Meet Kristen Clarke: Actor & Producer

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

Hi Kristen, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Ivy Production Co. started at the height of the pandemic when theatre was seemingly dead. We wanted to create a platform for artists to continue to create and share their work with the world to keep all of us connected. Ivy is a place for writers, actors, directors and artists to share their work and to meet other people like them during a time of isolation. As a company started by artists for artists, we wanted to not only share our own work but to collaborate with people from all over. Using social media as our platform we have been able to reach artists worldwide and to connect with several other production companies. The platform is centred around monologues that can be filmed from home on your iPhone even but the actors have the liberty of creating their own home movie that we publish across all our socials. We wanted to create something that even during a time of complete lockdown there was still a space for artists to perform and grow their audience.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
To get to where I am today took a lot of flights and goodbyes but it was worth it. I moved to Los Angeles at 15 to go to a performing arts boarding school and met some of the best people in my life. It has been an amazing 7 years living in LA but it hasn’t always been glamorous. In fact, it was rarely glamorous. Rejection has become such a norm in my life it completely changed who I am as a person. LA has definitely made me a more resilient and tough person. A big takeaway from these past years is that you need to have a close group of friends by your side who have your back in this city otherwise your journey can be incredibly lonely. An important lesson I’ve learned recently post college is to not take your art too seriously. I think as actors it’s easy for us to get caught up in the business dynamics of agents and auditions which don’t get me wrong those are really important. However, if you focus so much on that you forget about why you’re pursuing art in the first place. It’s all about maintaining a balance when turning your passions into your career.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
To start I think we’d have to hit up the basics just so they can say they did it. First, a drive down PCH to have a day at the beach in Malibu. I would take them to El Matador beach to see the caves and have a photoshoot of course. A hike is also on the cards but not the Hollywood sign, that you can see from the ground. One of my favorite hikes is Westridge Trailhead near Brentwood and at sunset it is the best view of Los Angeles. I’d take them to Catch for the “Hit Me” dessert and then hop over to EP & LP for some drinks on the rooftop. Don’t pay for the Hollywood stars tours when all of their addresses are online for free! I’m just kidding but they are there. One of the days will be spent at Disneyland where all of our money will probably be spent on churros and pretzels and we HAVE to stay for the fireworks. Another must is to walk down Melrose Avenue to get Happy Ice and then visit some local thrift stores.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’ve met a lot of amazing people along the way who have inspired and helped me get to where I am today. I would have to give a shoutout to my family and close friends for everything they have done for me especially the incredible women in my life. I am so grateful to have been raised by a woman who never let me take no for an answer and who believes in everything I do. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for my mum or the women in my life who uplift and empower me. My best friends who are navigating industries dominated by men inspire me to work harder and push myself. They are my biggest support system and I can’t wait to watch them grow and succeed even more in their own careers.

Website: http://kristencourtneyclarke.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kristenclarkeee

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IvyProductionCo

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3RfwYbFNLdhfx7FQ9Vm7Ag

Other: Ivy Production Co. http://ivyproductionco.com https://www.instagram.com/ivyproductionco/ https://twitter.com/IvyProductionCo