you that a really
great agent understands when youneed to take a break, if that
(30:20):
ever comes about because if youare being pulled in 500
different directions and you'vehit your your limit, your work
isn't gonna be as good andyou're not gonna book anyways.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
You know, it's very obvious.
Like I've had auditions where,like the character supposed to
be down in the dumps and I'mlike, well, I'm depressed as
hell anyway so, and then, but itstill just doesn't come across
good, because I you know what Imean like, yeah, I really
respect my agent.
She's always been phenomenaland I have a high respect for
agents who Can see when theiractors are trying their best,
(30:55):
but also see when their actorsneed a break, and I've always
felt comfortable and likereaching out and saying I Need a
couple months like I just, youknow, like I'm Drowning a little
bit right now, or you know, inlife and and the other things
your agents don't know.
Your agents don't know if, likeyour mom gets sick, or If you,
if you, got fired from a job, orlike you know, life continues
(31:17):
to happen and hard things comeup.
So and your agent is takingcare of you know however many
people's on the roster a hundredor more people.
So right, how do you feel likeyou stand out in the industry
with it being so saturated?
Speaker 2 (31:33):
Um, I feel like this is.
This is like forcing me to beslightly egotistical.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
No, okay.
Well, what's funny is like Iask everybody this question.
Yeah, actors and I Um, I neverhave to answer it for myself.
So I it's it's a tough questionand, yeah, be a little
egotistical, like brag onyourself a little bit, because
you have put a lot of work in.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
So right you have.
Speaker 1 (31:59):
You have the permission.
Not that you need it, but gofor it.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (32:03):
Well, I also feel like I feel like this is another
Clayton quote that Actors haveto be a little egotistical or
else you would never survive youhave to know what you're worth
and you have to know what youbring to the table.
For me, I feel like that it's.
I do have like I'm naturallyvery bubbly, but there is, as
(32:23):
Eliana likes to call it I'm amandrake.
So under the surface there wassomebody.
They'll just rip you a new oneor just like lose her mind At
the flip of a switch.
So I think that's somethingthat Plays to my favor,
especially because I feel like Ilook Like I have bigger eyes
and I feel like it makes me looka little innocent, and so
(32:45):
having that that yeah but alsothe fact that I worked in
science so long.
Unfortunately, like I still looka little too young, I'm still
hoping for like a good doctormoment where somebody hires me
as a scientist, even though Ilook like I'm 20.
Right but like I was working ina laboratory since I was 13,
(33:09):
Okay, I didn't know it was thatyoung.
I got like pulled into a labwhen I was really young and did
it for 10 years.
So I think having thatknowledge and like a really
strong background and look atdegree, even in science, is
something that not a lot ofpeople can say.
Yeah and I have had like acouple of people give me
auditions because when they saylike oh, we're looking for a
(33:31):
scientist or a microbiologist,I'll always up in there like my
favorite microbe and I alwaysget questions of so we heard
that you have a favorite microbe, how do you pronounce it?
And it's a cool conversationstarter to you.
So yeah, yeah, I feel likethat's what makes me stand out
and like I'm also just I'll gointo things headfirst like I
don't.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
I don't scare easy.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
So the number of times that I Like I had somebody
asked me to learn part fourcool, yeah, I'll give it a shot.
Um, I Did, like some stuntfalls and there was a course
like a stunt coordinator and allthat.
But, um, like, are youcomfortable with this one?
Yeah, I love heights.
Let's go see what happens.
Yeah, if I train properly, like, I'm happy to keep doing it.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
So right, that's one thing like acting.
So there's so many things thatI'm like, oh, I'd love to do
that, do that, do that, and I'mjust like, okay, you don't have
to do it all right now.
But also like thatmanifestation of like I like I
did boxing for the first timethe other night.
I like like legit boxing I donelike some other, like fighting
stuff, but never.
(34:34):
And I had a freaking blast andI was like I think I want to be
in a boxing movie now, just solike somebody can pay for me to
train to be a boxer and then Ican go and be like a badass
boxer.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
Like I think it's supported.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
I right get my like Rhonda Rousey, brits oh.
Speaker 2 (34:53):
I would love it.
Right, that's not a put it outin the world, right, put it out
there.
Liz is learning to box.
Hire her as a boxer.
Speaker 1 (35:04):
There we go.
Speaker 2 (35:04):
Yeah, I as an actor.
Well, I'm just as a human.
I have so many hobbies and Ifeel like as an actor, we fall
into the trap of I want it to beon my special skills list, got
to that, and then we never putthe proper time to actually make
it worthy of.
Yeah being on the special skillsright.
So like I mean, there wassomebody that I worked with that
(35:27):
I I forget what it was.
I want to say it was Swimmingor diving or something like that
, like something that I've beendoing for a long time, and they
showed up to site and just hadno clue, was not neat at all and
I was like, hey, are you, areyou doing?
Speaker 1 (35:45):
okay?
He's like, yeah, I haven't.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
I haven't been swimming since, like, I was 10.
Bro, I don't want you drowning.
This puts a lot of pressure onme because you don't know what
you're doing.
Was he doing diving?
Now, I think we were justswimming because, like, if he
was diving, it would have beenlike a very, very Problematic,
(36:07):
like danger.
I don't think so.
It wasn't something where I wasthat concerned.
I think we were like swimmingin a lake or something, so like
it was shallow.
There were people there thatlike we could Pull if we needed,
but if he started like I meanflapping his arms.
Speaker 1 (36:22):
Oh, okay.
Okay dog paddling a little bit.
Do you feel like the industryis progressing into more
inclusive roles and like how?
So?
Oh the I roll.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Yeah, the I roll came back.
Um, I Think there is an effort.
Oh, I think we're slowlygetting there, slower than we
should.
Speaker 1 (36:51):
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (36:53):
Yeah, but I think because something that's also
happening or that's stillhappening and problematic is
that we are having diversecastings, but the people in
diverse roles are still beingstereotyped.
Yeah you're right and like Ifeel like if I get into any
(37:15):
details it can get problematic,but I don't mind speaking up.
But also I guess I would speakup and just also say I have a
different perception thansomebody else might.
Speaker 1 (37:25):
Right.
So, like also, you and I areboth white.
Speaker 2 (37:28):
Right, we're both white, so I can't talk about as
somebody that's by and by.
I can't speak to theirexperience, exactly so.
But yeah, I think that we arenot doing our best and I'd agree
it's something that I wouldlove it if we crack down on it.
But also, like, how can weforce writers and producers to
(37:51):
write content that's different?
Yeah, and I think hasdifferently, because it's
something that's so ingrained towhich sucks.
Speaker 1 (37:59):
Yeah, and that's that's the other like aspect of
it, that unlearning component,which is really hard, because
you think of people who I don'tknow 20 years ago, came out of
school and then they weretrained by their mentors and
like not excusing any of it, butit gets passed down, passed
down and it's like unlearningand you are seeing people that
(38:22):
are slowly breaking that mold,but it's kind of like, whenever
there's any type of change, thefirst people to do it are like
looked at like as the outcast ory'all are.
What are y'all doing?
Like it's been working, andit's like how's it though?
How's it been working Right?
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Well, and I feel like nowadays we're at the point
where, when we do see somethingdifferent, like everything
everywhere all at once, but ohso good they, they were regarded
.
Speaker 1 (38:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (38:49):
And applauded because it was a wonderful film and it
did like purse.
I mean, I can't speak to Asianculture but from what I've heard
from my Asian friends and howI've perceived it, it did really
do justice to Asian familiesand social upbringing and what
it's like living in like thatsituation.
(39:09):
So, yeah, I found it reallywonderful and I think we are
getting more to the point wherewe're not shaming people that
are breaking the mold, like age24.
Speaker 1 (39:19):
The goal is to break the mold.
Yeah, age 24.
That's funny, derek and Italked about that, but it's.
We were talking about how it'sone of the few companies out
there that is like really seemslike they're trying to come up
with very original content.
Speaker 2 (39:38):
Well, and you know how they work, right, like they
don't.
How do I word this?
I mean, somebody else comes upwith the ideas and the writing,
they just help produce it.
Produce it, yeah, right.
So that's why they don't.
They pick and choose what theylike to suit their brand, but
(39:59):
their brand is also veryeclectic and diverse.
Yeah, absolutely, but they'rejust pulling from different
people of different backgroundsand different stories.
So like you might see somethingfrom Ari one year and then the
next year is going to besomebody completely different.
So I think that really benefitsthem as a company.
Because they're not stuck intoone group used to working to
(40:22):
each other, used to working offof each other's ideas.
They are forced to thinkoutside the box.
