Meet Victoria Park: Actor / Filmmaker

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

Hi Victoria, how do you think about risk?
To be honest, my whole career choice was a risk. Moving to Los Angeles without a safety net, connections, job, or even a place to live was all a risk. But they were all risks that paid off. “No risk, no reward” is an idiom that has certainly rung true for me over the course of my career/life, and it’s something I strive to lean into on a regular basis. It’s ironic because I’m actually a naturally cautious person; but I push forward by asking myself, “what’s the worst possible thing that can happen.” In most cases, the worst thing isn’t actually that bad, and I’ve very rarely been burned by a risk gone wrong. As long as you’re taking risks in pursuit of your dreams, values, and goals, I don’t think it’s possible for it to turn out poorly. It may not pay off in the exact way you envisioned, but it will always result in growth. And in my opinion, that’s always worth it.

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’ve been a professional working actor for the past ten years, but I’ve been a story teller/lover since the moment I could speak in semi-comprehensible sentences. I first made it official by studying directing/cinematography in college, and shortly afterwards moved to LA. After joining an acting class to learn how to better work with actors, I was connected with a manager who still represents me today and.. the rest is history! I’ve had the privilege of working with some amazing people on some incredible projects; some personal favorites include: The Flash, Sweet/Vicious, Too Old To Die Young, Plus One, and Everything Before Us. As an Asian American, I’m particularly passionate about telling our stories, as varied and layered as they are. But no matter what story I have the privilege of telling (or in what capacity, whether actor, director, or otherwise), I aim to create connection, making people feel seen/known and hopefully bringing some light into an often dark world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
LA has some of the best food of any city I’ve ever visited, so any trip here would definitely be designed around eating. Sidecar Donuts, La Colombe for coffee, El Zarape for tacos, Maccheroni Republic for pasta, and an entire weekend in LA’s Koreatown for every kind of Korean food imaginable. Seong Buk Dong, Hangari Kalguksu, and Jeon Ju are some of our can’t-miss Korean spots, but the list of recommendations is endless. Between meals, I’d recommend any of our art museums (The Broad, LACMA, or The Getty are my three favorites), or a short hike up to Griffith Observatory for an inspiring view of the city. There’s also endless hiking in any of the surrounding mountain ranges. Lastly, a trip to LA would not be complete without a trip to the beach. I love Westward Beach or El Matador in Malibu, but also recommend renting bikes in Venice and biking up the boardwalk to Santa Monica.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have an endless list of people who deserve a shoutout for making me who I am today, but today I’m thanking my dad in particular. He has always supported me, even before I had decided what to do with my life. He drove me across the country to pursue my dreams when they were just a half-baked idea in a somewhat impulsive 22-year-old’s head. He lead by example by pursuing his own unconventional career path and becoming one of the leaders in his field. He’s my hero and deserves a shoutout today and every day.

Website: www.victoriaparkactress.com
Instagram: @heybvp
Twitter: @heybvp
Youtube: www.youtube.com/heybvp

Image Credits
Albert Law, Christine Choi, Kassia Phoy