Rising Star Loran Bolding: “Stay humble, no matter what you book, no matter who you are working with”
STAY HUMBLE — No matter what you book, no matter who you are working with, always know why you are doing what you do and keep in the back of your mind, you can be replaced.
As a part of my series about pop culture’s rising stars, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing actress Loran Bolding. Loran is an Award Winning Actress, Best Actress Nominee and Screenwriting Award Winner. Loran was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama to Alvin and Karen Hardy. Loran and her family traveled all over the United States during her father’s 20-year Army career. This is how she learned different dialects and accents that she utilizes. Her most famous accents are Bostonian, British, Jersey, Southern Bell and Irish. Loran was 9 when she started pursuing her dreams of acting, first in theater, now 20 + years later in TV and Film. She got her start with Actors Models and Talents for Christ. Her first movie role was a teacher in the dialogue free movie Providence. She is also a screenwriter, director and producer, starting a production company Bolding Productions. Known as a natural actress, she dives into the psychology of her characters. Loran is coached and mentored by some of the best talent in the entertainment industry. She thrives on networking and connecting with other industry up and coming artist. Her main objective is to bring light into an otherwise dark industry. To quote Loran “Being on set, whether we are paid or unpaid, gives us the opportunity to network, gain experience and mold us into who we are meant to become in this industry. I will be one of the greats.”
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
Thank you so much for having me. I grew up in a middle-class military family. My Dad, Alvin E Hardy Jr. is currently a retired Major who served twenty years in our Army. I have an older brother, Christopher Hardy. We moved constantly, at least yearly, so I learned to make friends quickly. I loved the traveling and at 9 years old, my mother introduced me to theater. I’ve been an actress ever since.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
When I was 9, I saw the original Predator with my Dad. The first time I ever saw a sci-fi/horror movie and I fell in love with Arnold Schwarzenegger. So, I guess I owe my full love of this career and my pursuit of it to Arnold. I have yet to meet the man; he is my favorite celebrity and the only one I would fan girl over ha-ha! So, if anyone can help me get coffee with this man, let me know. Seeing that movie and my mom getting me into theater is what started me on this career path.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
The most interesting story that has happened to me since I started into TV and Film is my experience meeting Ted Raimi at Pensacon 2017. Ted Raimi played Joxer on Xena, to me, his most memorable role. We spoke for a while about filmmaking and he gave me some amazing pointers and congratulated me for producing, directing, writing and acting in Redemption’s Price; my vampire horror film, scheduled to shoot June 2019.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I wouldn’t say I have a funniest mistake but from those I do make, I am constantly learning from them. This industry is full of knowledge and hooking up with the right people is essential in learning and success. But be careful, as some can reveal themselves as those that don’t want you to succeed. I’ve learned hard lessons when it comes to people in this industry. Figuring out whom to trust and who not too and thus when you find that group of people that you can trust, you dig in and move forward. The lesson I’ve taken away from learning who to trust and not is just be guarded in who you tell things too and who you associate with. Eventually, those that mean harm will mess up and reveal their true intentions. Then you can take proper actions.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
My partner, Tony Basile, and I are currently working on three projects. Redemption’s Price is our most current film. We finish filming June 2019. We will be reshooting our previous short film The Jacob’s File and turning that into a feature along with a TV thriller series called Serial Chronicles. We are writing it together and are on ep. 2.
I’m very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?
This industry is full of diversity and should be utilized as often as possible. We all know that our culture is affected by things we see, hear, read and experience. There are so many cultures, backgrounds and a variety of nationalities in this industry. I don’t see race, creed, color, backgrounds, religion or politics when I cast or work with other entertainment professionals. We are all here to network with as many people as we can, regardless of where they come from or who they are. My favorite saying is “You do you, I’ll do me, and we will meet in the middle to make movie magic.”
From your personal experience, can you recommend three things the community/society/the industry can do help address some of the diversity issues in the entertainment business?
We can ease up on social media for sure. Social media affects every aspect of our culture. So much negative, we need to focus more on the positive aspects of our culture and bring this generation up on the positives and what they can accomplish instead of the doom and gloom I am encountering on social media. Having your own voice is vital and extremely important, no doubt. Always stand by your beliefs and what you believe is right. But, do this in a positive way.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
- DON’T PAY an “agent/manager” to sign you or anything for that matter. They get paid when they book you on a job. I have seen several scams trying to take newbies for everything they are worth. I am trying to raise awareness anytime I come across it. There was a man, and I use this term loosely, going by the name of Alan Bates who was charging people $95 to get access to auditions for A list movies, like Marvel and DC films. NO SIR! That is not how this industry works and for those new people that fell for this lost their money because he is a scam artist.
- STAY HUMBLE — No matter what you book, no matter who you are working with, always know why you are doing what you do and keep in the back of your mind, you can be replaced.
- WORK HARD — Every person in this industry goes through booking spells and dry spells but that doesn’t mean you stop learning and growing. Read, associate, get into a class, write, perform monologues…There is so much we can do to push forward while we are waiting for the next booking.
- STAY HEALTHY — Yup, I said it. Eat right and exercise. WHY? We as entertainment professionals can have long hours, little sleep and poor diets while filming so in the down time, eat right, work out and get sleep. It’ll pay off in the long run.
- 5. HAVE “YOU” TIME — Pick a day, any day and just focus on you and your mental health. Meditate, go shopping, go to the movies (helps you work on your craft), read, sleep in, clean, go to your therapist. Whatever you got to do for YOU, do it!
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
Take time for you. Burn out happens quite frequently and if you are not taking care of yourself, you will have breakdown, get burned out, quit on yourself and your dreams or self-sabotage.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Thank you for saying that. I don’t think of myself as a person of influence. I just have a heart for people, and I want to do whatever I can to help them. Those that take the time to get to know me, get to know my heart. I am a very open and loyal person so when someone befriends me, I do whatever I can to help them. At one time or another, someone helped me, and I want to pay it forward.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
There are so many people that have mentored me, coached me, spent ample hours on the phone with me helping me through devastating situations. So, it’s difficult to name just one. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Joe Quintanilla, Carlos Samudio, Jenn Gotzon, Manny Greenfield, Tony Basile and Mary Cazes. I met these wonderful, giving and hardworking talented individuals on my journey. Each of them has impacted me through their nurture, wisdom, knowledge and love.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
Always believe in yourself. It’s the only thing that will get you through the tough times.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
That would be Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was my inspiration for getting into this business when I was 9. So, for 26 years or so, I have wanted to meet this man but never had the chance. It would be my #1 dream come true just to get coffee and pick his brain for an hour. Honestly, I would probably cry lol.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
Twitter: @lorahar IG: loran.bolding FaceBook: Actresslbolding or Loran Bolding
IMdB: imdb.me/loranbolding
This was very meaningful, thank you so much!
Thank you so much for this opportunity. Much success to you, your family and your career.