Kathy Kolla, Photo Courtesy of Cola Kat Productions
Los Angeles based Kathy Kolla is an award-winning director, actress, and screenwriter. Her resume includes roles in the television series Arrested Development: Exit Strategy (2006), American Dreams: City on Fire (2003) and Eve: Girlfriends (2006). As a filmmaker, her feature documentary Who Is Billy Bones? (2016) about early L.A. punk rock pioneers received nationwide television distribution. We had the pleasure of meeting up with her to discuss her career and future projects.
Hi, Kathy! Thank you for granting the interview. You’re an actress, director, and writer. Tell us about your latest projects.
I recently completed a film starring the amazing Shari Belafonte, a drama I directed and co-wrote called “Plastic Daydream.” It’s been doing great on the film festival circuit and we have some fantastic distribution news coming up soon. Additionally, I also just wrapped a new episodic project that’s sort of a surrealistic-comedy. I’m just starting post-production on it. The first episode, which is called “The Chiseled-Faced Man,” is going to be really fun. I can’t wait to see what people think of it.
You have guest-starred on several hot series. Do you prefer acting to directing or do you find both equally fulfilling?
Directing is my passion. It allows you to participate in the full creative aspect of filmmaking, from working with actors to get their best performance to working with your cinematographer to craft each shot. That being said, acting is a great way to make a deep emotional connection with your art, so I’ll always love acting.
As a director, how do you choose a project to work on?
I’m open to considering almost anything, any genre project if it speaks to me on an emotional and creative level. Of course, I also love working on my projects, where I’m involved from the start. I’ve got a feature script I’m developing right now adapted from the short story “The Cut-Glass Bowl” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and it’s exciting to be there from the start, to be a catalyst for the project from the beginning.
What challenges have you faced in your career?
There are challenges with any industry, particularly in entertainment. Whenever I face a roadblock, I just try to think about how I can learn from the experience and grow as a person. My advice for those starting out is just to remember to believe in yourself, even if it feels like others may not believe in you. You have the ultimate power and are the one truly in control of your future.
Is there a role you would like to play in your acting career?
I love comedy. That’s what was fun about being on “Arrested Development” and working with Tony Hale. He’s a great comedic actor. I’ll always love doing comedy. Recently I was on the series “Astrid Clover” with Allisyn Ashley Arm – it was a role playing the serious character in a comedy. Roles like that are great, the character that helps build the joke by being the grounded one in the scene. I’d love to do more roles like that.
What do you like to do to unwind?
I’m fairly health-conscious, so I like to unwind through exercise, hiking, things like that. Also watching a great movie, that’s a great way to unwind.
What is your favorite quote?
“The harder I work, the luckier I get.” I’ve seen it attributed to a few different people. It’s a good one. Humor and truth wrapped into eight words.
When looking back on past productions, which resonated with you the most and why?
Like most artists, I truly believe my most recent work is my best. So what’s resonating with me now, the shots and edits I’m most excited about, are from the production I just finished shooting. But of course, I’ll always have great memories of my first feature film that I wrote/directed, the movie “Who Is Billy Bones?” about an early punk rock singer. When that movie aired for the first time on national TV, it was definitely a moment I’ll never forget.
In your opinion, what should an actress strive for?
Strive for honesty. Strive for that as an actress but also as a person. If you’re honest you can’t go wrong.
What do you enjoy most about acting and directing?
For both directing and acting, I love seeing something made out of nothing. A blank canvas becoming a painting. Whether building a character and bringing them to life — or writing a screenplay and seeing it come to fruition on screen – it’s a wonderful feeling.
Do you have anything else you would like to share about your career?
The past few years have brought immense opportunity, and I’m grateful for every second. I’m also thrilled about the momentum of my current projects. Big things are happening and I can’t wait to share more with everyone — follow @KathyKolla on social media to stay up-to-date!
http://www.Instagram.com/KathyKolla
http://www.Facebook.com/KathyKolla
http://www.Twitter.com/KathyKolla
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