Today we’d like to introduce you to Ria Saint John.
Hi Ria, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
About 4 years ago, my husband, kids and I moved here from Phoenix. I came to Austin unemployed but my husband managed to keep his position with his company and switch to virtual. Which we were very excited about and made things not as scary.
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go back into Law Enforcement (I spent 8 years as a Probation Officer in Phoenix, AZ and then went to the DEA to become a special agent) which I was the most comfortable doing OR if I wanted to dabble in something else more creative.
Back in 1999-2000, I attempted the Modeling/Singing/acting world BUT I was young, inexperienced and frankly, didn’t have the best experience with representation. I was also a completely different person then and if I am being honest with myself, I wasn’t ready for that world. I walked away from it all sometime after 2004. I joined corporate America, met my husband and started having a family.
Fast forward to sept 2021, we just moved to Austin and I had no clue what I wanted to be and thought, maybe I should dabble back into the creative space and try again. I had heard through a friend of a friend that had been doing background acting for some time and really enjoyed it. She told me that if I wanted to get my feet wet, to start there. So, I did!!! And I fell in love.
Now, I’m booking lead parts in various indie films around Texas and branching out to other markets. I’m constantly in class working on my craft and loving every moment of it. I surprise myself almost daily and there is always something new to learn. Acting is my business. It’s not a hobby and it’s definitely something I take very seriously.
Hi, my name is Ria Saint John Actor/Singer and I am the CEO of my own business.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, acting is never smooth. There are always bumps in the road. For me, the struggle is marketing myself. It’s difficult because I am a one woman show, the actor, editor, hair & make-up artist, lighting, sound, preparing my scene, etc all that takes time and effort and marketing for me is usually last. I am trying to get “seen” in the Texas market. My acting coach once told me, it’s not about what casting directors YOU know or who you know in general, it’s WHO knows you. And that statement really resonates with me to this day. I think about it a lot. Hiring a publicist at this stage is simply not in the cards for me. Hopefully one day, but for now, I have to do my own marketing myself and I am terrible at it. That’s one bump.
Another bump in the road is that you will face a lot of “no’s” before that “yes” comes around. You just can’t give up.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Being a creative such as an actor is something really humbling. There is a lot that goes into being an actor that most people don”t understand. As an actor I am known for more of the dramatic roles. One’s with high intense scenes and mostly mom roles that revolve around their child. I am a mom in real life so it makes sense. I am most proud of my kids and how they are just all around great kids even though mom isn’t always around. I am proud at how well my kids have turned out. Which is a true testament to my husband. What sets me apart from others is that while I have my business I also work a 9-5 job. For security reasons I can’t really tell you what it is BUT it is an important job. I work my 9-5, do classes twice a week, work a part time job every other week, audition when they come in, deal with household things, helping my kids out and finding time to do self care and workout. I’ve been told “I’m WonderWoman”
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
My ability to be polite and treat others with kindness and respect. Also showing up to set prepared and ready to work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/riasaintjohn
- Instagram: Www.instagram.com/riasaintjohn
Image Credits
Avai d’Amico Maciej Kaminski Kevin Nguyen Noah Brummett
