Brisa Lalich by Isa Battaglin
Brisa Lalich‘s journey started on the dance floor when she was 5 years old as she became involved on a competitive dance team, “The Element Dance Center” under Erika Montandon. Brisa competed for 5-6 years and then she transitioned away from competition classes and started doing a lot more print and commercial work and also modeling on runways.
Due to Brisa’s love of dance she did remain in technique dance classes for a period of time. She also started talking acting classes and working with acting coaches when she was 9 and was able to participate in a few short films a few years after.
Brisa Lalich has continued to take acting classes and to work with her acting coach despite starting high school this year. Filming the movie To The Beat was an awesome 2017 experience for sure! Brisa Lalich is grateful to Susan Bernhardt the Producer of To The Beat and Leonian Pictures for trusting her to bring her character Mia to life
indieactivity: How did you become an actor?
Brisa: I started taking acting classes and working with a variety of acting coaches for the last 5 years. I first worked with Lisa Picotte and her Young Actors Studio, Belinda Balaski and her BB’s Kids, and Trisha Simmons and her LA Kids Act. I supplemented the classes and one one coaching with a variety of Casting Intensive Programs and Workshops.
Awesome to play twin sisters with my fellow Latina actress @laurakrystine in @ToTheBeatFilm. @Latina @POPSUGARLatina @CosmoForLatinas @TeenVogue @honeycut1960 #Latina #teenactor #twinning. pic.twitter.com/JAu1ulRT9B
— Brisa.Lalich (@TheBrisaLalich) March 19, 2018
I am currently represented by Mavrick across the board for Print, Commercial, and Theatrical and my manager is Christina Scott CA Talent. Over the last 2 years I have done private coaching with my current coach Jeff Dockweiler (Coach Dock) and this past year have been taking some acting classes with Mike Brayden at Brooke Byler Acting Studio.
indieactivity: What acting technique do you use?
Brisa: I really have been focusing on what Coach Dock has been teaching me to spend a lot of time learning about the story before even focusing on the lines. He tells me to be myself through each character I play and to not just focus on memorizing all the lines. My experience with dance and runway modeling has helped me with my stage presence certainly.
indieactivity: What wrong impressions do actors hold about acting?
Brisa: Acting take a lot of work and commitment. It’s actually really challenging and competitive to get good representation by a good theatrical agent. Once you have an agent and have the opportunity for auditions and callbacks the other challenging piece is that sometimes you may be the best actor in the auditions but you may not match up for the physical needs for the characters and you won’t get cast for the role. I am still fairly new in the industry and am always trying to learn.
indieactivity: How do you keep fit as an actor?
Brisa: Well my situation is a little unique as I just started high school and am very active and have been on JV Cheer and JV swim this year so I haven’t been auditioning much this past year. School and keeping great grades is really important for me as I have an ambition to go to medical school as well as continuing with my love of acting.
Brisa Lalich by Vika Pobeda
indieactivity: How do you prepare for a role?
Brisa: I spend a lot of time learning the storyline first. Then I focus on developing my character in my mind and visualize the scenes in my head. I am really good at learning lines and it’s critical to be really comfortable on set and be able to switch up the emotions I portray with my characters on the fly depending on the director’s needs. I also often will have a 1:1 session with Coach Dock before going on set to help get further perspective on my character.
indieactivity: How do you stay fresh on a production set?
Brisa: One of my favorite parts of modeling and acting has been making new friends on set. Having fun and laughing is really critical to being successful. Sometimes being on set is stressful and you can be disappointed that it took so long to get everything right but you always have to be resilient too!!!
indieactivity: Describe a memorable character you played?
Brisa: It was such an honor to play Mia one of the twin sisters in the recently released movie To The Beat. Filming To The Beat last year was awesome because my twin sister in the movie Mackie was played by Laura Krystine who has been one of my best friends for many years. Our true friendship showed in our ability to develop the sister relationship in the movie for sure.
IT’S HERE, IT’S HERE!!! #ToTheBeatFilm IS OUT! WATCH NOW! We’re so so so proud of this film and CAN’T WAIT for you all to see it! @iTunes: https://t.co/h6BNvB8neb @amazon: https://t.co/iqOKbu8Zen #ToTheBeatFilm #dancemovie #teenmovie #itunes #amazon #newrelease #streamnow pic.twitter.com/9qxPiW0wzd
— To The Beat! (@ToTheBeatFilm) March 13, 2018
indieactivity: What do you want most from a director?
Brisa: Working with Jillian Claire on To The Beat was a great experience for me as a young actor. Jillian had been a childhood actor herself and understood the challenges of bringing all the personalities together on set to form an awesome production. She did a great job on set keeping us focused yet still allowing us to have fun and be kids on set. It’s great to have a director who trusts the actors cast for a role yet has some additional input to help us better develop our characters.
indieactivity: What actors do you long to work with?
Brisa: Penelope Cruz
indieactivity: Why?
Brisa: I would love to play a young Penelope Cruz in a movie as I also have a hispanic background. She had a similar start to her career as myself as she initially focused on dance and then started doing acting when she was 15. She has also managed to combine a successful acting and modeling career.
indieactivity: What advice would you give to actors?
Brisa: Stay positive, always smile, make friends, be kind, you never know what opportunity may come next.
indieactivity: Briefly write about your career?
Brisa: Steadily starting, always growing.
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