Speaker 1 (40:27):
Right.
I think that benefits everyone,like I always have been so like
honestly, like a fear for beinglike pigeonholed into a certain
type of role or something thatyou're not or something that you
get known as, and I thinkpeople break that mold.
(40:47):
But I always think MatthewMcConaughey, like he was wrong
comms.
And then he like people don'trealize that I think he said he
didn't get an audition for liketwo or three years because he
said no more, on comes I'm notdoing it anymore and there's
nothing wrong like it can helpyou get your start.
But I think, you know, I thinkabout, like Melissa McCarthy.
(41:11):
They talk about how people allknew her for like Gilmore girls
and then when she started, Idon't remember the first thing,
like bridesmaids, identity theftI think those were some of her
earlier, when you really startedseeing her get to showcase her
talent as like a comedic actressand it's like you can do this.
And I was listening to her onDax Shepard's podcast and Dax he
(41:33):
worked with her I guess backyears ago and he was talking
about how, like I knew she coulddo this like 10 years ago.
But you know, you see theseactors that you think, oh,
they're this way.
And then you see them do thesedifferent things and you're like
, wow, like you can do that.
That's so good, like you wereamazing in that.
It's like, yeah, like I'mthat's kind of.
That's kind of the point.
Right, you can do differentthings Right.
Speaker 2 (41:56):
Because I'm human, but I think it was Barbara
Stordahl, a casting directorthat I adore.
She loves pulling people out oftheir boxes and casting new
people, but one thing that shesaid, was it her, was it Kim?
I can't recall.
I'm going to have to go backand let you know.
But somebody that I was in aclass with and like, really
(42:18):
admire, said you can't tell theindustry what they want.
They're going to let you knowwhat they want from you, and I
think that is really true of you.
Know, as much as we want to getoutside the box, especially if
you're unknown, the industry isgoing to tell you what they're
going to type you, cast you out,and that's how you look.
(42:38):
And that's what a lot of agentslike to know is sure, we want to
know that you're willing tostretch yourself and be flexible
and try something.
That's a challenge, but do youknow where you're strong at?
Speaker 1 (42:50):
and are you good at it?
Speaker 2 (42:52):
You know if you're strong at playing the dough.
I'd innocent girl, but youdon't want to audition for those
things.
So you kind of fight againstyourself internally.
You look bad and you're notgoing to get cast Right.
Yeah, like you said, it is agood place to start, but then
you also have to start settingyour boundaries once you get
rolling of, just yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (43:15):
And I think still, like you can still embrace that,
because you can play that andthat might be what comes to you
naturally, like you don't haveto let that go completely, but
because that is going to be thatthing, your type or whatever
it's going to be the thing thatgets you in the door.
But yeah, I think, okay, thisis actually good segue.
(43:37):
So what would be like yourdream role if you could take
away, you know, any?
That's always a hard questionto right.
Because I, like you just said, Ifeel like we get told a lot of
what we get to play.
And so because I've eventhought about that, like what
would I, what would my dreamrole be?
(43:57):
Because I'm so used to what Iget cast as or what auditions
I'm getting regularly and thosetypes you know.
Speaker 2 (44:07):
Yeah, I think for me there's two that are like top
the list and ironically they'remore geared towards episodics,
whereas I tend to get cast morein features.
Features are much more wherelike, where my strong suit is
and I like features a lot.
But the first one would be aWestern that I'd be like a lead
(44:33):
female role that has someinnocence to her and naivete,
but she grows to be a completebadass.
You know whether she ends upjoining a like a crime group or
she starts standing up forherself or whatever that may be
Like.
My, my first instinct is someof the female characters off of
(44:54):
Yellowstone or oh, okay, okay.
Speaker 1 (44:57):
I was immediately thinking of what's the lead off
of Westworld, rachel.
Speaker 2 (45:03):
Oh, evan Rachel Woods .
Evan Rachel Woods, yeah, whichwhen I was blonde, I got a lot
of references to her, really,and at one point my agent at the
time like had messaged me orwhatever.
When congillian came out, oh,she thought I was Evan.
I was like I, if I'm gettingthat audition and you don't know
(45:27):
about it, there's a problem,right.
So she had a lot of her likewonderful qualities, but that
was a moment.
I just started questioning ofwhat the end, of course, like we
are in the digital age, so alot of it could have been comedy
and just being facetious, right, but I was just like what
(45:49):
Really?
But yeah, something like EvanRachel Woods character.
But then another part of mewould love I love dystopian
stuff.
That would just be a goal ingeneral but a scientist or a
microbiologist, somebody that'sstrong and again like strong
female characters, like notsomebody that's going to be a
whist and take it I mean yeah, Ithink it's.
Speaker 1 (46:13):
it's just so nice to play strong female characters
100%.
I like to a lot when it's thatrags or riches or whatever you
want to say, that kind of storywhere they seem like the
underdog and then by the end ofit they're you know.
That reminds me of I didn'twatch Good Girls all the way
(46:33):
through that show.
Speaker 2 (46:35):
I don't know if you watched that.
It makes me think of like, likeScarface and that kind of.
Speaker 1 (46:41):
Yeah, okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, I do want to talk
about the strike at all.
Speaker 2 (46:54):
Sure, yeah, I don't mind talking about it, I think.
Speaker 1 (46:57):
Okay, I don't.
Speaker 2 (46:59):
I guess, like most of your audience is actors, but
sometimes it's great to talkabout it.
Just release that tension or atleast educate people if they're
not necessarily aware.
Speaker 1 (47:10):
Yeah, yeah, so you can say as little or as much as
you want.
Um, I Well, you take the floorlike kind of what, what are your
thoughts or what are youthinking about this strike?
I think all of us definitelywant to get to a place where we
can get back working.
Oh, of course.
Speaker 2 (47:29):
Yeah, I, it's devastating and kind of
apocalyptic, is very dramatic.
Speaker 1 (47:36):
But I'm a traumatic person it is.
Speaker 2 (47:42):
It's hard being in an age where there aren't big
projects going on, because ofthis.
But of course I'm glad thatit's happening, of course I'm
glad that we've banded togetherand that WGA is striking and SAG
is striking and it's also likeopen up conversations and IOTC
(48:03):
and the special effects teamsare looking to unionize, which I
think is wonderful.
I fully support that as well.
So I think it's brought up alot of conversations, as well as
conversations with civilians,don't?
They don't understand what wedo.
I'm very fortunate enough tohave the Atlanta Opera and enjoy
theater, so I'm stillauditioning for theater
(48:24):
productions.
I still have the stable job andit's liberated me and given me
the opportunity to work on a lotof passion projects with
friends and start writing andjust even though you know I set
my boundary a long time ago oflike my work has value.
I am valuable as a person.
(48:45):
I do need to pay my bills.
I won't work complimentaryanymore.
I've kind of gone back on thatand started working for free,
just because we don't have anyother projects to work on except
for independent projects.
Speaker 1 (48:58):
And why not?
Speaker 2 (48:58):
pour into the people that you love the most and
support them.
Speaker 1 (49:01):
Yeah, I feel like I've gotten into more like
creative avenues right now, awayfrom acting like this podcast,
and which is like, in a way, I'mlike it's got me doing things
that I've said I wanted to doand I haven't said that's good,
but it's all good, likeeverything is happening.
(49:25):
For a reason it's still is.
I think for me, the hard partis like I love actors, like we
are a community and it's I'msuch a like my heart on my
sleeve person and I care aboutpeople so much, so I don't think
so much about how it'saffecting me as much as it which
(49:48):
it is affecting me, but more sohow it's affecting, like, my
fellow actors Also.
It's a good thing it'shappening.
But then you come back to ofwe're only not not even three
years post a pandemic, threeyears post when a pandemic
started, and then all theeffects of that.
(50:09):
So you know we are postpandemic, but I wouldn't even
know when to say the pandemicreally truly ended, like maybe
2022.
Speaker 2 (50:20):
I don't think anybody really knows.
Speaker 1 (50:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (50:23):
And there's still argument that it's still going,
yeah, yeah.
I think, to the like that's.
Another point to be made isthat it doesn't just affect
actors, like well, actors arebeing devastated by this and it
is really affecting thelivelihoods of a lot of actors.
It's also affecting our a azicrew.
Yeah, they can't.
They can't work on a SAGproject because there's no SAG
(50:45):
projects going on.
So right.
So, yeah, like a lot, a lot ofpeople have.
Speaker 1 (50:50):
Yeah, you got a whole industry that is basically
stopped right now.
Right Studio rental companies.
Yeah, what are you going to doif there's nobody to shoot?
