Meet Whitney Wegman-Wood | Actor, Writer, Producer

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

Hi Whitney, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I was bitten by the acting bug early and quickly found that I loved performing. What I most enjoy about the path of acting is that it allows me to be a perpetual student. I am always acquiring new knowledge and growing as a person through the life and experience of my characters. I learn something new every time I research a role.

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 was born in Columbia, Mo to Fred Wegman, an aeronautics engineer, and Sharon (Hubenthal), a pediatric RN, and was raised in New Haven, MO. I attended R-2 from Kindergarten to 8th grade where I first took an interest in acting and Washington High School where I continued to pursue the craft in many of the theater departments productions. After graduating I continued my theater education at Avila University in Kansas City, MO. From there I migrated to Atlanta, GA where I found work primarily in film and television. There I appeared in multiple independent films and series, including “Thesis,” “Meet the Browns,” and “The Vampire Diaries.” Taking a break from working I returned to school at the University of Virginia to pursue an MFA in Acting. In 2018 I received the SD Film Award for best actress for my portrayal of Carson in the film Valhalla. I now work full-time as a performer and filmmaker in California, New Mexico, and Georgia. The road to being a working actor and filmmaker has had its fair share of obstacles. Often times when you think that you have found your big break something won’t pan out; production runs out of money, you are taken off your pinned status, etc. This is the nature of this business, a lot of rejection and false starts. On the flipside, there are many moments of unexpected serendipity and surprise.
I think the important thing when pursing the life of an actor is to know that there is no blueprint for how to go about it. Every actor’s journey to success will be vastly different. Some may find that they make inroads with casting, some are discovered doing theater, and others may choose to produce their own work.
For me, I have started down the path of producing my own work, which brings with it a different set of challenges. I am now wearing a lot more hats as a writer, producer, and actor. I have had to learn on the job how to be a producer, while also learning to be the CEO of my production company Barnacle and Spoon. It has been quite the learning curve, but I love learning so I have powered through and garnered some new skillsets along the way.
I think that is maybe the most important part of tackling the adversity of this career, staying curious and being open to learning new things.
I would say that I am mostly known for being an actor, or actress if that is your preference. Recently, I am receiving more attention as a writer and producer because of my film The Last Butterflies. We are currently doing our festival run and I would say that, to date, this film is the thing I am most proud of in my career. I put so much of myself into it; my fears, my tenacity, my blood, sweat, and tears.
I had an old professor when I was training in theater who always said, “Leave it all on the stage.” I feel like with The Last Butterflies I left it all on the screen. I have completely laid bare my vulnerabilities as a writer, an actor, and as human being. It took me many years since my early training to get to a place where I could open my heart like this, but it is an achievement I am deeply proud of.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This question is not hypothetical for me because I have had numerous folks visit me from out of town. Now I may tailor the itinerary to the person whom is visiting and sometimes I tailor it to the time of year. For example, spooky season activities are important and would include visiting the Mystic Museum, dinner at Beetle House LA, and attending The Night of the Jack. During a non-seasonal visit I enjoy taking visitors to the quintessential Hollywood sights; Hollywood sign, La Brea Tar Pits, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. I’m a big nerd so I love taking people to visit Scum and Villainy Cantina, especially when they have pop-up events. Another fun themed bar that I recommend is Potions & Poisons, a Harry Potter themed cocktail spot.
As for food spots, one of my favorites is Yang Chow in China Town. They are famous for their slippery shrimp dish and it is one of my go-to orders when I dine there. Porto’s is a classic spot where I always aim to stop when showing tourists around town.
If I am planning an opulent night out I would start by introducing my visitor to Adela Garcia, owner of Adela Custom Designs. She is in South LA and makes beautifully bespoke ensembles that are great for attending a red carpet event or simply looking LA chic. Once my guest and I are well-attired I would hustle us over to Tagine in Beverly Hills for a leisurely dinner of some of the best Moroccan food I have ever had. I would end the night with some stargazing at the Griffith Observatory. It has the best view of the city and some of my favorite photos have been taken there.
My oh my, this response is getting long but there is just so much to do in Los Angeles. I love listening to music at Hollywood Bowl and the Greek, scoring an invite to the Magic Castle is always a noteworthy experience, and exploring the beaches like Venice, Santa Monica, or Malibu allows for a completely different LA experience.
Every neighborhood is different and has its own character and unique treasures. I’m pretty sure I could fill months of activities for a would-be tourist.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my Shoutout to Sue Vicory. Sue was my executive producer for my film The Last Butterflies and has been a mentor and cheerleader for me since she and I met when I was nineteen years old. Sue runs two organizations that promote positive change in the world; Heartland Films and My Power of One. Heartland Films produces community based projects with the focus on expanding the art and careers of filmmaking to rural areas of the Midwest. Additionally, they strive to promote young, beginning filmmakers and women by assisting them with their film projects and the development of their careers.
The other, My Power of One, is a brand that launched on Vicory’s 60th birthday with the mission of giving back for the rest of her days. Feeling fully grateful for her life journey Sue wanted to complete the full circle of kindness in her lifetime. Performing Random Acts of Kindness became the central theme of the brand. In 2016 Sue, her husband and golden retriever took a 48 state tour in a brand wrapped RV and completed 12 acts of kindness along the way. They mobilized hundreds of volunteers and raised thousands of dollars for community based organizations.
Sue Vicory continues to do generous acts and uplift artists through both of these organization.

Website: https://whitneywegmanwood.com/

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/whitneywegman

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhitneyWegmanWood/

Other: https://imbd.me/whitneywegmanwood thelastbutterlies.com

Image Credits
Steve Allen, Michael Bunuan