Meet Amber Tiara | Actress, Writer, EP

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

Hi Amber, what makes you happy? Why?
One thing that makes me truly happy is writing. I love putting pen to paper everyday and watching this blank white page fill with my ideas for a story, affirmations, reflections, ideas for my future. Writing allows me to pay homage to the English and Spanish languages. I get to play with words. I get to choose particular words, combine them into sentences, dialogue and/or phrases to create a beautiful story.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m an actress, writer and I recently became an executive producer, based in Los Angeles. I finished production on my first short film, Day 14, that I made SAG. Day 14 is about a woman who’s boyfriend slips into a coma and her doing everything in her limited power to save his life. That includes cooperating with his estranged mother. I wanted to give up-and-coming actors the opportunity to join the union. As we all have seen with the strikes in the entertainment industry, work can be taken away for long periods of time and I wanted artists to get back to doing what they love to do. I’m beyond happy with the talent that agreed to join me on this project. Both behind and in front of the camera.

I believe by keeping a students mentality, I was able to humble myself and form strong and lasting professional relationships. I have some incredible mentors for writing and acting that I look up to and who are so gracious in guiding me in the right direction. Knowing when to follow, but also knowing when it’s time to lead, I believe is a strong quality of mine. It definitely takes some time and it wasn’t easy. The biggest challenge I had to overcome was comparing myself to other artists and creatives. I’ve learned to be in competition with myself and to prove to myself that I can be better than I was a year before, 6 months before, 1 month before. I can and that I will be better than I was last week or even the day before in my career. I would like the world to know that I’m really just trying to create art and to tell the best story I possibly can. As a kid, I’ve always gravitated to tragic stories like Hamlet, Titanic, The Lion King, Hotel Rwanda, and I never understood why. As I grow as an actress and a writer, I’m realizing more and more that I love acting in and writing tragedies. I think its because its so realistic. Life isn’t always a bed of roses, but there’s beauty in the mess. Day 14 is a tragedy that I hope people will resonate with and I can’t wait until I get to share it with the world.

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?
I would start by taking them to the west side. We would go up the Pacific Coast Highway to the Getty Villa, relax on El Matador or Zuma beach. I think they are the best beaches in LA. Walk along the Santa Monica Pier, just for fun, then take them down to the Venice canals, to see all the beautiful homes. I would go a bit more inland to Culver City, where we would hike at Kenneth Hahn or take in the sight of LA at the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook.

One day we would explore Inglewood and hit up my favorite coffee shop, Sip & Sonder, ride around the area and have lunch and/or dinner at Blessed Tropical Cuisine, which I found to be the best Jamaican food in LA. Another day, we would explore Highland Park/ Eagle Rock, where I live. We would have coffee at Civil Cafe, breakfast at Cindy’s, yoga during the day at Kinship Yoga and at night, hang out in LA oldest bowling alley, Highland Park Bowl, where they can bowl on lanes that are from the 1920’s, and eat wood fired oven pizza.

During their week long visit, we would have breakfast in the Sunset Plaza at The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker, dinner at Guelaguetza, which has some incredible Oaxacan food and/or Road to Seoul for some out of this world Korean. We would go shopping in Silverlake/Echo Park or visit any number of museums in Los Angeles and at night dinner at Union in Pasadena, which serves northern Italian food. Los Angeles has food that I can’t put into words, you just have to try it.

I believe the two most interesting places in LA are Highland Park and Inglewood. Both places have seen huge changes, but the people in both places are truly one of a kind.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people who have helped and supported me along the way and I’m incredibly grateful to them. I want to dedicate this Shoutout specifically to my boyfriend Jim, who puts up with my artisitic craziness. And to my mother and brother, who have always been my biggest suport system. This is only the beginning.

Instagram: @ambertiara24