Lauren Schaffel, Positive Creativity Podcast
From Peter: It’s Positive Creativity Podcast/The Obvious Path swap week!
Mid-pandemic, I found myself in a class taught by Elyssa Nicole Trust. Besides her *very* cool name, I found myself enamored with the multi-hyphenate artistic ability she brought with her to every class. One of those hyphens: Podcaster. And, thus, our obsession with Positive Creativity Podcast began.
Elyssa and her co-host, Lauren Schaffel, have become a part of our weekly inspiration ritual. As hosts, Lauren and Elyssa have a remarkable knack for having very human conversations with very incredible people. Their mission, to speak with creatives about what they're working on, what's inspiring them, and how they stay positive in the entertainment industry, has been an oasis for the desert that was 2020. Not to mention, it aligns perfectly with everything The Obvious Path believes.
It was a no-brainer to have them on the blog, but once we began prepping a joint feature, we just couldn’t do it. Lauren and Elyssa, though they work together seamlessly, come from opposite coasts and opposite starts. The lessons they’ve learned, the exciting alleyways they’ve found, and the dreams they have were inspiring to document as their own feature. We proudly present the two pieces of one of our favorite joint efforts: Elyssa Nicole Trust, Lauren Schaffel, and Positive Creativity Podcast.
And, if you want to understand why we write our blog, be sure to “Like, um, you know” check out Kat and I’s episode of Positive Creativity Podcast released today!
TV/film actor, VO artist, podcast host… The list could go on forever. Lauren, we’ll get into the business facts, would you introduce yourself to our readers with some “human facts”?
Hi Kat and Peter! I’m so thrilled to be here, thank you!
Hi everyone! I’m an artist who loves to bring joy to others, particularly making people laugh. I’m also an Educator/Costumed Interpreter, a wife, a dog-mom, a yogi, and Celiac, so by default a gluten free cook.
You began your career working on high-level Los Angeles sitcoms and animated series in your teen years. What’s the takeaway from enormous success at the onset of your career?
Wow, what a question. Thank you for asking this, this truly made me pause and think. I’ve been performing since I was five years old, and I’ve been fortunate to work with several amazing producers, directors and performers. As a kid working in a mostly adult world, I learned the importance of professionalism in this business (For example, being punctual, memorizing lines, taking direction and adjustments swiftly and with grace). These are skills I continue to bring to all of my projects, and I’ll admit that I have a certain amount of ease and confidence built up after doing this for over twenty years. I’m so grateful to all of the professionals who have positively shaped the artist I am today, and to my parents and mentors who wholeheartedly believed in me and supported my career.
Although I am very grateful to have found success early on in my career, I’ve also learned that there is more to life than booking a prime time TV show or animation gig. Booking work is an amazing accomplishment, but it’s easy to feel empty and unsupported without developing a life outside of the business. Since living in NYC, I’ve found a community of friends that includes both artists and non-artists, and they feel like family. Without the support of this core group, I don’t think I could continue my path as a performer. Many of these friendships are from school, acting programs, my work at the Tenement Museum, and people I met through auditions and jobs. Funny story, I met Elyssa at auditions for her play BT: Master of Return at Planet Connections. We connected, and ever since we’ve been good friends and now co-host a podcast!
So long story short, “enormous success” at any point in a career is wonderful, but without the support of a community you love and trust, it is not sustainable. I encourage everyone to find those people who are your biggest fans, but also challenge you to keep growing. (Shout out to you, Elyssa!) Burn out, struggle, frustrations in this business are real, and to quote veteran performer André De Shields, we need to surround ourselves with the people who light up when we walk into the room (or zoom these days :).
You studied Comparative Literature and Theatre at Columbia University. After growing up and working in Los Angeles, what brought you to NYC? What about NYC keeps you here?
