Lisa K Crosato Of City of Angels Women’s Film Festival On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Entertainment Industry

An Interview with Edward Sylvan

Relationships are everything. People need to like you to want to work with you and create with you. Therefore, it’s extremely important to have authentic relationships with people in the industry. Be part of the artistic community so that people will think of you and invite you to that audition or meeting. It’s important to find out how you can contribute and not just wait around. Being good to people is part of the positivity that comes back to you over time.

As a part of our series about pop culture’s rising stars, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Lisa K. Crosato

Lisa K. Crosato is an Actress, Writer and Producer, based in Los Angeles and originally from Vancouver, Canada. After acting in numerous independent films, Lisa turned to writing and producing to fuel her creativity. Her first written, produced and starred in film, KENMORE AVE was a hit at Cannes and is currently distributed by Shorts TV. She produced a feature-length documentary FROM the MIDST of PAIN, which has earned over eight awards and has recently received distribution. She was a producer and developed the screenplay for famed director, Jean Pierre Bekolo’s film, LES SAIGNANTES which was shot in French and screened to acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival and internationally. She was mentored by famed screenwriter, Mardik Martin (RAGING BULL, MEAN STREETS) while writing her first screenplay XXL which has won several awards. She has several projects in development including a “true crime thriller” she wrote about infamous female serial killer, Sheila LaBarre. She has recently been cast as one of the leads in the dark comedy JAMMED IN ZERO which is scheduled to shoot in the spring of 2023. She begins work on a dark comedy pilot about a family business in which she plays an extremely flawed but still likeable character.

Lisa is passionate about female-driven content, and she successfully launched “City of Angels Women’s Film Festival” in 2019, with the goal of empowering and connecting women in the film industry, celebrating diverse women’s stories and showcasing extraordinary films made by women, both in Los Angeles and from all over the world. The 2022 City of Angels Women’s Film Festival begins Sept 1–4th. www.cityofangelswomensfilmfest.com

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

I grew up in Vancouver, Canada. My entire family (although small) is still there. My parents were always supportive of my endeavors and encouraged me to get my degree and pursue my career ambitions. My mother worked as an executive secretary for a big company and my dad was in sales. They taught me the importance of hard work.

Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?

I was always performing as a kid, and I went to Europe to travel after I graduated. I traveled to Israel, and I ended up on a movie that Tom Hanks was starring in because someone approached me and asked if I was an actress and wanted to be a stand in for one of the characters. I was a teenager and I got to meet Tom Hanks and I just remember watching him work and being in awe of him and the other actors and everyone on the set. It was exciting because I was in the Middle East and learning about this world of filmmaking. I realized this is what I wanted to do. There was a magic to it that captured my imagination.

Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

The first role I was cast in was a bit of a crazy “behind the scenes” auditioning room, according to my director. I was one of the last people into the audition and the part had already been given to another actress. Apparently, the producers had even started to negotiate with her agents. The rest of the auditions were supposed to be courtesy reads because there were only a few of us left. I walked in and did my best and the director said “you nailed it” out loud and they changed their mind and hired me instead.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I’m not sure if it was a mistake or just a very funny life moment. I was getting ready to shoot a scene in Santa Monica on the beach and I was sitting outside sitting on the makeup chair which was basically outside in the parking lot. The makeup artist left to get something, and the director walked over to talk with me and go over the scene. As we were talking, I felt a big wet plop on my head… and yes you guessed it, a seagull had pooped on me! We laughed our butts off. I laughed so much, I was crying and had to have my makeup touched up. I think the lesson I learned was to make sure your contract includes wild animal “accident” protection.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?

I have recently completed a screenplay based on the true story of female serial killer, Sheila LaBarre.

I spent almost a year researching it and spent countless hours talking with her sister. I have the life rights to Sheila’s sister’s story. It’s an amazing true story about sisters who grew up with a similar childhood. One of the sisters had a career, family, paid taxes etc and the other sister killed people as an adult. It’s been one of my more interesting and challenging creative endeavors. I’m also getting ready to film a pilot in the late fall. It’s a dark comedy about an eccentric family who run a business. I play a likeable but extremely flawed character.

You have been blessed with success in a career path that can be challenging. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?

I feel the best remedy for fear of failure is to step back and see it as an opportunity. I think the times I have been most afraid of doing something, especially creatively is a sign that I’m making a breakthrough. If I am being considered for a role that makes me nervous, and somewhat uncomfortable, I like to embrace it more because I have realized these are the unique opportunities which are packed with the most growth both creatively and spiritually.

