Savannah’s Local Actors

Productions in Savannah wouldn’t get far without local talent. Luckily, Savannah is brimming with performers that have all the experience productions require. Check out these actors’ reels and you’ll wonder why productions look any further than our truly gifted performing community.

Matt & Michelle Meece

Michelle has been a drama queen since she was 4 and she loves the opportunity the Savannah Theatre provides to play so many varied characters, singing so many different songs. After avoiding show business for a long as he could, Matt finally followed in his parents’ footsteps by renovating the Savannah Theatre and performing in its more than 2800 shows.

Age: Matt- 38 & Michelle- 34
Hometown: Matt- Dallas, TX Michelle- Jefferson, WI
How long have you lived in Savannah? Matt: We moved to Savannah in 2002 to renovate the historic Savannah Theatre. We were dating at the time. I mean, talk about a great way to get to know someone; move cross-country, fix up a 200-year-old building… in August, in the south. Not to mention opening the business and producing a new show. We look back on it now and laugh wondering how in the world it all came together. It’s now been 10 years of running the business, 8 years of marriage and we’ve performed in over 2800 shows on this stage. Oh, and we have 3 kids now.

How did you first become interested in acting/theatre? Michelle: I have been a drama queen ever since I can remember. Dancing, singing, acting… carrying on all over the place. I think I did my first show when I was like 4? Everything and anything I could get into, I did. That’s why Matt is such an anomaly to me. He never sang a lick until age 25 and he is phenomenal. I mean, I may be a little biased… but that guy can sing anything.

Matt: I am the product of two show-biz parents so naturally I did what any kid would do and played basketball instead. Ok, ok, I did some commercials. And print ads. And a movie called Eddie Macon’s Run. At age 8, I had to kiss John Schneider on the mouth, but I also got to punch Kirk Douglas in the face so it was pretty cool.

Where did you study?
Michelle- I got a degree in music performance from the University of Wisconsin. I think it may have been ON graduation day when the thought occurred to me “I am never going to get a job with this degree” but there I was BA in hand, ready to sing for someone.

Matt- I have a degree from Texas Christian University in psychology, which I use—daily!

How many productions have you been in/worked on? Michelle- Oh man, over 40 different shows. Over 4,000 curtains up—easily.
Matt- In the last 14 years I think I have probably done like 4,000 performances. I mean, that’s crazy.

What are the top three highlights from your acting portfolio?

Michelle- I have done roles in book musicals that I adore, Sandy in GREASE, Cathy Hiatt in The Last 5 Years. But I have to say the best part of doing our review shows at The Savannah Theatre is we get to do so many different characters, and sing so many different things! My favorite moments right now include “Cabaret,”, singing a great arrangement of “Somewhere” with the Savannah Theatre guys, a kickin’ Judy Garland/Barbara Streisand duet of “C’mon Get Happy” with my bestie Gretchen Stelzer. Not to mention, I get to do Aerosmith’s “Walk this Way” with our phenomenally talented singer/guitar player Josh Holley. See? I get to do everything!

Please describe your biggest project: Matt- shooting that movie and opening this business!

Please describe one of your favorite or most memorable projects:

Matt- I have this memory of sitting in Chippewa Square, on one of the old concrete benches. We were mid-renovation, it was August, I think we were eating our third meal of the day from Parker’s Market. We were exhausted, full of paint and dirt and I suddenly had this fear. I turned to Michelle and said, “what if no one comes to these shows?” We had put in so much time, money, and literally blood, sweat and tears. And suddenly we realized we had no idea if anyone in this community would embrace us. It was terrifying. Thankfully Savannah has supported us wholeheartedly and here we are celebrating our 10th year of shows! It is humbling to have that kind of encouragement from such a great community. We are so grateful to be in Savannah and thankful the shows are still full. We had no idea if we would succeed and thanks to Savannah, we were voted one of the top 5 “Favorite Theatre Shows of 2012” by the National Tourism Association this year. That’s along with the San Francisco Symphony and The Fox Theatre. We are just so grateful to this community!