You know, if there's no playersto tell the stories?
Speaker 2 (51:04):
Right.
Speaker 1 (51:05):
Because it is.
It's all a collaborative, likepuzzle piece and you, you know,
or machine, I guess, is a betterway.
You take a piece of the machineaway, kind of the whole machine
stops and you've taken twopieces of the machine away
because you have WGA and SAG,right yeah.
Speaker 2 (51:22):
So it's.
So.
It's been hard and you know Idon't I wish I had like a some
foresight to see when this wouldend, but I know that, like even
if I could guess I could beentirely off.
Speaker 1 (51:38):
So yeah, and I don't think it's even necessary to
like get in your books.
Speaker 2 (51:44):
That doesn't really help.
Speaker 1 (51:46):
I know I got an email the other day that was like
talking about how the class wasgoing to be discounted and if we
went ahead and paid for it,even like the class starts in
October, even if and I was like,and they're like, unless the
strike is still going on inOctober, I was like, oh man,
like you just don't know.
Speaker 2 (52:05):
Well, and that has been a great thing to see is, I
mean, we've always known thatwe're a community with one big
family, but being able to jointogether and care for each other
and support each other.
There's a lot of funds thathave been created and things
like that.
There's classes that are goingon discount.
Recently I saw a show that waspay what you can like.
(52:25):
Our shows are usually thisprice, but, like if you have
been really impacted by thestrikes, we just want you to be
within the creative communityand it's no pressure that you
have to pay $35 for a theaterticket.
Yeah, so I think that's beenwonderful to see.
And then also, I mean goingback to independent projects.
You know, of course, like weall want to be paid and we all
(52:48):
have to make a living, but it'salso nice being able to just
support each other and say, hey,I've got a lighting kit If
somebody needs to borrow it forsomething they've been dying to
shoot and like it's not goinganywhere else.
I'm happy to be an extra for youif you need people because you
can't hire a casting service,things like that.
Speaker 1 (53:09):
Yeah, yeah, I definitely think there is in on
the positive side of it, likeshifting to a positive
perspective.
We are seeing that, like we doband together and, yeah, at the
root of the industry, like thereis a community.
It's part of what makes allthis worth it.
(53:30):
It's like the people that weget to work with.
So, yeah, I know we can't likepromote any SAG projects or
anything like that, but is thereanything?
We just talked about how you'repotentially doing some
independent stuff, some creativestuff?
Is there anything that you dowant to say like hey, like I'm
(53:51):
working on this and I'm excitedabout this, or yeah, I have a
short film that's going out atSidewalk.
Speaker 2 (53:58):
It's an LGBTQ film.
Oh cool, yeah, and it's reallysweet and lovely and it's been
in progress for a while, so I'mreally excited for that to come
out.
And then I just shot a filmwith a friend that she put it
together and it was very quick.
But it's with Nicole Lockleyand she just has such a powerful
(54:20):
voice when she writes andtackles very difficult topics
that people always hesitate todiscuss and so.
I'm really excited for that tocome out and I'm really hoping
that she turns it into a series,whether they're all
interconnected or not.
I think that she has such avery unique way of being able to
(54:41):
bring those topics to the tableWithout it being, I mean,
definitely like pointing fingers, but also allowing the
conversation to open up in asafe space.
Yeah, yeah, I'm excited forthat to come out.
I don't.
We just wrapped on Tuesday, soit's going to probably be a
while before it comes out, butlooking forward to that.
Speaker 1 (55:02):
Yeah, what's your Instagram?
Because I know you promote alot of stuff on your Instagram.
Speaker 2 (55:06):
Yeah, I post just about everything on my Instagram
.
I finally had to make a fencedout, though, because I know that
there is like goofy photos thatI want to post and not
necessarily want the entireworld to see.
Got you, got you.
But my my public Instagram isMallory Ivy is just my first and
last name, which is very easyto remember.
(55:27):
All of my, all of my socialmedia is just my first and last
name.
Speaker 1 (55:31):
I guess, like dude, I like struggled to get my first
and last name.
Speaker 2 (55:35):
Are you serious?
Speaker 1 (55:36):
Yeah, so mine is Zill Bachman.
Speaker 2 (55:40):
Right, I did Liz backwards, which is so fun.
Speaker 1 (55:43):
Yeah, that's like a thing that a nickname I was
given in high school completesidebar, but you know.
But yeah, I was.
I struggled to I think Icouldn't get Liz Bachman, so
anyway, not the point, malloryIvy guys look for her content.
She's awesome.
I love her so much.
(56:04):
I'm excited that I got to sithere and talk with you and for
anyone listening, if you enjoyedthis, if you could rate or
review the podcast, that wouldbe awesome.
It just helps me keep doingwhat I'm doing and I look
forward to talking to whoever Italk to in the next episode.
Speaker 2 (56:20):
I'm excited to see who you talk to the next episode
, right?
Thanks, mal, of course, babe,so good to see you.
Welcome to I Am Me podcast.
I'm your host, liz Bachman, andon this podcast I want to
celebrate you for being you.
I'm super excited to sit downwith my guests each week and
talk about their journey, theirexperiences and where they came
from.
So, without further ado, let'sdive into this week's episode.
Hey everybody, welcome back toI Am Me.
(00:21):
Today I'm here with my goodgood friend, mallory Ivy.
I love her so much.
I goodness.
I met Mallory back and duringthe pandemic we did a virtual
Meisner class together.
She's a phenomenal actor.
She's an even more amazingperson, I would say.
She also does some modeling andher energy is just so
(00:42):
infectious.
So I think if you're not evenan actor, you could get so much
out of this.
She'll just boost your energy.
So yeah, hi.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Mallory Hi, how are you?
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Good.
How are you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:53):
You know hanging in for a short sunshine.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
I literally just said I'm not good.
I'm not good.
I just said I'm doing the thingwhere I'm like, oh, I'm good,
I'm not good, I'm struggling,but I'm here and I'm excited to
be here.
So I'm glad you're here andyou're excited to be here.
There we go, and I'm glad thatyou're hanging in.
Yeah, hanging in.
I feel like that's a new thing,that, like people are saying
Really.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
I, yeah, I felt like, of course, a person that picks
up the most random things, orI'll say something wrong and
think it's right.
So you know, I have no clue.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Yeah, I, I don't know , I still like say things.
I feel like that I said in highschool.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
So oh, 100%.
There was one that came up Iused to say in middle school and
then it brought up the whole.
I think I said like bees kneesor whatever.
And then my one of my highschool friends was like girl, do
you remember when you used tosay knock your knees out?
Speaker 1 (01:47):
I never heard that one, the knock your knees out,
uh huh.
Oh, is that a Mallory original?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
I think so.
I think it was just I wasslightly violent, but I would
give people a warning.
I was like I'm gonna knock yourknees out.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Like you're being an idiot, I'm gonna knock your
knees out After I just talkedabout how great you are.
She's so amazing, she's sosweet, but she's got a side Like
don't get on her bad side.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
You know I'm an Aries , I'm a fireside.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
I get a little.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
I look I get a little heated, but I be sure to let
you know before I throw a punch.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
I guess there you go.
Oh, my goodness, completely offtopic, but I love it.
Yeah, um, okay, dive intoacting.
Acting is kind of why we'rehere, um, I mean, not really
we're here for you, we want toget to know Malpal, um, but what
, what started acting for you,like, where did that?
You know you're talking tosomeone who's been an acting per
(02:45):
minute when you're like whatstarted acting for you in the
eye roll is just like um, that'sa funny thing though isn't it.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
My story is so complicated and I I don't.
It's not that I hate telling it, it just feels like oh,
everyone expects like the quickanswer, and mine is certainly
not that.
So what happened was?
my neighbor growing up was aproducer for Cartoon Network,
which is like 30 minutes on thestreet from where I grew up.
(03:14):
So, uh, they needed a couple ofkids to do the Cartoon Network
Fridays back in the day and meand my sister would go on it and
my sister ended up hating it.
So she left pretty quickly andI kept going.
I liked, I thought it was fine.
It was nice to meet a bunch ofrandom people.
I got to see Chris do the dineof the dine lady, which was
(03:35):
hilarious.
I didn't understand that, like Ihad no idea what acting was.
So like they would put methrough auditions and I couldn't
understand that.
You know the Muppet, eventhough the guy's underneath you,
like you're talking to theMuppet, and even though the
Muppet said it's still happy,like, still be happy, or, and so
(03:55):
, like I started, he spilledsome M&Ms and I started sobbing
because I felt so bad for theMuppet, even though there's a
dude on the skateboard rightthere too, and having to stay on
camera or whatever.