We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?

Diversity is incredibly important. I believe diversity in film and television is what makes things interesting. Diversity teaches us about the world and culture. If we only accept one type of person to show on the screen, we are shortchanging our ability to connect and grow and learn from each other. I also feel that we need more equity with greater female representation in film and television. I launched City of Angels Women’s Film Festival to promote gender equality and celebrate diverse women’s stories. This is a big part of our mission statement.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

1. There really are no rules because you never know where your opportunities come from. I used to believe that my opportunities would come from mostly auditioning and that has only been true in part. I’ve had many opportunities evolve out of relationships I’ve nurtured with filmmakers who got to know me and my work. This brings me to the second thing no one really tells you.
2. Relationships are everything. People need to like you to want to work with you and create with you. Therefore, it’s extremely important to have authentic relationships with people in the industry. Be part of the artistic community so that people will think of you and invite you to that audition or meeting. It’s important to find out how you can contribute and not just wait around. Being good to people is part of the positivity that comes back to you over time.
3. Take risks! I think that to be in a creative career you have to allow your unique self to shine. If you take on a creative challenge, there’s always the chance you might fail but if it works, the success will be bigger and more meaningful if you go for it. I was friends with actor Robert Forster (Jackie Brown, Breaking Bad) and he taught me that when you begin work on a character it’s like creating a painting. You take your brush, and the first stroke of paint should be what he called “a confidence stroke” It should be bold and confident and that is how you begin to draw your character. Everything will follow from that outline. We have to give Robert the credit for this, but I thought it was worth sharing. :)
4. Create your own opportunities. I feel that when you’re motivated to initiate something that’s bigger than yourself you attract greater success and feel more fulfilled at the end of the day. Seeing people thrive around you because of something you put together is one of the best feelings in the world.
5. Be generous. Be generous with your time, with your laughter and your work. Be generous in a scene with a fellow actor or a meeting with a new filmmaker who might need advice. Pick up the bill whenever you can. It seems obvious but I believe it’s the basis of all good karma. I think the generous people always stand out and always end up with a good life.

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?

I think it’s important to keep your sense of humor in life. There are disappointments along the way but taking time out to put things in perspective is helpful and laughter is the best medicine. Keep friends close that make you laugh. I also believe in having a spiritual practice in your life to give you a foundation of peace and happiness.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

I would wish for a movement of kindness and reciprocity. I think that being a giving person is rare and if more people were able to give of themselves, it would be transformative. You know when you walk through a door, and you sense someone is behind you, it is an opportunity for kindness. I think you should always take the time to see if someone is walking behind you as you go through a door. If so, hold the door open for the person behind you and acknowledge them. It’s everyday kindness and caring that makes life so much better for society. I would have a movement of “opening doors for others” and I mean that both literally and of course symbolically.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

I am very grateful to director Robert Hyatt who cast me in my first film which was an action-adventure movie called “Deadly Ransom.” Robert was a child actor who played the little boy, Tommy Marrow Jr. in the classic film “Miracle on 34th” Street who tells the courtroom that Santa Claus exists. I met him in Vancouver when I was very young and didn’t really know anyone in Hollywood. He cast me as the female lead in his movie. More importantly, he gave me a lot of insight into the business and acted as a mentor and friend to me. He passed away several years ago, but he has a special place in my heart, and I will never forget him. Just as movie trivia, he was lifelong friends with Natalie Wood and tipped her off about the role of Judy in “Rebel Without a Cause.” He was a stellar human being.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

I love the quote, “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” George Bernard Shaw. I have always believed in creating a life that is deeply engaging, colorful, and is meaningful to me and hopefully to others. I have always done my best to express myself in all aspects of my life including travel, cooking, enjoying cultural things like art, fashion, creativity, etc and I think all of it comes from passion and appreciation of life. We are ultimately responsible for creating our own happiness and definition of self.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)

I would like to have lunch with Gloria Steinem. I have always admired her. She has been at the forefront of transformational change for women and men for decades. Here’s one of my favorite quotes by her. “Self-esteem is not everything, it’s just a small thing without which nothing can happen.”

How can our readers follow you online?

Thank you for asking and thank you for this amazing interview. Readers can follow me online IG: @lisakcrosato www.facebook.com/lisakcrosato or the festival: @cityofangelswomensfilmfest

This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!