Michelle- I’ll never forget holding my son Cam onstage in our 2008 Christmas Show while Matt sang “Mary Did you Know”. I got to do it again in 2010 with our daughter Sutton! Little Maryn missed out I think, a May birth date might keep her out of the running this year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VEvboJuiwY

What is the best part of acting in the South? People are so good to us! Helpful. Considerate. Hospitable. We cannot say it enough times. We adore Savannah. The arts community here is flourishing. There is so much amazing talent here and so much great theatre happening every single week. The absolute best part is that all of the artists support each other. You don’t find that everywhere.

How is it different from acting experiences you’ve had elsewhere?
Matt: This gig is clearly different for us because we have ownership in it. There’s no leaving at the end of the night not thinking about work, and that’s great on some levels and tough in others. When things break (and in a building this old… they do) it’s on us. And then there is the pressure to create new shows and keep the schedule interesting. The reason we succeed and love doing this is because we have such an amazing team at the theatre! God has blessed us with the smartest technical crew, most talented cast and musicians, and a fantastic front-of-house staff. Not only are they great at what they do, they are phenomenal people. We have really become a family at the theatre. It sounds cliché but it’s totally true. And it’s certainly not like that at other theatres. We have a really cool thing here and we are just so thankful.

Chelsea Cardwell

A recurring character in the upcoming Cinemax/HBO show Banshee, Cardwell loves the opportunity the South provides for her to fulfill her dreams while remaining close to home and her friends and family.

Age: 23
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
How long have you lived in Savannah? I have lived in Savannah for a year.
How did you first become interested in acting? I first became interested in acting at a very young age and it only grew with schooling and practice. I loved the idea of being able to accomplish a universal empathy for mankind by walking a mile in someone else’s shoes—understanding their choices, and their personal struggles, even if only for a moment.

Where did you study? I have studied at the University of Alabama, the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, Savannah College of Art and Design, and primarily with my private coach, the renowned Shannon Eubanks.

How many productions have you been in? Film/TV/theatre? I would say 15-20

What are the top three highlights from your portfolio? My top three highlights to date would have to be playing Maddie in Showtime’s Homeland, playing Beaty in the upcoming Cinemax/HBO show, Banshee, (premiering January 2013), and getting to work with Kirk Jones and Dennis Quaid in What to Expect When You’re Expecting.

Please describe your biggest project (“claim to fame”): My biggest project thus far would have to be Banshee. As a series recurring, I have had the ability and privilege to grow with the cast and watch our characters mold and move each other. It’s a family that I am honored to play a small part in.

What is the best part of acting in the South? I would have to say the best part of acting in the South is two things—the ability to remain close to family and friends while living out my dreams, as well as the ‘right to work state’ clauses. These clauses stipulate that we as actors in the southeast can work as SAG/AFTRA members without having to become a member. It’s an amazing gift for young actors because they have the ability to work in a SAG film or show and then be able to obtain their card when they desire. It’s also an amazing opportunity for our cities to expound upon the extra jobs and rising economy provided from the projects.

How is it different from acting experiences you’ve had elsewhere? I think the culture and cities really embrace the industry. They love the excitement and the opportunity to play a part. Its so fun to watch their thrill in helping out, because it makes what you do feel that much more special.

Anthony Paderewski

Having lived in Savannah for 20 years, Paderewski’s impressive body of work includes TV series, feature films, indie films, commercials and theatre productions.

http://redemptionofthecommons.com/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2378471/combined

Age: 35 years old
Hometown: San Diego, CA
How long have you lived in Savannah? 20yrs.
How many productions have you been in? 4 Television series / 7 feature films / over 20 indie films / 15 Commercials / 20+ Theater productions

What are the top three highlights from your portfolio? My recurring role on the CW’s One Tree Hill, landing the lead villain role in the upcoming feature film Redemption of the Commons, and landing a principle role in a SAG National commercial with NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon.

Please describe your biggest project (“claim to fame”): I don’t feel famous. I just feel lucky getting to do what I love. All I want to do is make good movies. I set a goal each year and have obtained it every time. This year my goal is a Recurring role on a TV series. So far this year I booked a national commercial and 4 feature films but … still I’m not happy till I reach that TV series goal.

What is the best part of acting in the South? The best part is the local crew and actors I get to work with. The local crew seems to really love what they do. Most are locally trained and schooled and love that they are able to work close to home. This is also true with the local actors. The actors have a sense of being humbled by the chance to get to be a part of the production. You see a light in their eyes. I can see they love what they do as much as I do.

