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

Hi Alison, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking

The word risk gets me excited. Risk means to take a chance.  To get out of your comfort zone. I am an artist. Risk is part of  the game. Both on the creative side and on the business side.  The unknown is what makes the work new, inspiring, and most  of all vital in making a change.

I have always found that when I am  willing to get uncomfortable, I discover what I am really  capable of.

I trained as an actress, but as I have continued on the  marathon life of a working actor (note the difference between  an A-List actor/celebrity), I have found that  writing and producing my own work has given me the most  power. It’s given me a seat at the table. 

And with that, my vulnerability (hence risk) has been IT! What I  have been chasing all along. Truth.

When my daughter was born, almost 5 years ago, I had a very  extreme case of Postpartum Depression. I was undiagnosed  for 8 months, and one night at dinner my daughter’s  pediatrician called to share her concerns about my answers to  the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression questionnaires I was  taking in her office.

I was distraught. I was embarrassed. I felt like a failure.

But instead, at that time, in my need to control my actress life  which felt like it was slipping away into new mom life, I  thought, “Well here it is. Here is the thing I must write about.” I have always wanted to be in my own comedy television  series. As a young girl, I would come  out from NY to visit my aunt in LA and go to TV tapings. And  here it was, my reason to write a TV show. My goal was the 

write something I could not be separated from – but that was  scary! So, I did. I took a risk. I blew up my most private  postpartum life, and turned it into a comedy.

And since then, I’ve been writing, creating, and making work in  this sphere. I have gone on to utilize my  unique comedic voice to normalize issues surrounding  women’s health. I have a portfolio of  projects about women in relation to their bodies, that make  people laugh, squirm, and pee a little. 

Current Slate: AfterBirth (pilot), The Heavy (pilot), The Hole  Truth (short), First Child Problems (Catalyst Story winner and  on-going Web Series available on YouTube, Rizzle, and IGTV) All of which, have been born out of the idea of a risk. Of  changing the narrative around what has defined me. Around  letting go of those perceptions, in order to connect, create,  and grow as a woman, a mother, a wife, friend, and an artist.

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 trained as an actress at NYU Tisch School of the Arts at the  Stella Adler Acting Conservatory. It was a demanding and  informative program for me, and really gave me what I think of  as my “actor toolbox.” 

After that I worked in NYC for years! I had a day job as a  personal assistant at the Lowell Hotel and I did theatre,  sketch, and comedy shows. I studied improv. I auditioned A  LOT. I also booked a show called Nintendo Week (the first  show streaming  on the Wii) where I hosted over 100  episodes. I booked lots of work there, but decided in 2014,  that I needed to come to LA to make my sitcom dreams come true. 

Moving here was a difficult decision. Leaving my comfortable  NY roots and my family (Not to mention my husband had  landed his dream job and we owned our condo in Long Island City), seemed challenging, but I was  certain that I had to be in LA to achieve my dreams. 

My work ethic and resourcefulness have always paid off. Upon getting here, I did TONS of casting  director workshops. I found great representation that really  believed in me. I am still with Angel City Talent (Mimi Mayer  and Sarah MacKay) and they have been instrumental in guiding  me for the past ten years. I got my SAG/AFTRA card and I  started booking roles on TV. I have also always been studying  – I am always in class still, to this day. Thank you Steve Braun (every single week!), Risa Bramon Garcia, Annie  Grindlay, and Brian Reise. 

I have amassed a LOT of film and TV credits over the past ten  years! I recurred on American Housewife (ABC) and on Tosh.0 (Comedy Central). I do recurring sketch work on Jimmy  Kimmel Live! Additionally, I have booked work on Black-ish,  Super Store, Chicago Med, Jane the Virgin, General Hospital,  Physical, Conan, Midnight TX, Great News and more. I also have  worked on movies, commercials, and pilots! 

My recent favorite, was working with the AMAZING Timothy  Busfield, the legendary Oliver Platt, (and warm and welcoming Jessy Schram) on Chicago Med (S8, EP 16)! I had a great top of  show Guest Star and played a mom having a baby and then  her husband gets in a (an unbelievable) accident. It was such a joy to work with an amazing team and  to get to be in Chicago for about two weeks. 

My latest move is a really important pivot for me. I began this year by starting a business. I now have  a production company called This Is My Back-Up Plan: a production house run on the estrogen of  women who won’t settle.

 

I have two pilots I am ready to take to market and short film  called The Hole Truth, which I am attaching funding for with  my partner Natasha Goss, as we speak. 