Wow- another amazing and thought provoking question! So I worked steadily as an actor in LA throughout middle school and high school. Summer break of my junior year, I visited New York for the first time and took a Theatre course at Columbia University. I was immediately hooked- I loved everything about the program, the campus, and NY! I was dazzled by the city’s pulse and the amount of accessible art through museums, theater, music, and restaurants. By the end of the summer I knew I wanted to apply early to Columbia, a school where I could receive a well-rounded, liberal arts education and pursue my artistic training.
And ahhh….the big question...NY vs. LA...This is a question to be honest I still think about a lot. After college I faced this question in a big way: would I stay in NYC or move back to LA to pursue my career? My family was still in LA, as well as several casting directors, directors, and producers I’d known growing up. I decided to move back to LA for pilot season in 2010, but as soon as I was back, I knew something wasn’t right. I struggled living at home with my parents after 4 years of independence, and driving to auditions in LA traffic stressed me out. All of my close friends and mentors were across the country in a different time zone. So….flash forward I moved back to NY and felt like I’d come home. I started collaborating on theater projects, booked film jobs, and took classes with friends. I met my husband Eric who has been my biggest supporter and source of inspiration. I’ve watched him advance his career as a physician from medical school to fellowship and seen his hard work and resiliency pay off. We’ve built our lives together in New York, through Covid and all.
Are there still moments of doubt whether I made the right decision? Certainly. But for now, what’s most important to me is being close to my husband and my community.
From multi-million dollar films opposite stars to regional theatre productions, you have had such a variety of experiences. Do you prefer one medium over another? What’s your tips for taking theatrical training on screen?
Thank you so much for these warm words! Honestly, when I first moved to NYC my goal was to be on Broadway. I mean, let’s be real...what performer doesn’t have that dream when they first move to NY? I love theater and it’s something I enjoy doing very much, but over the past several years, I’ve learned that my real passion is acting for TV and Film. Working on set and acting under the trained gaze of the camera feels like second nature to me, probably because I’ve been doing it for so long. Also, nothing compares to the camaraderie of building a family on set, the often exhausting but rewarding shooting schedule, and the constant script rewrites- I thrive on that.
My biggest advice for taking theatrical training from stage to screen is to trust that bringing yourself, exactly as you are, is enough. Nothing is more honest or unique than you saying the words in the script exactly as you would say them. Not the way your coach told you to, or the way your favorite celebrity would, or the way you imagine the character should sound. You. Your unique self. Bringing your own unique energy and truth to a role is always better than any idea you have about the character or the script.
That being said, I’ve also learned that it’s important not to limit yourself in your preparation process for a TV or film role. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are “too big” because you are a theater performer transitioning to film. That is BS lol. For me, it’s all about dials. Dialing up or down your energy depending on the tone of the show or film. Is it 30 Rock? Allow yourself to play with dialing the energy up! Is it NCIS? Perhaps dial your energy down. As long as you are bringing yourself to the role, while taking in the given circumstances of the scene and the tone of the project, you are golden.
You co-host one of our favorite podcasts, Positive Creativity Podcast, with Elyssa Nicole Trust. You all interview creatives about what they’re working on, what’s inspiring them, and how to keep positive in the entertainment industry. How did the idea for this podcast come about? What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned from creating and hosting?
Oh wow. Thank you so much, the feeling is mutual because I’m a big fan of The Obvious Path! You all ask similar questions on your blog and I love reading everyone’s unique story and perspective.
I need to credit Elyssa here big time for creating PCP. Elyssa called me last winter and pitched the idea of a podcast. The initial idea was to expand our network and to interview writers. The conversation evolved into the possibility of chatting with many different creatives in the industry including producers, casting directors, agents, actors, and from there, the ideas kept flying! We made a list of all the people we wanted to talk to, and soon we had compiled a list with enough guests for almost 2 seasons!
Our initial goal was to release Season 1 in May of 2020, but then (cue dramatic music) the Pandemic happened. We realized that in the midst of the darkness and disorientation, we could find some comfort and a sense of purpose by chatting with guests remotely and releasing episodes sooner. It would be a fulfilling and inspiring project not only for us, but also for our listeners. We researched how to record with our guests virtually, found an amazing editor (shout out to Caleb Jones!), and began releasing episodes in March 2020.