How is it different from acting experiences you’ve had elsewhere? In the south there is more opportunity for the “Indie Film” in the south. Since we are in the “Right to Work States” such union restrictions don’t exist here. Giving much more opportunity to the up and coming talent and crew to break into the industry.

Jennifer Hagan

Hagan has performed in so many film, television and theatre productions she has stopped counting, and she’s very thankful for the opportunity to do what she loves while living her life in the South.

http://www.jenniferbhagan.com/

Age: 31
Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
How long have you lived in Savannah? 22 years
How many productions have you been in? Too many to count! I would estimate more than 50 professional film/television productions and more than 15 professional theatre productions.

What are the top three highlights from your portfolio? Based on national viewing, it would have to be America’s Most Wanted, Army Wives, and a PGA Commercial.
Based on personal highlights and biggest projects with the most demand, highest pay, etc., it would be the Linx Educational Series (This is shown in all public school systems. I play the host and am in every scene throughout the hour-long video), U.S. Navy industrials (where they gave me the name “One Take Jenn”), and the PBS series Southern Haunts, where I played a prostitute ghost!

Please describe your biggest project (“claim to fame”): Probably America’s Most Wanted because it aired twice since they caught the guy, and so many people saw it, including my dad in Tennessee, who thought it was funny when they zoomed in on the last close-up of me while John Welsh said, “This could be your daughter.” Also the national PGA commercial I did was great because the principal actors were each assigned three extras to their scene, and one of my extras was my old college professor! My line in the commercial is, “And they helped take care of me while my husband served overseas,” while I am holding hands with a large black man in a military uniform, so the hundreds of emails I received asking when I got remarried, showed that people really do believe everything they see on TV.

What is the best part of acting in the South? One advantage of acting in the South is the competition pool is much smaller, which really helps an experienced actor with booking roles and gaining confidence. And even though many casting directors aren’t from the area, they all seem to appreciate the Southern charm! Acting in the South is definitely not quite as great as living in the South. I have always wanted to go to L.A. to experience the life of getting to audition every day—sometimes twice a day—but my family is here, and the South is the best place to live, so I make the most of the acting life.

How is it different from acting experiences you’ve had elsewhere? Based on my experience, I feel that casting directors in the South are interested in the actor’s talent and personality over the “look” a little more than other places. I have had casting experiences where the actors were selected based on height and hair color. You get the sense of being treated more like a “number” in other areas.

Joe Hoffman

Hoffman’s most memorable acting lesson came in the form of scenes filmed with Daniel Day-Lewis, but fortunately his experience and love of acting hasn’t prevented him from also writing, producing and directing his own recently completed sitcom pilot.

Age: 9 dog years
Hometown: Indianapolis
How long have you lived in Savannah? since 1998

How did you first become interested in acting? My parents were members of a serious amateur theatre group and I started out doing lighting, props, scenery, and music when I was in elementary school. I performed in their productions, school plays, piano recitals, and competitions.

Where did you study? Jordan Conservatory and DePauw University

How many productions have you been in? I lost count a long time ago.

What are the top three highlights from your portfolio?
Doing film scenes with Daniel Day-Lewis (what an acting lesson)
Being a promo announcer at ABC and CBS in LA
Landing my first professional job at my first audition in NYC not knowing that it was an audition. It was a national commercial voice-over that first aired on SNL.

Please describe your biggest project: writing, producing, directing, and acting in my sitcom pilot last March.

Please describe one of your favorite or most memorable projects: My daughter went to a fabulous performing arts high school in LA. I produced Jesus Christ Superstar and it turned out to be one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Those kids were terrific and some of them have gone on to work on Broadway and in features.

What is the best part of acting in the South? No suits.

How is it different from acting experiences you’ve had elsewhere? Obviously Savannah is no LA, but the opportunities here increase every year.

Elizabeth Brewster

Elizabeth loves the community the local Savannah film community provides as well as the opportunity SCAD offers her to get involved in award winning student films.

Age: Really? You’re gonna go there right off the bat! OK, I’ll tell you, I’m 50. I just turned 50 so I’m still adjusting, but honestly, I feel 24 on the inside!
Hometown: I’m an Army brat so ‘hometown’ is a bit challenging to claim but I can tell you I was born in Fayetteville, NC. Fort Bragg Army Base actually.
How long have you lived in Savannah? We moved from NY to Savannah about 8 years ago.

