Meet Kendra McDermott | Actress, Producer, Filmmaker

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

Hi Kendra, how do you think about risk?
I have been a person of safety and stability most of my life, doing what people expected and drowning out the sounds of my own inner voice. I think many of us, myself included, naturally veer to the path that many others have travelled before us. The tried-and-true blueprint of college, 9-5’s, 401ks, we all know the path well. We know exactly where that path will lead and there is comfort in that stability and predictability of doing what everyone else is doing and has done before you.

But, to veer off the tried-and-true path, to abandon the expected, there is a lot of risk when you venture off on your own. It’s terrifying, but it’s also exhilarating. To follow your gut and your heart, to take risks, to experience freedom, to lead and take action in the direction of your dreams without knowing exactly where it will lead, it’s the most rewarding experience of my life.

I left a stable and predictable full-time career in my mid-thirties to pursue a career in filmmaking. I have always been attracted to performing and storytelling, but I never had the guts to really do anything with that desire. At a certain point in my life, I could no longer deny or hide who I really was. I couldn’t spend another minute focusing on things that weren’t important to me when writing and creating stories was what consumed my thoughts. So, I took a leap of faith. I trusted my gut that it would work out and it has. I have not regretted that decision in the slightest. I get out of bed exhilarated to get better at my work. I go to bed at night thankful for the opportunities and for the journey. I am living feeling fulfilled and without regret. I think the initial leap was the hardest, but each day taking leaps of faith get easier, I trust myself more and more and the confidence in taking the path less taken is solidified with each passing day. Even though I have no idea where this path will lead, I feel excited to find out, without having any judgement of how long it will take or what ‘success” will look like. I am just trying to just be in the moment and appreciate every day for what is without any expectations of what it should be.

When I took the leading role in Win A Trip to Browntown!, it was a risk. It was my first major role in a film, and to be leading an entire huge production was a major risk. Not to mention, the subject matter was taboo – too taboo for most artists- I recall other actresses pulling out of the callbacks, I recall my agent trying to dissuade me from doing the film, I recall family members wondering if I should think twice, but I knew in my gut that the film was hilarious, the story was exceptionally well written and that George Tramontanas was an incredibly gifted writer and filmmaker and this film was going to be a huge success. I am so thankful I was willing to trust my instincts and take the risk others weren’t willing to take. Win A Trip to Browntown! was acquired by Gravitas Ventures for distribution in North America and is being released on March 22, 2022. The film is currently available now for pre-sale on iTunes (where its currently listed as one of the Top Pre-Sales in the world!) Here is the link to order the film: https://apple.co/3smPis1

Most importantly though, I found a whole community of other risk takers along the way, which has been hugely rewarding and validating. There is nothing better than getting together with a room full of other individuals who are putting themselves out there for the world to judge, unsure if their efforts will lead to anything. The community of other risk takers has been paramount to my ability to keep going and to stay motivated, you tend to push each other and cheer each other on along the way. Wherever this journey leads, I know it will be a life well lived. As Robert Frost wisely wrote, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a film and television actress. You can see me in Win A Trip to Browntown! being released everywhere on streaming, video on demand and DVD beginning March 22, 2022. Presales for the film have already begun on iTunes (https://apple.co/3smPis1).

I started performing at a young age. I was a kid that was constantly over scheduled, doing a million sports that my parents signed me up for, but performing was the one thing I could do that was just for me. When I was a kid, I loved to write my own stories, create choreography, wardrobe, I always had a vision, and my goal was to bring joy and entertainment to others and selfishly because I absolutely loved the whole process of it all, performing was fun! I have always ventured toward acting, public speaking, debate teams, teaching, singing, anything to get in front of a group of people with a microphone. I began acting professionally right after I graduated college. I was working as an accountant and performing in community theater productions after work hours and on weekends, which led into local and regional commercials and some featured and background work on a few television shows, but it wasn’t until my mid-thirties that I decided to pursue acting as a full-time career.

Breaking into acting is a slow process. When you first start it takes at least a year to understand the basics of your local industry – for example, setting up a resume, getting headshots, how to even find out about jobs or where to take classes. Once you do get plugged in, it becomes a bit of waves hitting you in the face and then pulling away – it is booking a lot of projects all at once and then nothing for months. It’s lots of callbacks, followed by tons of rejection. It’s more of a process of constant improvement than really seeking a particular destination. The most important thing is to keep going, keep seeking to improve through hard work every day, through reading everything you can about the subject, taking lots of classes, saying yes to every project to gain experience and a determination to never quit. I think Jessica Chastaine said in her SAG Award acceptance speech, ” keep going because you’re one job away, I promise.”

I would say it’s also never too late to chase your dreams. I would have thought that starting a career in acting in my mid-thirties would be too late, but realistically I am booking tons of leading film roles, that I would have thought would go to actresses in their 20’s, but age doesn’t really seem to matter. People hiring are looking for hard working actors that will show up on time, come prepared to work, with a good attitude and will do the job. I would also say that starting this career later in life has helped me in so many ways. For example, I have lived and seen some stuff and that all translates into better art as you can draw of your lived experiences – deaths, marriage, children, many jobs in many industries, friendships that come and go, difficulties in relationships with family members, every experience can be used in your work. I also think being older has given me some perspective. I think ten years ago I could have never had the patience I have now. I would have wanted a career to happen overnight, but at my age I realize that building a career takes significant time – it takes time to develop your skills, time to network with others, time to build trust with others you work with – it’s a process. Every overnight sucess has been working quietly for decades and that is truth. Never be afraid of a little hard work.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my Shoutout to my husband, Patrick. Every once in a blue moon someone walks into your life that fully sees you, knows you, accepts you and loves you for exactly who you are. That person for me is my husband. His love and acceptance of me has given me the confidence to be myself, to pursue my passions without fear, and to know at the end of the day someone loves me for just being myself. He supports me, he listens to my stories, he offers guidance and friendship and most importantly he believes in me and allows me to do my thing without any judgement. There is nothing better in this world than having someone in your corner, so shoutout to my amazing husband for always being in my corner.

Website: kendra-mcdermott.com

Instagram: @pnwactress

Other: https://www.imdb.me/kendramcdermott Purchase Win a Trip to Browntown! https://apple.co/3smPis1

Image Credits
Film Stills and BTS Shots from Win A Trip to Browntown! (triptobrowntown.com) courtesy of Tramo Productions Headshots – Patrick Tak (@patrick_tak)