I mean I guess it was greatbecause I was natural and I bent
down.
They're like no, mallory, youneed to stay in frame.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Wait, how old were you?
Speaker 2 (04:14):
I think I was like six.
I did it from six to eight.
Okay, yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
See, see compassionate heart there.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Right, you know.
So I was just really young andI didn't know what I was doing
and so eventually left and myparents didn't really want me in
the industry, like they didn't.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Understandable.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Yeah, and I get it.
I mean, I was admittedly quitebitter because it was something
I fought for and I would spendmy 30 minutes allotted on the
computer to look up agencies.
But yeah, I didn't get backinto it until theater in high
school.
That was a growing experience,not the best time in my life.
And then in college I wouldjust audition because I was
(04:56):
terrified of it and I wanted toget just.
You know, I was on the careerpath to do science at that point
and just wanted to have someother outlet.
And a friend of mine had anactor drop on a short film and
he's like hey, you can memorizestuff and you've acted before.
I'll buy you a full mellowmushroom pizza if you come to
(05:18):
set Pizza.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
I feel like that's a recurring theme on the podcast
Right.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
But like.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
I mean, I would have done it for a pizza.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Right, I mean especially a mellow mushroom
pizza.
They are like not sponsored bymellow mushroom, but I wouldn't
be mad about getting sponsoredby mellow mushroom.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Yeah, that'd be great .
Speaker 2 (05:38):
They have the best pizza.
So, yeah, I did it.
I realized how much I miss setand from there on out I was
hooked again.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
That's awesome.
I also like something that isinteresting.
I talked to Derek in the pastepisode the one for this we had
talked about how, like he, hewas kind of doing something.
It wasn't acting related, butdoing it like he was scared.
So that's why he was doing itLike it scared him.
So I really like this idea ofdoing something like doing
auditions Like it scared you,but you did it like because it's
(06:09):
because almost because itscared you.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Right, oh, 100% Like.
I'm that person that I don'tlike to be scared.
I don't like to have weakness,because I guess I'm invincible.
I don't know I mean yeah, yeah.
So that was just something.
I was like you know, get getover it.
Like especially because it's amental thing.
(06:31):
If it was like a physical thing, like spiders or whatever, then
you know, maybe I'd let it goby the wayside and not torture
myself.
But especially just because itwas me myself and I in front of
two people and I would go to thebathroom to puke before every
single musical theater auditionI did, I was like this is lame,
get over it.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
But it shows like how intense like that anxiety and
that fear is.
I think it's interesting, too,how many people like have this
idea that actors are just likethese extroverted people who and
I've met so many actors who areactually very introverted and
they're phenomenal actors.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Oh 100%.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Or, and they have like, and some of them have
social anxiety.
So it's interesting.
It's almost like they get totake on this shadow version of
themselves when they perform,which is really cool.
Okay, so now where you arecurrently, what is it that keeps
you like drawn to acting Like?
(07:30):
What is it about acting thatyou're like?
I got to keep doing this thing.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Gosh, I like I can't imagine my life without it.
I don't like pegging it down ishard because you know you're an
actor, you know that 90% of theprocess is just auditioning and
getting rejected, and doingthat over and over and over,
again, over and over Yep, but Iforget I guess it was when I had
the concussion back in 2021.
(07:55):
And I was like, if I'm not ableat the time, like I couldn't
read my side, so my parents hadto read them to me for me to be
able to memorize, and I thinkthat was most terrifying moment
is like if I can't act again, Idon't know what I'll do.
So I think for me is justexploring characters and
exploring the human psyche andwhy we react the way that we do,
(08:17):
and getting to play with otherpeople.
I think that's the most fun, isit and that's why I like film a
little bit more?
Is it has to be on the spot.
You might not get time to getto know your code, like your
costar, yeah.
So you need to be able to makean emotional connection with
somebody very quickly and havingthat vulnerability like that
understood vulnerability is, Ithink, very liberating.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Yeah, I love that.
To the people aspect of it.
I mean that's kind of where Ifeel like I say this every
episode.
That's kind of where thispodcast came from and it's from
something different.
But I mean it's it was matchedout of multiple ideas.
But I think I've met so manypeople that I just think are so
amazing through acting that I'mlike dude, I just want to sit
(09:05):
down and like spend an hour likeinterviewing you, talking to
you, like where you came from,you know how you got to where
you are, yeah, and so that'skind of where that came from.
But, like on the acting aspectof it, completely agree.
Originally, when I started I waslike, oh, like it's about me,
you know, like the like thingthat you fall into I'm not
(09:25):
everyone, but I definitely myego was like and then all, and
then, as I did more and morework, got more comfortable in it
.
I was like, no, like the fun is.
The fun is when you and yourseam partner are like both
showing up and you're puttingall your trust on your seam
partner, your seam partnersputting all your trust on you,
and like y'all are just likejust back and forth that you
(09:46):
know that's the fun.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Right.
Well, I think I can't rememberif it was Dustin or Clayton
Landy.
Well, and you know, clayton,that for people that are
listening, we met in the Meisnerclass with Dustin Lewis and
Eliana Marienis, and then Liztook a class that I've also
taken with Clayton Landy andEliana.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Yeah, phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Oh gosh, wonderful.
I think it was Clayton that youknow he uses strong language.
He was like I don't give arat's behind about what like you
.
What it's about is your partner.
Are you caring about yourpartner and how they're reacting
?
Like do you see at all what'sgoing on in their brain?
Right?
If not, you are so internalizedthat it's selfish and it's hard
(10:34):
for you to get out of your headlike that.
Like it's you're more.
You're leaning more towardsyourself instead of character,
and even to the point of being acaricature instead of just
being present.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Right, but yeah, that was something cool.
I think mindfulness andpresence is something that shows
up so strongly in acting andpeople don't necessarily realize
that.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
And.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
I think I'm learning that still like absolutely 100%.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
I think Meisner was the net like exactly what I
needed, because it has beentraining me to be mindful and to
see, like, how people perceivethe way I interact with the
world and vice versa, becausethat's personally something I
struggle with is I don't socialcues and like the way that
people interact, I don'tnecessarily pick up on and like
(11:23):
I also noticed through Meisnerthat I look at people's lips
instead of their eyes whenthey're talking.
So I figured I might need to goget my ears checked.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
I think, yeah, it's interesting too, like when you
start watching yourself back theway, the way you hold tension,
even like watching myself backin this podcast, like when I
watch back, I even now like thisis only like third episode.
I'm like trying to be aware ofit.
I'll hold tension in my upperlip like and I like to where
it's like tight across my teeth,like I don't know how to do it
(11:53):
when I'm sitting here thinkingabout it.
But when I watched it back I'mlike why are you, why are you so
?
Speaker 2 (11:59):
tight.
Oh, have you ever heard ofAlexander technique?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, so it's verymuch centered around where do
you hold stress in your body andnatural like your.
It focuses on your tics likewhat do you do subconsciously
that you're not recognizing?
But, that's super cool.
I love watching old stuff thatI did and seeing the growth
(12:22):
because I happen.
I don't know how it happened,but I happened to find a self
tape that I did back in collegewhen I still had no idea what I
was doing, like I was justwinging it, I hadn't taken a
class, oh girl, same Same.
(12:42):
There are some projects thatwere like on my reel at one
point that I'm like I hope toGod nobody ever sees the oh like
oh, there is one in particularthat I have in mind, that it was
my first ever film getting backinto the industry and I went to
the.
I drove two hours to go to thepremiere and everything.
(13:03):
And I was like, oh, that's howI look on camera.
And I had driven with somebodyelse and he asked me he's like,
do you want to talk about it?
And said, nope, nope, I'm goingto go eat some ice cream in the
apartment and do better.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
I think I always think it's interesting too when
you get really excited to likeshow somebody like your work and
like you haven't seen it yet,and they're like I finally got
it.
Gather around here.
You hear you look at my workand then they look at it and
you're like, hmm, I have somework to do, like I am still very
(13:43):
much learning slash growing,which I mean.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
the first thing I'll say is that that's the best part
about acting, is we're alwayslearning.
Absolutely Even a listers arein classes, and that's just.
I feel like people don't knowthat Right.
They don't think of the workthat goes into it all the way
through the industry.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
And then there was Tom Holland.
I was listening to a podcast hewas on and he was talking about
his acting coach that he's goton set and like, and people you
know like, there's actingcoaches on set to help you, to
guide you, so it's which furtheradds to that.
It's like what's so specialabout you, like that
collaborative?
mentality that comes with thislike art form, is you're working
(14:25):
with other actors, sometimesyou're, you literally have a
coach, like coach and mentorsand all of that.
