Meet April Yanko | Actor, Writer, All-Around Weirdo

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

Hi April, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
A lot of teachers I’ve had, both in acting and writing classes alike, say that if you can do anything else, you should. Meaning, if you can hold down a normal, non-entertainment-related job, then you should do that. It’s usually attributed as a comment about passion, as in, if you could potentially find contentment with working at some other job, then you’re not cut out to experience the trials and tribulations of the arts. If you think the grass may be greener, then you might as well quit right now.

I used to feel like those teachers knew what they were talking about, but I’ve started to feel that it’s ridiculous to say. Because of course you can do something else! Most of us DO do something else that isn’t arts-focused for our day job. I don’t think in order to be a part of the community, you have to blindly be okay with accepting the shit that you’ll often go through as you “make it.” And I don’t think that sometimes being frustrated and discouraged in your career means that you’re just not cut out for it.

Truly, any career will give you those feelings of discouragement. Even “safe” careers have unpredictability, competition, sh*tty coworkers, give you imposter syndrome, all of the above. We get to pick our suffering in life, which may sound dreary but should also be freeing. You’re going to have bad days no matter what; so what career is worth those bad days the most?

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.
While I love sentimental and heartwarming stories, I also love the super effing weird. So I would say something that sets me apart is that, when I can, I like to combine the two. For my film “Butt Stuff,” I started with a specific picture in mind, which became the ending of the film. I built the story around this idea, and in it I included a lot of strange but weirdly relatable instances–we all know what jealousy is like, and how it can take over when we let our emotions run wild. We also all want to find our special someone, which isn’t something we all believe is possible. This film likes to give you both feelings, the relatable and aspirational.

My journey to this particular point in my filmmaking career involved a lot of experience through doing. I’ve made several films prior, which informed how I would not only shoot “Butt Stuff” but also how I would strategize beyond post-production. I also had many self-teaching moments, learning how to edit so I could get my film just right. I would say it’s important to learn through hands-on experiences, because it feels like you get to keep some momentum in your career, even if you feel like you messed up at times. Perfecting an idea or a script can become a forever-process. Find people to work with that you can say “I don’t know/I don’t understand” to that won’t judge you while you’re learning. Maybe the best advice is that things often go wrong, but the more experience you get and the more you trust your team, the better you’ll be able to bounce back.

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?
When a friend comes to visit me, I first apologize for never leaving my house and having planned most of the agenda around games and other inside experiences. Next, I would ask this visiting friend if they want to go to Disney. It’s a lot of fun, it’s very unique to the area, and it’s great to go with someone like me who knows how to save money and maximize time spent in the park.

After the inevitable “I’d like to go, but Disney’s too expensive,” I would then suggest some of the lovely walking areas around the city. Graveyards are some of the most relaxing and beautiful places to walk, and they’re also excellent for pushing cat strollers. So we would spend time catching up whilst taking my fuzz baby along for the adventure.

Nighttime is perfect for catching a movie, which I find to be a unique experience with an LA audience, mostly comprised of movie lovers. Also, watching a comedy show at my favorite theater, The Pack, would have to happen at some point for a truly memorable visit. And, after all that, we’d retreat to my apartment for food and games, because what’s the point of being an adult if you don’t stay up late with your friends dicking around?

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 been coaching with Izzy Stevens through her Indie Spunk Club for a bit over a year now, and I’ve made such amazing progress in my career and my mindset. I was interested in Izzy because she focuses on coaching multihyphenates, and as a writer and actor, finding a person who understands both is not easy to find. Being a multihyphenate is something that many people are but don’t know what to focus on or how to excel at two careers, or how to blend them together. Since joining the program I’ve been able to run a successful crowdfund with over 124% of my original goal, create relationships with big festival decision-makers, finish my film, feel more secure in networking, build my confidence as a filmmaker, just so many things!

Besides the career stuff, what I love most about Izzy is that she is genuine. I can tell that her interest in my career doesn’t exist only in two hour increments every other week. I never feel like a nameless client to her. And somehow she does this to all of the Indie Spunk Club members. The support she offers, in turn, makes the community more supportive of each other. It’s an amazingly nurturing cycle and environment that she creates.

Website: https://www.aprilyanko.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/post.march/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-yanko-8b2aa94a/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/post_march

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@postmarch

Image Credits
Stage picture with my leg up (Grease Parody) — Ian Zandi @zandimancam Butt Stuff Still — Caleb Fischer @caleb.j.f. Rest of photos by me