Meet Heather Mingo | Says. Makes. Does.

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

Hi Heather, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Work/life balance was something I used to struggle with immensely. Especially when I was younger and less self-assured, I’d overextend myself to prove my worth. But over time I realized that my worth isn’t contingent on my productivity. That awareness combined with the magic of clear communication and boundaries keeps my brain happy. I strive to only work on projects and with people that honor those values, so that balance naturally follows. I’ve learned (too many times) that if I have to push for those values to be respected, I end up expending way more energy than I should and that balance goes out the window. Thankfully, with rigorous practice and frequent gut checks, I’ve found myself attracting collaborators and clients who also value mental health and life outside of productivity.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I love that I’ve been able to mostly follow and explore what excites me at any given time. I began my trajectory primarily focused on acting, but that soon opened doors for screenwriting, producing, and directing. I think of myself as an avid problem solver, and each of those paths was born of issues I’d faced along the way. Not jazzed about the roles I’m working on? Figure out why and write something else. Not happy with the way it’s filmed? Learn what didn’t work and produce or direct the next one. It’s been very fulfilling to hone each of those skills and understand what I can offer to different projects.

Lately, I’ve been filling my days with a ton of Voice Over work and screenwriting. My latest feature, Moira, recently advanced to the semi-finals in the Stage32 Sci-Fi Screenwriting Contest. On the acting front, I’m happy to have gotten signed with LB Talent earlier this year. I also just wrapped on a hilarious web series called We’re Doing Good from Moving Picture Institute, on which I 1st AD’d for Writer/Director Elvira Ibragimova.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m a fairly new transplant to LA (from Virginia by way of Chicago) so am still finessing my list of favorites. I’ve found that I’m more into walking than most Angelenos, so my visiting friends will definitely need to pack good shoes. Some of my go-to’s are walking to Echo Park or Vista Hermosa Park for a sunset picnic. My husband and I especially love seeing live music in MacArthur Park–so pumped that those concerts are back! We also love strolling over to K Town–HMS Bounty, The Prince, and BCD Tofu House are musts.

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 want to shoutout my supportive, inspiring friend, Sienne Diaz. Not only has she been my valued confidante and cheerleader for years, she’s also a marvelously talented artist and musician. www.siennejosselin.com

Website: www.heathermingodoes.com

Instagram: @mingo_mingere

Image Credits
Tandem Photo Tucker Morrison, Michael Fernandez, Elvira Ibragimova