I think in any way form this issuch a tangent, but in any way,
shape or form in life are solike undervalued or
underutilized.
Yeah, I think people don'trealize the benefits of having a
(14:49):
coach, not just around acting,but, you know, even if you're an
entrepreneur or anything, justlike having a mentor, somebody
you can.
You know such that was atangent.
I love it All around the bush.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
When have we ever stayed on topic, though, right.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
I'm trying to really hard.
I keep looking at my likequestions and then I just like
wise, happening Acting would beabout acting.
I love you so much.
What was we talked about yourfirst job.
What was your first like paidjob or how, or what was that
(15:32):
experience like for you?
Speaker 2 (15:34):
The first page job I did.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
Yeah, you remember.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
That's what I'm trying to do is like when, which
film that I get paid on,because I used to do like a
bunch of scary films and likeshorts that were paid I mean, of
course, a minimal.
It was all like we'll pay foryour gas to drive down here and
oh yeah, you're not making abang, no and you never really
make bank and acting Anotherthing that people don't realize,
(16:01):
but I think the one thatimpacted me the most was I
wasn't even acting, I wasstanding in just to see I was.
It was a big film came toBirmingham for the first time
and it ended up being horrible.
I mean just a lot of lawsuitsand I won't go into that.
(16:23):
But I yeah, but I learned a lotof what the industry is and
what it takes to do what we doand saw all sides.
I the first time since, like2000, I saw grips and cameraman
and how everyone works togetherand even though I was standing
(16:45):
in, I didn't, I wasn't.
They call me to set and theynever needed me and was was part
of the issue.
So all the departmentsrealizing that it was kind of a
great mentorship opportunity forme.
Literally, I think it was weektwo or three of like a five, six
weeks that each departmentwould take me under their wing
(17:05):
for a couple of days.
Oh that's so cool, yeah, and Ithink it was wonderful because
you know there is like some,some fine lines and some danger
to them doing that.
But I mean, I learned how to PA, I learned how to AD, I learned
what a script supervisor doesand grips, and I felt more
(17:26):
confident, even though I mightnot really want to do it.
I felt more confident going toset, but for a while I wanted to
do grip and electric.
Wow, I didn't know that.
Yeah, so I started, I did atthe stand in job and somebody
from that set actually booked memy first paying job on a crew
after that and I was supposed todo grip and electric.
(17:47):
I was going to intern with areally wonderful team and their
AD dropped.
And so the director reached out.
He's like I need an AD, are youwilling to do it?
And I said like I've, all I'vedone is watch these people and
set do it.
And I've seconded before, but Ihaven't been in pre production
process, I haven't done this,like I will be going in blind.
(18:08):
And this director, who I'veworked with several times
afterwards as an actor, was likeI have faith in you, like we'll
figure it out together.
And the friend that hadrecommended me to the job was
like you'll be perfect, you'regoing to do it or we're not.
When was this?
That was I had already, I was.
(18:28):
I think I was almost graduatedat that point, so like 2018.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Oh, I didn't.
So I know because I know youhad done an AD job.
I think in the course of ourfriendship, oh 100%, but that
wouldn't have been that one.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
No, I will.
So that because of how thatwent, like, I studied up and
prepared as best as I could andit felt very natural.
From then on out I was known inthe Birmingham film industry as
an AD and I had trouble gettingcastings because people would
call me when they had a film.
They're like hey, I need an AD,will you do it?
And I'd ask Well, have you haveyou started casting yet?
(19:04):
I'd love to be considered forthat.
And I like, well, we're notdoing that yet, but I really
need an AD.
So I I did that for severalyears, like I.
I stuck with that for about twoyears before I moved back to
Atlanta and said I'm nottouching a d work again, I need,
I need and I would only do itfor friends.
And then it wasn't untilprobably this year where I
(19:29):
decided like, okay, I'llconsider doing it again.
And part of that is justbecause opera is kind of similar
role and so I'm already in itdaily and Mallory is working at
the opera.
Yeah, the Atlanta opera as a anoperations manager.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Hey, hey, woohoo.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Actors hustle.
I'm telling you.
You know, hey, and I'm thankfulthat, like my hustle is still
in the industry, I think if Iwere to do what I used to do
like seven jobs between, like,candle making and nannying and I
would be so bored.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
Yeah, I've been there , though, too, like I feel like
every actor not every actor, buta lot of us have the like.
Yeah, I'm working four jobsright now.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
Right.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
The conundrum of acting finding a job that you
can also, at a moment's notice,be like.
Hey, I booked something.
I'll be gone for two days or aweek, next week.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
You know Well and that's what I love that the two
jobs that I found were the mostflexible with that was
restauranting, and part of thatwas just like I got a thick skin
and I was like, all right, if Iworked at one restaurant for
probably three years and usuallythat was not the case that's
the only place like I've workedthe longest.
But you know, every job I everpicked up I said, hey, if I get
(20:44):
an audition, if I get a gig, I'mnot going to come to work.
I will do everything in mypower to cover my shift, but I
will not come to work.
And there was one situationwhere a lot of people were not
able to come in and I got a lastminute gig out in Tennessee and
I had to drive out and I toldAaron I said, hey, I got a gig,
I'll try to find somebody tocover my shift, but I have to
(21:06):
leave Today.
And she was like Well, you needto find somebody cover your
shift.
And I said, yes, of course I'lldo my best, but if I don't find
someone, I'm leaving.
And I ended up not findinganyone and so she gave me an
ultimate and she was like If youdon't come in, you're fired.
I said, cool, I'm not coming in.
And then she did end up hiringme again afterwards.
Yeah, I mean, yeah, it's justthe ability to be flexible, be
(21:29):
like Okay, fine, this is mypassion, I will find another job
Right.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
I think it's funny too that you're up front,
because I'm always up front andmy dad has always been like
Don't, don't tell the boss that.
That's what my dad says, when Iget an interview, I'm always
like Okay, so like I'm an actorand like if I book something
like I same thing, I'll try andget my shift covered, but I'm
not gonna.
And my dad always says Don't,don't tell him, don't do that.
(21:56):
Just you know, but you know Ikeep getting jobs, so it's, it's
, it's working out, it's workingout.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
Right, well, like sometimes it will bite you in
the butt Like I have had acouple of jobs that were strict
in their boundaries and good forthem, but they did not want to
hire somebody like me, andthat's fine.
But I've also not had a periodwhere I could not find a
restaurant job.
Right, no, especially nowthere's so many places hiring
and, as as many people thatdon't enjoy it, it's still
(22:26):
income.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
Oh, I hate restaurant work.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
I hate it, I hate it, I hate it.
But yeah, I've absolutely doneit and I would do it again if I
had to.
Yeah, um, as I say, I say alittle prayer, as I say that,
god, please don't make me, butyou know like.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Another one that I really enjoyed was, um, working
with a small Etsy shop.
Okay, cool.
I have no recollection of how Ifound this job at all.
I mean it honestly might havebeen a Craigslist thing, um,
which is terrifying.
But she, I do remember going tothe interview and kind of being
(23:06):
nervous because it was at herhouse and she requested that I
meet her in the basement, oh God.
So I was a little nervous, butit was at the time I was working
on a show Um, I think it wasmom and me, or no, it was
private lives.
So I was working on a show andit was halfway of my drive to
(23:28):
the show and she was just acandle shop or a candle maker,
and she had her whole Etsy shopin her basement and it was
wonderful, of like, I couldessentially choose my own hours.
She's like, as long as you getthe candles finished for orders,
I don't care.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
I didn't know about your Etsy job, did you?
When you said?
When you said candle making aminute ago, I was like what?
Yeah, I feel like all thesejobs make actors better actors,
because we're like, yeah, I'velived that part, I've been that
waiter I've been that cashierI've done that thing, oh 100%.
I've been a candle maker.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Right, You've done all the odd jobs and it's
character building, you know,like working in the basement by
myself, burning myself onboiling wax it smells like
pumpkin spice and working.
There was one time that was thetime I was working seven jobs.
So I was working eithernannying and candle making in
(24:23):
the morning and then the eveningI was going to rehearsals,
working at a lab and princessingand a restaurant, and so Just
so people know princessing isn'tus sitting around being a
princess.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
It's dressing up like a princess and going to a party
for kids, so kind of the same.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
but you have to.
It's like adult, not adult,like character driven
babysitting yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
And princessing sounds like I'm just sitting in
my bed waiting for princecharming Right Just heading, as
princesses don't need no princecharming, but you know, say it
again for the people in the back, butter woman.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Oh, but yeah, it was just funny.