This is a “hard business.” And even harder in a post Covid,  post double strike world. No one knows  anymore! It’s all changed so much. I am married with two  young girls and a dog. None of it is easy. However, I became  unwilling to sit and wait for the industry to need me. To hear  that I was “too this, not enough that” – and that it was all  about “luck” or the dreaded words “offer only” for anything  resembling a larger role. I know it’s hard. That’s not a  deterrent for me. Life is hard- and so I started thinking more  about doing it my own way. To this day, I don’t really listen  when people tell me “how it’s done” or “I would never do  that.” Instead I think…. “What do I want to say? What do I  want to see in the industry?”  And for me, can we  make people laugh while doing it. 

I want to employ people to make art that matters. To  collaborate! I want to pay moms, and women, and make funny  stories about the uncomfortable worlds and situations that we  know so well. With almost ten years  in LA under my belt, mostly I find that I am grateful. I am  grateful to my husband, Pete, for his unwavering belief in me  and my work. I am grateful that I get to raise two young  women, who I learn from and laugh with, on a daily basis. I am  grateful for my Mom and Dad and my family who have  supported my dreams, my schooling, and all of my BIG ideas.  All of the friends I’ve made along the way- the real ones! My  team, Mimi, Sarah (Angel City Talent) and Lisa Reed Tucker  (Legacy Management 51).

I have so much to learn and so much to discover. I am just  now scratching the surface. 

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.

FUN! I am a big foodie so I have to start with the restaurants!  My favorites right now are: Cento Pasta Bar, Mother Wolf,  Petite Trois, Ronan, Major Domo, Otium, and OY Bar. I love AOC  for a romantic date. I love the ultimate banana pancakes at  Vivian’s Millennium Cafe. I love to wander through  Eataly at the Century City Mall. I love the Cheese Burgers at  For The Win (and the brussels). And for chocolate cake- it’s  gotta be the See’s Chocolate Cake from Alcove. 

I recently went to the amazing Whiskey Bar and Speakeasy at  7 Grand for an amazing private tasting with Ardent Spirits (Kim  Ohanneson). Such a unique way to celebrate  my dad’s retirement and birthday. 

I also love to sip wine and eat small bites at Mirabelle, with  girlfriends at the bar or on the back patio. Such a sweet spot  that really reminds me of living in New York City. 

Breweries are also very fun and amazingly kid friendly! Praise  be! I love Golden Road, Macleod Brewery and Lawless Brewery. 

Malibu Winery is gorgeous and feels very far  away. Go in the fall to enjoy the mulled wine. 

MUSEUMS!! A must! I love the Academy Museum! Just went  and loved the representation of how a film gets made. And I’m always a big fan of LACMA and The Broad for their art exhibits. The La Brea Tar pits- SUCH A NERDY HEAVEN! Sabre Tooth  Tigers, Mammoths, bones, working scientists. How does this  place exist!

Live performances. The best place to see a show is The  Hollywood Bowl! I recently saw Maggie Rogers there and have  not been able to get that night out of my head. 

I also love to see the shows at The Groundlings. Recently, I  took my family to the Bob Baker Marionette Theatre- which I  cannot recommend enough for the whole family. It’s right  across the street from a playground and on a great shopping  and dining block in Highland Park! The show was incredible! I  smiled ear to ear the entire time- fully enjoying myself seeing all the kids light up as the puppets come right  up to them! Also, they give out free ice cream at the end! A  wonderful LA tradition! 

I love hikes and runs in Griffith Park, Franklin Canyon, or  Fryman Canyon. Finding nature in the city is always  restorative, and such a unique feature of living in LA. 

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

My partner in crime, Natasha Goss. Natasha and I met in  acting class at BGB Studio and have just started on a really  exciting journey with THE HOLE TRUTH. The Hole Truth is a  comedy short film that I wrote, based on Natasha’s real life  experience with hemorrhoid surgery. Natasha and I have been  working tirelessly to attach female entrepreneurs/creatives  and to secure) funding to get our  film made and to destigmatize Postpartum Recovery. It has  been a such a great partnership, friendship, and artistic  journey. We laugh non-stop! We can’t wait to get into  production and ultimately share it with you, on the festival  circuit. 

This is an interview we did on the Thirsty for Knowledge  Podcast about the film.

Website: www.alisonwhitney.com

Instagram: @alisonwhitney15

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-whitney-a0b31956/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxOeFieggLnLj1B4YCZOyXQ

IMDB: imdb.me/alisonwhitney

Image Credits
Photography by Josh Fingerhut Hair /Make up Styling by Joanna Klein

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.