Today we’d like to introduce you to April Hartman.
April, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I always knew I wanted to be an actor. From a very young age I was “performing” for family and friends. I would do impersonations, lip syncing, and dance routines. It was quit comical. When we moved to Texas, I auditioned for and made it into the Texas Girls Choir. It allowed me to still perform in front of people so I was happy, for a little while anyway. We mostly did concerts but also toured and made records. It was a great experience but choir wasn’t what I wanted and it soon begin to drain me. A few months before I dropped we did a play called “County Fair”. I’ll never forget it. It’s the first production I had ever done and from the moment I stepped in front of that audience and heard them laugh, I was hooked!! I think I was 10 or 11 and I knew I found my love. Next we did Annie and again, I could not have loved something more. But the productions were few and far between and I just wasn’t happy with the singing part so I dropped. I dropped out right before the choir toured Israel. Not a great choice looking back but I just wasn’t happy with it anymore. From there I went on to do some theater in school. I think I did two plays in junior high and I loved them but I was too scared and too much of a nerd to join theater as a course. I was also a gymnast and that really took over at that point. I think I loved gymnastics so much because, again, I got to perform for people. Gymnastics took me through junior high and High school so theater was out. It’s funny looking back now because the one thing that I love more than anything kept taking a back seat to other things then. I think it was fear mostly. After school life kind of took over and I turned away from it completely. I went to college, got married, and had my son. It was years before I returned to acting’; 2006 to be exact. I woke up one day (literally) and asked myself why I wasn’t doing what I love to do. I wasn’t happy. I knew then that I would never really be truly happy unless I at least tried to make it happen. So, I began this wonderful, amazing, awful, hard, beautiful, unforgiving journey to be an actor. I got my first agent in 2007 and started hitting it hard. Fast forward 12 years and I’m still here. It’s never been easy and it’s never been all rainbows and unicorns; in fact, quite the opposite at times, BUT, I wouldn’t trade it. I’ve had a lot of success and I consider myself extremely lucky. I’ve gotten to work with some amazing talent and visit some amazing places. I currently have about 60 credits on IMDB and I’ve reached some goals this year that I’m really proud of. I’ve won some awards over the years and that always feels good. But most importantly, I’m still going and I have no plans to stop anytime soon!!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh my!!! Smooth?!!??? NO, NOT, AT, ALL. I don’t want that to be discouraging to anyone. In fact, I want it to be a driving force! If the road was smooth and easy, everyone would do it. This business is not for the faint of heart or for the easily offended. It’s hard. Period. The highs are so very high and the lows are beyond awful. Rejection becomes your unwanted best friend. I’m lucky if I book one audition out of 10, and that number is always that good. Look, acting is hard. Don’t let anyone tell you that it’s easy or it’s all glitz and glamour. Not true. But I will say this; it has made me a much stronger person. I think I could handle just about anything these days. I’ve been rejected because I’m too old or too young looking. I’ve been told I wasn’t thin enough, that I wasn’t tall enough and even that I wasn’t good enough. You name it, I’ve heard it. But you stay in this business long enough you quickly learn that it’s not all bout you! What!!?!?!?? Yep, it’s just not. There’s a plethora of reasons that an actor doesn’t book something; it’s not personal!
The struggle bus?! Woo woo!!! Sorry, I have to joke about this. It’s literally the only thing that keeps me going. I think every actor (yes, even the A-listers) have struggled. When you’re starting out you have to do anything and everything just to learn and get your name out there. It’s not great work and it’s exhausting. Most of it is either free or low paying but you do it to gain experience. And of course, since nothing pays well at first, you have an abundance of money issues. I remember years ago I had a car that would barely get to work and make a couple of miles from home. It would break down…a lot! I felt like every time I did book a job that paid well, it went right back into my car. I couldn’t find a really good job with that degree I got (you know the one that has nothing to do with acting!) that was flexible enough to make auditions and bookings. I did what every actor does; bartended waited tables or took odd jobs here and there. Needless to say, I was broke all the time. ALL. THE. TIME. I’ll never forget the lowest of lows. I had a callback in New Orleans. I had to go you see because it was a SAG national commercial which meant $$$$. One small problem, no money and I think I literally had a few dollars in my account. It was not good. BUT I had to go. I did the hardest thing I think I’ve ever done. I took some gold jewelry I had, along with my class ring, and I sold it to a gold exchange place to be melted down. Ouch! That one hurt. I made the call back but I didn’t book it. Some people hear that story and think I’m nuts, but looking back, I’d do it again. This is not just my career, it’s who I am. That ring was just an object and we can’t take that stuff with us. At the time I did what I thought was more important and I think given the same choice today, the result would be the same.
April Hartman, Actor Vinegar Hill Productions – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Well, I just recently started my own production company called Vinegar Hill Productions. I’m excited for the things to come! Right now, I think I’m only known as an actor. I’ve been extremely lucky and worked on some pretty awesome films. This year has probably been the best yet. I’m hoping to expand more behind the camera. I’ve done some producing and some PA work and I’m hoping to add director to that list soon. I also have a script that is currently under way and hope to have the final draft done by October. The writer is amazing and I know it will be great!!
I think one of the things that sets me apart is drive and commitment. I’m always working even when I’m not. Look, I have two agents and they are great! I love them both. BUT I still look for work on my own, everyday. I would say I’m my own manager right now. I think you have to be to stay busy in this industry. I’m always a little taken aback when I hear another actor say they depend on their agent for all their work. Don’t get me wrong, the agent is vital and they bust their butts, but an actor has to as well. It’s a constant hustle.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
That time when….
No, really. Let’s see….
Like I mentioned, I’ve done some awesome stuff. I think one of the proudest moments was when I filmed in L.A. a few years back. I booked a lead in this film called “Choice”. It was and still remains one of the best written films I have had the pleasure to be in. I remember being so excited about the role because it was juicy! I also remember what it felt like to step of that plane in L.A. to shoot a film. WHOA!! Defining moment for me. I felt like I had finally “made it”. Not “made it” in an A-list sort of way but a “made it” as my dream was realized that day. I was doing what I love, in a lead role, in L.A. It didn’t get much better at that point.
My other proudest moment was a film I had the pleasure to shoot earlier this year. Wow! I’m not sure I have the words for this gem. Mitch McLeod, who I knew from class and just through the industry here, approached me and asked if I would be interested in the lead role of a film he wrote called Silhouette. He sent is over and I remember reading the entire script in about 30 minutes. I loved it and I knew I had to do it. I have to admit, I was also a little scared. This script was intense and I wasn’t sure if I could pull this off but I knew that I had to try. It ended up being, without a doubt, one of the hardest roles I have ever done. I was Amanda. For over a month while we filmed I became this person. I felt everything she felt, deeply. It was a little scary at times because I would leave set and I couldn’t shed her right away. I put my heart and soul into that film because that’s what the script deserved. Every person on that shoot from cast to crew, left their hearts on that set. It was magical. I said it several times during filming and I’ll say it again; something amazing was happening. I believe when this film is done and is shared with the world it will leave a mark. I’m very proud of that work. I couldn’t have done it without my director Mitch, who was often there in the trenches with me. He pushed me beyond my comfort zone and never expected me to do it alone. He was right there screaming with me, crying with me and getting angry with me. It was a great team!!!
Contact Info:
- Website: imdb.me/aprilhartman
- Instagram: @april.hartman
- Facebook: facebook.com/aprilhartmanactor
- Twitter: @aprildhartman
Image Credit:
Rich Raymond, Arianne Martin, Saving the Tin Man still, Silhouette Still,
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