I remember just feeling, beinghaving just a serileness to it
of Walking into this woman'shome in the middle of the night.
She's got a family andeverything and just I hadn't
done my candles that week and soI had to work from midnight to
two After my lab job, or I'd goto the lab from.
(25:27):
I was on night shift at the lab, so I'd go in from nine to like
midnight one and just being theonly person awake, the only
person working by myself.
It was just odd.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
Yeah, the weird stuff .
I will say I'm gonna go aheadand just manifest this for you.
You're gonna get like ahallmark movie where you're a
candle, like hallmark, you're acandle maker that's been stuck
in your hometown for years andincomes From New York, the big
(26:02):
city, and and you haven't seenthem since high school.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
And he falls in love with you and the art of candle
making and I we make out over apumpkin spice candle like you
want to smell it.
Honestly, not a bad idea.
Hallmark, if you're listening,let's write.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
You got a cast, mallory, though.
Right, it's got the right,right, I know all right music
Okay, cuz I know your.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
your former housemate used to write a lot.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
Yeah, zach, he's.
He really likes writing, he didhe's really good too.
Yeah, but All right, it soundslike you just said this, but I
want to dive a little deeper.
Yeah, so I was gonna ask youwhat the most challenging part
of being acting and afterhearing about the like onslaught
of different jobs, that soundslike it, but let's go like pass
(26:54):
that to what is the mostchallenging part of Acting, like
actually performing or doing it, anything around that.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Um, I mean, first thing that comes to mind is it
doesn't matter what's going on.
It doesn't matter if yoursister just had a baby, it
doesn't matter if you're likecongratulations.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
By the way, I was an auntie, I'm an auntie.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
Oh, that's just surreal.
In and of itself it's wonderful, um, but yeah, it doesn't
matter what you're going through, where you're at mentally, what
you, what just happened before.
You can carry that into yourwork and kind of inform and make
different decisions with it,but nobody gives a shit.
Yeah, no, nobody cares.
Honestly, and it makes sensebecause if we want to get
(27:46):
something done with a communityof anywhere from 22 500 people,
yeah, you have to be available.
And so, like I mean, I rememberlike there's instances where
I've missed really importantmilestones and important
celebrations because I was onset and Part of me really
(28:09):
regrets that and part of meknows it dots.
What I signed up for.
That's yeah, that's thecommitment.
Yeah and if I care, if it wassomething important enough to me
, I would have quit.
But I think that is the hardestis you know like I struggle
with migraines and going on toset with a migraine and having
to connect with another human is10 times harder.
(28:32):
But you know like recognizingthat you've gotten through that
before I think just and Right.
I physically write it down likehey, today was a really tough
day and you still made itthrough.
Or like you are satisfied withthe work that you did.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
You weren't in your head and you, you were honest.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
I think that's how I've kind of picked myself up by
my bootstraps in those kind ofsituations.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
Yeah, for sure I think to like so for me, like
I've had moments where I've toldmy agent like I need a break,
like I need, and she's wonderful.
I and I really think goodagents can recognize that
because she's really about likeour mental health and recognizes
the emotional mental toll thatacting can take on you,
(29:21):
especially when You're notprimarily supporting yourself on
acting Not that that'sdifferent, but when you are
doing the thing you love andthat is paying your bills and
everything.
That is different than tryingto work three or four jobs and
also Make acting Primary likeConcern.
(29:46):
That's not right or like makingit a priority.
Thank you, priority primarykept coming in my brain and then
I went like primary colors andthen like Like what is happening
, I'm sure.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
Somebody reboot me.
Well, that's why I end upcoming up with so many words is
just my brain goes somewhereelse and I'm like, well, what is
a word that feels like I'mtrying to convey right?
But yeah, I mean, I completelyagree with you that a really
great agent understands when youneed to take a break, if that
(30:20):
ever comes about because if youare being pulled in 500
different directions and you'vehit your your limit, your work
isn't gonna be as good andyou're not gonna book anyways.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
You know, it's very obvious.
Like I've had auditions where,like the character supposed to
be down in the dumps and I'mlike, well, I'm depressed as
hell anyway so, and then, but itstill just doesn't come across
good, because I you know what Imean like, yeah, I really
respect my agent.
She's always been phenomenaland I have a high respect for
agents who Can see when theiractors are trying their best,
(30:55):
but also see when their actorsneed a break, and I've always
felt comfortable and likereaching out and saying I Need a
couple months like I just, youknow, like I'm Drowning a little
bit right now, or you know, inlife and and the other things
your agents don't know.
Your agents don't know if, likeyour mom gets sick, or If you,
if you, got fired from a job, orlike you know, life continues
(31:17):
to happen and hard things comeup.
So and your agent is takingcare of you know however many
people's on the roster a hundredor more people.
So right, how do you feel likeyou stand out in the industry
with it being so saturated?
Speaker 2 (31:33):
Um, I feel like this is.
This is like forcing me to beslightly egotistical.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
No, okay.
Well, what's funny is like Iask everybody this question.
Yeah, actors and I Um, I neverhave to answer it for myself.
So I it's it's a tough questionand, yeah, be a little
egotistical, like brag onyourself a little bit, because
you have put a lot of work in.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
So right you have.
Speaker 1 (31:59):
You have the permission.
Not that you need it, but gofor it.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (32:03):
Well, I also feel like I feel like this is another
Clayton quote that Actors haveto be a little egotistical or
else you would never survive youhave to know what you're worth
and you have to know what youbring to the table.
For me, I feel like that it's.
I do have like I'm naturallyvery bubbly, but there is, as
(32:23):
Eliana likes to call it I'm amandrake.
So under the surface there wassomebody.
They'll just rip you a new oneor just like lose her mind At
the flip of a switch.
So I think that's somethingthat Plays to my favor,
especially because I feel like Ilook Like I have bigger eyes
and I feel like it makes me looka little innocent, and so
(32:45):
having that that yeah but alsothe fact that I worked in
science so long.
Unfortunately, like I still looka little too young, I'm still
hoping for like a good doctormoment where somebody hires me
as a scientist, even though Ilook like I'm 20.
Right but like I was working ina laboratory since I was 13,
(33:09):
Okay, I didn't know it was thatyoung.
I got like pulled into a labwhen I was really young and did
it for 10 years.
So I think having thatknowledge and like a really
strong background and look atdegree, even in science, is
something that not a lot ofpeople can say.
Yeah and I have had like acouple of people give me
auditions because when they saylike oh, we're looking for a
(33:31):
scientist or a microbiologist,I'll always up in there like my
favorite microbe and I alwaysget questions of so we heard
that you have a favorite microbe, how do you pronounce it?
And it's a cool conversationstarter to you.
So yeah, yeah, I feel likethat's what makes me stand out
and like I'm also just I'll gointo things headfirst like I
don't.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
I don't scare easy.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
So the number of times that I Like I had somebody
asked me to learn part fourcool, yeah, I'll give it a shot.
Um, I Did, like some stuntfalls and there was a course
like a stunt coordinator and allthat.
But, um, like, are youcomfortable with this one?
Yeah, I love heights.
Let's go see what happens.
Yeah, if I train properly, like, I'm happy to keep doing it.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
So right, that's one thing like acting.
So there's so many things thatI'm like, oh, I'd love to do
that, do that, do that, and I'mjust like, okay, you don't have
to do it all right now.
But also like thatmanifestation of like I like I
did boxing for the first timethe other night.
I like like legit boxing I donelike some other, like fighting
stuff, but never.
(34:34):
And I had a freaking blast andI was like I think I want to be
in a boxing movie now, just solike somebody can pay for me to
train to be a boxer and then Ican go and be like a badass
boxer.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
Like I think it's supported.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
I right get my like Rhonda Rousey, brits oh.
Speaker 2 (34:53):
I would love it.
Right, that's not a put it outin the world, right, put it out
there.
Liz is learning to box.
Hire her as a boxer.
Speaker 1 (35:04):
There we go.
Speaker 2 (35:04):
Yeah, I as an actor.
Well, I'm just as a human.
I have so many hobbies and Ifeel like as an actor, we fall
into the trap of I want it to beon my special skills list, got
to that, and then we never putthe proper time to actually make
it worthy of.
Yeah being on the special skillsright.
So like I mean, there wassomebody that I worked with that
(35:27):
I I forget what it was.
I want to say it was Swimmingor diving or something like that
, like something that I've beendoing for a long time, and they
showed up to site and just hadno clue, was not neat at all and
I was like, hey, are you, areyou doing?
Speaker 1 (35:45):
okay?
