Meet Victoria Ratermanis | Actor & Filmmaker

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

Hi Victoria, how do you think about risk?
I really think certain risks make life worth living, obviously there is a fine line in what I am about to say, but I truly believe that life is too short to let fear or vulnerability hold you back from experience and growth. My entire career and passion involves great risk, risk of embarrassment, rejection, failure, all of the above really but in a very public manner. As an actor and a filmmaker you quite usually write what you know, share your deepest and darkest fears and place yourself physically and emotionally in life or death stakes often. It can be grueling at times, this unpromising and inconsistent career and you risk a lot. A lot of my closest friends have built lives for themselves, gotten married, had kids etc. And I am still here floating from job to job because I feel that the risk is worth it, risking it all for those few hours when you get to really be swept up in a role and a story. There’s nothing like it.

In terms of daily risk, I mean heartbreak, lack of security, working side hustles or jobs you are over qualified for, all of it is kind of a strange humbling element of the journey. I will say in terms of personal risk, I would always rather put myself out there to connect, to try, to love again and figure out, sort of hold hands with fear, than to be too scared to risk myself. But I also feel like I’m well practiced in risk taking and some folks might totally disagree with my method of living and being.

I grew up moving every 2-3 years internationally, so I have always been new and behind and at risk in some sense. Always scrambling to find my place and to make it all work for however long I’m able to. I think the key to taking a risk whether professionally or personally comes down to knowing that you are strong enough to make it through it. Nothing is truly permanent, and I guess for me I would regret not having tried even if it “failed”.

Right now a short film I was in, “A Lien” written and directed by Sam and David Cutler-Kreutz, is short listed for the 97th Oscars, which is an INSANE circumstance. It is a miracle to get anything made these days and even more so when it gains recognition, is seen and shared by a large audience. I took a lot of big risks to get this role and put myself out there to fight for it because I believed in the writing and the filmmakers. They themselves made the film happen out of their own pockets and community and we truly put actual blood, sweat and tears into the piece. All that we could afford really. The fact that it has made it this far without external financing or publicity or celebrity, just simply off the story is a once in a lifetime chance. And worth the risk of having something to say and share and to put ourselves into the position to give to it honestly and fully. It is one of my most proud pieces of work and it broke my heart to play that role but I am a better actor for it. And the film has gone farther than any of us could believe, that’s what taking a risk gives you.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I feel that I crave a deep connection with every role I take on, I fall in love with every role I have played. I know most actors say that, I guess what would set me a part is that there is nobody else like me in the world that loves how I love or creates a relationship how I would. Simply because I am the only me out there. I think when it comes to my art I crave those raw moments of embarrassing honesty, the time in someones life that they have been pushed beyond their mask. I have been really lucky to play truly challenging roles, the few pieces of theater I have done in my time here in LA have stretched me and challenged me. ‘A Lien’ which is short listed for the Oscars right now, is a piece that I think unfortunately is still very relevant to our nations current state. The story is that of couple seeking a green card, and not to spoil it all, but the system fails them. That really echoes today, sadly. And I am so proud to be a small part of keeping that conversation alive.

My film ‘DISC’ that I wrote was my way of exploring what real intimacy and connection is. I moved to LA almost 3 years ago from NY and felt a real culture shock in how people connect and interact here. So this film was my way of discussing the oddities of what real vulnerability is.

Professionally, everything I have done and booked for the most part I have done on my own. It can be very exhausting to self stimulate a career but I don’t want to sit around and wait either. Some of the best advice I have received is “the calvary is not coming, you have to decide if the battle can be won on your own”. That’s hard advice to receive but it’s the truth for a lot of creatives. The industry has been “in flux” for a long time now and to get anything made takes time and money, and when you don’t have much of either you have to find your own way. A lot of what I have learned in my time of becoming a creator is that you need to ask for help otherwise no one will know you need it. Most of what I was able to do with my own writing came from asking friends for help. Most of my friends who have their own business ask for help. That is the key and sometimes the hardest thing to do.

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.
Well I am an East Sider so first off we would get coffee at Ceci’s Gastronomia on Sunset Blvd, because it’s the best coffee in my opinion and the owners are the absolute best people. Then walk the reservoir or maybe a long peak hike from Vermont Canyon Tennis Courts to behind the Observatory. I feel like any of my visiting friends or family would be from the East Coast and the iconic West Coast morning is a coffee and a hike or a long walk. Beyond that my favorite spots we would hit in the week would be the Griffith Observatory (most amazing and insightful staff), a movie at the Vista, dinner at Greekman’s or a nice hole in the wall spot in Thai Town. Plenty of bookstores to show off: A Good Used Book, Skylight magazine store, Chevaliers (best staff recommendations there). If it’s summer time we would HAVE to see a Cinespia screening, if it’s a little colder or gray I would go to the MOCA or a few of the other awesome museums and galleries around downtown LA and Little Tokyo area. Truly the main library downtown is so BEAUTIFUL and has wild amenities, so that could be a cool spot if we were already down there. Definitely Huntington Gardens and maybe a swan ride at Echo Park Lake because that is a must. And if we had enough time, my favorite thing to do here in LA is to go bowling at Shatto 39 Lanes.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
So many people have helped me to get to where I am right now, I have amazing teachers and a great creative community. In terms of personal values, honestly Studs Terkel is one of my favorite people, his whole life’s concept is that there is no uninteresting person. I really value that mindset and have always been so deeply captivated by how unique human behavior can be. Mary Oliver has always helped me through a hard time, I frequently remind myself of her piece ‘Wild Geese’ when things feel overwhelming.

In my day to day, I am so deeply lucky to have such a creative bubble here in LA who also run their own creative businesses and get the hustle: Kelly J Ross (florist), Jess from Salt Ceramics, Michelle Groskopf (epic photographer), O’Greta (musician), my cousins who are wood workers and artists that run Big Tree LA, Ellie of SWEATER HEX (Knitwear &Chainstitch), my epic friend Chip who runs a Real Novel Idea, a free monthly book swap. Everyone should look them up if their wondering how to live creatively and make your own way.

God there’s so many people to shout out, my friend Blake Rice who always reads my scripts and directed my debut written, produced and starring film ‘DISC’ that we shot this summer with Jim Cummings. The Actors Studio has been a huge outlet for me creatively and was a dream to become a member this year, my teacher Adam Harrington who gives the most patience and service to his students.

I truly feel so lucky to have such amazing friends, I don’t want to list them all here, but if you can recognize the current love in your life that is your friend group, then you can take on anything.

Website: https://victoriaratermanis.com

Instagram: tozr

Image Credits
Lee Dubin for BTS shots of ‘DISC’
Lana Shaw for main portrait photo
Sam and David Cutler-Kreutz for ‘A Lien’ FYC poster