I’d say the most important thing I’ve learned from creating and hosting PCP is the importance of amplifying diverse perspectives in our industry, specifically the voices of BIPOC artists. In Season 2, our goal was to invite more BIPOC artists on the podcast and have conversations with all our guests about how we can build a stronger, more equitable industry coming out of a global pandemic and a national racial reckoning. I’m learning to embrace my discomfort in these conversations, to more fully open my heart and ears, and more generously listen to perspectives different from my own. I’ve learned so much from hearing these stories, especially of BIPOC artists, and it’s made me realize how much more still needs to change in our industry from the top-down in order to be more sustainable and equitable.
What’s the change in our business you hope to see coming out of this time of a racial reckoning and a global pandemic?
The big question. I hope to see more BIPOC artists obtain roles in all levels of our industry, but especially in more positions of power (i.e. as artistic directors, showrunners, producers, directors, casting directors, etc). In order to see more change and diversity in the stories being told on screen and stage, we need to have more BIPOC leadership shaping the decisions around programming and production.
I also hope the industry is able to provide more work opportunities for creatives, especially performers. I hope the idea that there is a “right” place to live in order to be an actor is banished forever! Ideally, coming out of these times, you should be able to send a tape or attend a zoom audition from anywhere in the country, heck, even the world! And if you’re right for the role, production will do whatever it has to do to get you to set safely.
We’ve used the metaphor of a mountain to be analogous to our career accomplishments, dreams, and changes. We feel a lot of our reader’s “climb” is on pause. Has your mountain ever changed? Is it changing now? What’s keeping you moving?
This year has definitely brought a lot of loss and hardship, but it’s also been an unexpectedly exciting time for me artistically. I would say my climb is continuing. This pandemic has made me realize that telling stories is a vital part of my identity, and when our industry shut down and my job at the Museum was put on hold, I needed to get real focused and clear on how to make art in a new way. I started a weekly reading series on Zoom with my friends from the Barrow Group (we’ve now read over 40 plays since April with a company of over 45 people!), started reading books to kids with the COOP Theater Company, found a new acting class on Zoom, began learning guitar, and of course- continued to develop Positive Creativity Podcast. The podcast has also helped me stay connected to other artists during this very challenging time, and it’s been so inspiring to hear how others are coping and finding ways to stay creative. Ultimately, I’m a person who is constantly climbing. To quote the amazing André De Shields again, “ The top of one mountain is the bottom of the next, so keep climbing.”
I hope that more unexpected opportunities will come my way, perhaps encountering mountains I didn’t even know existed and finding new sources of joy and inspiration during the climb.
RAPID FIRE:
Favorite Quaran-TV: so many! Schitt’s Creek was a highlight
Quaran-reads: a friend just gave me the book Embrace Your Weird by Felicia Day, excited about it
Exercise routine (if you are into that): running in Central Park and yoga
Favorite food: Any mediterranean food or Taco nights
Best part of working at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum: so many dialects/making people laugh and cry
Most meaningful “no” you’ve ever received: so many “no’s” which makes the “yes’s” all the more meaningful
More star-struck by Tina Fey, Heather Graham, or Sean Hayes?: bahhh- Tina Fey
Favorite part of working with The Barrow Group: our Sunday night reading series on Zoom
Religious, Spiritual, or Nah: both
Social Media Feelings: love/hate and addicting
Advice to your younger self: you are enough exactly as you are
Social Media Handles: @laurenschaffel111 on IG, Facebook and Twitter @laurenschaffel
Anything you’d like to promote?: Positive Creativity Podcast!
Photo credits:
Fourth photo: Lauren and Elyssa performing in Elyssa's play Observance at the NY Fringe Festival
Fifth photo: Elyssa and Adam's micro wedding (August 30, 2020) with Lauren and her husband Eric Braunstein