He's like, yeah, I haven't.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
I haven't been swimming since, like, I was 10.
Bro, I don't want you drowning.
This puts a lot of pressure onme because you don't know what
you're doing.
Was he doing diving?
Now, I think we were justswimming because, like, if he
was diving, it would have beenlike a very, very Problematic,
(36:07):
like danger.
I don't think so.
It wasn't something where I wasthat concerned.
I think we were like swimmingin a lake or something, so like
it was shallow.
There were people there thatlike we could Pull if we needed,
but if he started like I meanflapping his arms.
Speaker 1 (36:22):
Oh, okay.
Okay dog paddling a little bit.
Do you feel like the industryis progressing into more
inclusive roles and like how?
So?
Oh the I roll.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Yeah, the I roll came back.
Um, I Think there is an effort.
Oh, I think we're slowlygetting there, slower than we
should.
Speaker 1 (36:51):
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (36:53):
Yeah, but I think because something that's also
happening or that's stillhappening and problematic is
that we are having diversecastings, but the people in
diverse roles are still beingstereotyped.
Yeah you're right and like Ifeel like if I get into any
(37:15):
details it can get problematic,but I don't mind speaking up.
But also I guess I would speakup and just also say I have a
different perception thansomebody else might.
Speaker 1 (37:25):
Right.
So, like also, you and I areboth white.
Speaker 2 (37:28):
Right, we're both white, so I can't talk about as
somebody that's by and by.
I can't speak to theirexperience, exactly so.
But yeah, I think that we arenot doing our best and I'd agree
it's something that I wouldlove it if we crack down on it.
But also, like, how can weforce writers and producers to
(37:51):
write content that's different?
Yeah, and I think hasdifferently, because it's
something that's so ingrained towhich sucks.
Speaker 1 (37:59):
Yeah, and that's that's the other like aspect of
it, that unlearning component,which is really hard, because
you think of people who I don'tknow 20 years ago, came out of
school and then they weretrained by their mentors and
like not excusing any of it, butit gets passed down, passed
down and it's like unlearningand you are seeing people that
(38:22):
are slowly breaking that mold,but it's kind of like, whenever
there's any type of change, thefirst people to do it are like
looked at like as the outcast ory'all are.
What are y'all doing?
Like it's been working, andit's like how's it though?
How's it been working Right?
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Well, and I feel like nowadays we're at the point
where, when we do see somethingdifferent, like everything
everywhere all at once, but ohso good they, they were regarded
.
Speaker 1 (38:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (38:49):
And applauded because it was a wonderful film and it
did like purse.
I mean, I can't speak to Asianculture but from what I've heard
from my Asian friends and howI've perceived it, it did really
do justice to Asian familiesand social upbringing and what
it's like living in like thatsituation.
(39:09):
So, yeah, I found it reallywonderful and I think we are
getting more to the point wherewe're not shaming people that
are breaking the mold, like age24.
Speaker 1 (39:19):
The goal is to break the mold.
Yeah, age 24.
That's funny, derek and Italked about that, but it's.
We were talking about how it'sone of the few companies out
there that is like really seemslike they're trying to come up
with very original content.
Speaker 2 (39:38):
Well, and you know how they work, right, like they
don't.
How do I word this?
I mean, somebody else comes upwith the ideas and the writing,
they just help produce it.
Produce it, yeah, right.
So that's why they don't.
They pick and choose what theylike to suit their brand, but
(39:59):
their brand is also veryeclectic and diverse.
Yeah, absolutely, but they'rejust pulling from different
people of different backgroundsand different stories.
So like you might see somethingfrom Ari one year and then the
next year is going to besomebody completely different.
So I think that really benefitsthem as a company.
Because they're not stuck intoone group used to working to
(40:22):
each other, used to working offof each other's ideas.
They are forced to thinkoutside the box.
Speaker 1 (40:27):
Right.
I think that benefits everyone,like I always have been so like
honestly, like a fear for beinglike pigeonholed into a certain
type of role or something thatyou're not or something that you
get known as, and I thinkpeople break that mold.
(40:47):
But I always think MatthewMcConaughey, like he was wrong
comms.
And then he like people don'trealize that I think he said he
didn't get an audition for liketwo or three years because he
said no more, on comes I'm notdoing it anymore and there's
nothing wrong like it can helpyou get your start.
But I think, you know, I thinkabout, like Melissa McCarthy.
(41:11):
They talk about how people allknew her for like Gilmore girls
and then when she started, Idon't remember the first thing,
like bridesmaids, identity theftI think those were some of her
earlier, when you really startedseeing her get to showcase her
talent as like a comedic actressand it's like you can do this.
And I was listening to her onDax Shepard's podcast and Dax he
(41:33):
worked with her I guess backyears ago and he was talking
about how, like I knew she coulddo this like 10 years ago.
But you know, you see theseactors that you think, oh,
they're this way.
And then you see them do thesedifferent things and you're like
, wow, like you can do that.
That's so good, like you wereamazing in that.
It's like, yeah, like I'mthat's kind of.
That's kind of the point.
Right, you can do differentthings Right.
Speaker 2 (41:56):
Because I'm human, but I think it was Barbara
Stordahl, a casting directorthat I adore.
She loves pulling people out oftheir boxes and casting new
people, but one thing that shesaid, was it her, was it Kim?
I can't recall.
I'm going to have to go backand let you know.
But somebody that I was in aclass with and like, really
(42:18):
admire, said you can't tell theindustry what they want.
They're going to let you knowwhat they want from you, and I
think that is really true of you.
Know, as much as we want to getoutside the box, especially if
you're unknown, the industry isgoing to tell you what they're
going to type you, cast you out,and that's how you look.
(42:38):
And that's what a lot of agentslike to know is sure, we want to
know that you're willing tostretch yourself and be flexible
and try something.
That's a challenge, but do youknow where you're strong at?
Speaker 1 (42:50):
and are you good at it?
Speaker 2 (42:52):
You know if you're strong at playing the dough.
I'd innocent girl, but youdon't want to audition for those
things.
So you kind of fight againstyourself internally.
You look bad and you're notgoing to get cast Right.
Yeah, like you said, it is agood place to start, but then
you also have to start settingyour boundaries once you get
rolling of, just yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (43:15):
And I think still, like you can still embrace that,
because you can play that andthat might be what comes to you
naturally, like you don't haveto let that go completely, but
because that is going to be thatthing, your type or whatever
it's going to be the thing thatgets you in the door.
But yeah, I think, okay, thisis actually good segue.
(43:37):
So what would be like yourdream role if you could take
away, you know, any?
That's always a hard questionto right.
Because I, like you just said, Ifeel like we get told a lot of
what we get to play.
And so because I've eventhought about that, like what
would I, what would my dreamrole be?
(43:57):
Because I'm so used to what Iget cast as or what auditions
I'm getting regularly and thosetypes you know.
Speaker 2 (44:07):
Yeah, I think for me there's two that are like top
the list and ironically they'remore geared towards episodics,
whereas I tend to get cast morein features.
Features are much more wherelike, where my strong suit is
and I like features a lot.
But the first one would be aWestern that I'd be like a lead
(44:33):
female role that has someinnocence to her and naivete,
but she grows to be a completebadass.
You know whether she ends upjoining a like a crime group or
she starts standing up forherself or whatever that may be
Like.
My, my first instinct is someof the female characters off of
(44:54):
Yellowstone or oh, okay, okay.
Speaker 1 (44:57):
I was immediately thinking of what's the lead off
of Westworld, rachel.
Speaker 2 (45:03):
Oh, evan Rachel Woods .
Evan Rachel Woods, yeah, whichwhen I was blonde, I got a lot
of references to her, really,and at one point my agent at the
time like had messaged me orwhatever.
When congillian came out, oh,she thought I was Evan.
I was like I, if I'm gettingthat audition and you don't know
(45:27):
about it, there's a problem,right.
So she had a lot of her likewonderful qualities, but that
was a moment.
I just started questioning ofwhat the end, of course, like we
are in the digital age, so alot of it could have been comedy
and just being facetious, right, but I was just like what
(45:49):
Really?
But yeah, something like EvanRachel Woods character.
But then another part of mewould love I love dystopian
stuff.
That would just be a goal ingeneral but a scientist or a
microbiologist, somebody that'sstrong and again like strong
female characters, like notsomebody that's going to be a
whist and take it I mean yeah, Ithink it's.
Speaker 1 (46:13):
it's just so nice to play strong female characters
100%.
I like to a lot when it's thatrags or riches or whatever you
want to say, that kind of storywhere they seem like the
underdog and then by the end ofit they're you know.
That reminds me of I didn'twatch Good Girls all the way
(46:33):
through that show.
Speaker 2 (46:35):
I don't know if you watched that.
It makes me think of like, likeScarface and that kind of.
Speaker 1 (46:41):
Yeah, okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, I do want to talk
about the strike at all.
Speaker 2 (46:54):
Sure, yeah, I don't mind talking about it, I think.
Speaker 1 (46:57):
Okay, I don't.
Speaker 2 (46:59):
I guess, like most of your audience is actors, but
sometimes it's great to talkabout it.
Just release that tension or atleast educate people if they're
not necessarily aware.
Speaker 1 (47:10):
Yeah, yeah, so you can say as little or as much as
you want.
Um, I Well, you take the floorlike kind of what, what are your
thoughts or what are youthinking about this strike?
I think all of us definitelywant to get to a place where we
can get back working.
Oh, of course.
Speaker 2 (47:29):
Yeah, I, it's devastating and kind of
apocalyptic, is very dramatic.
Speaker 1 (47:36):
But I'm a traumatic person it is.
Speaker 2 (47:42):
It's hard being in an age where there aren't big
projects going on, because ofthis.
But of course I'm glad thatit's happening, of course I'm
glad that we've banded togetherand that WGA is striking and SAG
is striking and it's also likeopen up conversations and IOTC
(48:03):
and the special effects teamsare looking to unionize, which I
think is wonderful.
I fully support that as well.
So I think it's brought up alot of conversations, as well as
conversations with civilians,don't?
They don't understand what wedo.
I'm very fortunate enough tohave the Atlanta Opera and enjoy
theater, so I'm stillauditioning for theater
(48:24):
productions.
I still have the stable job andit's liberated me and given me
the opportunity to work on a lotof passion projects with
friends and start writing andjust even though you know I set
my boundary a long time ago oflike my work has value.
I am valuable as a person.
(48:45):
I do need to pay my bills.
I won't work complimentaryanymore.
I've kind of gone back on thatand started working for free,
just because we don't have anyother projects to work on except
for independent projects.
Speaker 1 (48:58):
And why not?
Speaker 2 (48:58):
pour into the people that you love the most and
support them.
Speaker 1 (49:01):
Yeah, I feel like I've gotten into more like
creative avenues right now, awayfrom acting like this podcast,
and which is like, in a way, I'mlike it's got me doing things
that I've said I wanted to doand I haven't said that's good,
but it's all good, likeeverything is happening.
(49:25):
For a reason it's still is.
I think for me, the hard partis like I love actors, like we
are a community and it's I'msuch a like my heart on my
sleeve person and I care aboutpeople so much, so I don't think
so much about how it'saffecting me as much as it which
(49:48):
it is affecting me, but more sohow it's affecting, like, my
fellow actors Also.
It's a good thing it'shappening.
But then you come back to ofwe're only not not even three
years post a pandemic, threeyears post when a pandemic
started, and then all theeffects of that.
(50:09):
So you know we are postpandemic, but I wouldn't even
know when to say the pandemicreally truly ended, like maybe
2022.
Speaker 2 (50:20):
I don't think anybody really knows.
Speaker 1 (50:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (50:23):
And there's still argument that it's still going,
yeah, yeah.
I think, to the like that's.
Another point to be made isthat it doesn't just affect
actors, like well, actors arebeing devastated by this and it
is really affecting thelivelihoods of a lot of actors.
It's also affecting our a azicrew.
Yeah, they can't.
They can't work on a SAGproject because there's no SAG
(50:45):
projects going on.
So right.
So, yeah, like a lot, a lot ofpeople have.
Speaker 1 (50:50):
Yeah, you got a whole industry that is basically
stopped right now.
Right Studio rental companies.
Yeah, what are you going to doif there's nobody to shoot?
You know, if there's no playersto tell the stories?
Speaker 2 (51:04):
Right.
Speaker 1 (51:05):
Because it is.
It's all a collaborative, likepuzzle piece and you, you know,
or machine, I guess, is a betterway.
You take a piece of the machineaway, kind of the whole machine
stops and you've taken twopieces of the machine away
because you have WGA and SAG,right yeah.
Speaker 2 (51:22):
So it's.
So.
It's been hard and you know Idon't I wish I had like a some
foresight to see when this wouldend, but I know that, like even
if I could guess I could beentirely off.
Speaker 1 (51:38):
So yeah, and I don't think it's even necessary to
like get in your books.
Speaker 2 (51:44):
That doesn't really help.
Speaker 1 (51:46):
I know I got an email the other day that was like
talking about how the class wasgoing to be discounted and if we
went ahead and paid for it,even like the class starts in
October, even if and I was like,and they're like, unless the
strike is still going on inOctober, I was like, oh man,
like you just don't know.
Speaker 2 (52:05):
Well, and that has been a great thing to see is, I
mean, we've always known thatwe're a community with one big
family, but being able to jointogether and care for each other
and support each other.
There's a lot of funds thathave been created and things
like that.
There's classes that are goingon discount.
Recently I saw a show that waspay what you can like.
(52:25):
Our shows are usually thisprice, but, like if you have
been really impacted by thestrikes, we just want you to be
within the creative communityand it's no pressure that you
have to pay $35 for a theaterticket.
Yeah, so I think that's beenwonderful to see.
And then also, I mean goingback to independent projects.
You know, of course, like weall want to be paid and we all
(52:48):
have to make a living, but it'salso nice being able to just
support each other and say, hey,I've got a lighting kit If
somebody needs to borrow it forsomething they've been dying to
shoot and like it's not goinganywhere else.
I'm happy to be an extra for youif you need people because you
can't hire a casting service,things like that.
Speaker 1 (53:09):
Yeah, yeah, I definitely think there is in on
the positive side of it, likeshifting to a positive
perspective.
We are seeing that, like we doband together and, yeah, at the
root of the industry, like thereis a community.
It's part of what makes allthis worth it.
(53:30):
It's like the people that weget to work with.
So, yeah, I know we can't likepromote any SAG projects or
anything like that, but is thereanything?
We just talked about how you'repotentially doing some
independent stuff, some creativestuff?
Is there anything that you dowant to say like hey, like I'm
(53:51):
working on this and I'm excitedabout this, or yeah, I have a
short film that's going out atSidewalk.
Speaker 2 (53:58):
It's an LGBTQ film.
Oh cool, yeah, and it's reallysweet and lovely and it's been
in progress for a while, so I'mreally excited for that to come
out.
And then I just shot a filmwith a friend that she put it
together and it was very quick.
But it's with Nicole Lockleyand she just has such a powerful
(54:20):
voice when she writes andtackles very difficult topics
that people always hesitate todiscuss and so.
I'm really excited for that tocome out and I'm really hoping
that she turns it into a series,whether they're all
interconnected or not.
I think that she has such avery unique way of being able to
(54:41):
bring those topics to the tableWithout it being, I mean,
definitely like pointing fingers, but also allowing the
conversation to open up in asafe space.
Yeah, yeah, I'm excited forthat to come out.
I don't.
We just wrapped on Tuesday, soit's going to probably be a
while before it comes out, butlooking forward to that.
Speaker 1 (55:02):
Yeah, what's your Instagram?
Because I know you promote alot of stuff on your Instagram.
Speaker 2 (55:06):
Yeah, I post just about everything on my Instagram
.
I finally had to make a fencedout, though, because I know that
there is like goofy photos thatI want to post and not
necessarily want the entireworld to see.
Got you, got you.
But my my public Instagram isMallory Ivy is just my first and
last name, which is very easyto remember.
(55:27):
All of my, all of my socialmedia is just my first and last
name.
Speaker 1 (55:31):
I guess, like dude, I like struggled to get my first
and last name.
Speaker 2 (55:35):
Are you serious?
Speaker 1 (55:36):
Yeah, so mine is Zill Bachman.
Speaker 2 (55:40):
Right, I did Liz backwards, which is so fun.
Speaker 1 (55:43):
Yeah, that's like a thing that a nickname I was
given in high school completesidebar, but you know.
But yeah, I was.
I struggled to I think Icouldn't get Liz Bachman, so
anyway, not the point, malloryIvy guys look for her content.
She's awesome.
I love her so much.
(56:04):
I'm excited that I got to sithere and talk with you and for
anyone listening, if you enjoyedthis, if you could rate or
review the podcast, that wouldbe awesome.
It just helps me keep doingwhat I'm doing and I look
forward to talking to whoever Italk to in the next episode.
Speaker 2 (56:20):
I'm excited to see who you talk to the next episode
, right?
Thanks, mal, of course, babe,so good to see you.
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