How many productions have you been in? Strictly talking film? I’d have to say about 15 or so. I’ve also done numerous stage productions, several commercials, TV, voice-overs, industrials,yada, yada, yada. Not to mention the productions I’ve done for family & friends (whether they liked or not.)

What are the top three highlights from your portfolio?
1. I was recently chosen as the new face of Coastal Chevrolet here in Savannah which I’m very excited about.
2. Being in the film “Untouched” probably because it’s a local success story. I had the privilege of watching it go from a short to a feature film and all that it took to make a fellow actor and friend’s dream become reality.
3. The third highlight is actually the answer to the next question so….

Please describe your biggest project (“claim to fame”):
For me so far, playing the role of Patricia, in the feature film “Destiny Road.” It was one the best film experiences I’ve had. I instantly connected with the character and the cast and crew were wonderful to work with. It opens November 2012 in movie theaters throughout Brazil, South America and then World-wide.

What is the best part of acting in the South? I love being an actress in the South. The film community is outstanding. We’re all very supportive of one another. There is an air of eagerness to constantly be better as individual artists but also as a community of professionals striving to carve out a name for ourselves in this industry. Auditions are more like family reunions. I love being connected to SCAD; it’s thrilling to work with these up and coming film industry leaders. I just worked on a film that won 4 awards and can’t wait to see the careers these young people (I’m actually old enough to be able to use that term) make for themselves. I’ve also been extremely fortunate to meet and audition for well known directors that I might not have been able to if I lived out in LA or back in NY.

How is it different from acting experiences you’ve had elsewhere? I believe acting has its challenges no matter where you choose to pursue it and while the internet has made more available to Southern actors, there are some real costs to count specifically to this area. You better be willing to spend a great deal of time on the road, have plenty of gas money or get creative at carpooling. When I first made the decision to pursue acting again here, you had to drive everywhere, often, long, long drives. Hardly anything professionally happened in town. You had to travel a minimum of 2 hours one way for everything: training, representation, auditions, networking, headshots, etc. Driving 10 hours in one day for a 5-minute audition was typical (and still can be!) I remember the pure joy of my first Skyped callback audition. My friend Chip Lane and I were thrilled to actually meet the director without having to make the 8-plus hour drive. You have to be a visionary to live here and pursue a professional acting career. People have this preconceived idea that you have to be from LA or NY to be any good. I know lots of actors who went out to LA or up to NY only to come back south. Great personal vision is a must in this region. We don’t have the same resources as bigger markets do therefore you are forced to think outside of the box; what’s possible, how can I continue to work on my craft, build my skills, get my career noticed…work! Someone once asked me what the toughest part of being a working actor here was, I told them…Getting to the Work!

Bronson Adams

CBGB is the biggest project this SCAD graduate has had to date and he loves the chance Savannah is providing him to get his foot in the door with roles that give him great camera time while introducing him to Hollywood greats.

Age: 22
Hometown: Madisonville, Kentucky
How long have you lived in Savannah? 4 years

How did you first become interested in acting? I first became interested when I was a young kid, I use to watch a lot of movies and for me acting was the only thing that allowed you the opportunity to be anything. I always felt a strong connection to movies and film acting because we see things on the big screen that we should be seeing in real life such as people helping others and standing up for what is right and doing something about everything that is wrong.

Where did you study? Savannah College of Art and Design

How many productions have you been in? 15+ student films, 1 TV pilot, 2 Major Motion Pictures, 1 play.

What are the top three highlights from your portfolio? First would be playing Johnny Blitz from the Dead Boys in CBGB. Second would be a Senior Thesis I did at SCAD called “A Fresh Start”. The third project would have to be the TV pilot I did while at SCAD as well called Reigning Men.

Please describe your biggest project: My biggest project by far as to be my role as Johnny Blitz of the Dead Boys in CBGB. It was the first major film I did where I played main character and received a lot of camera time. It was interesting playing Blitz because he’s a real person and he was a drummer. I had never played the drums before in my life so the role came with a lot of difficulty but once I got it down it was a blast.

Please describe one of your favorite or most memorable projects: Once again my most memorable project has to be CBGB mainly because I got to met and work with so many different actors like Alan Rickman, Rupert Grint, Justin Bartha and Stana Katic. There were several times Justin, Rupert and myself went out and just watching how people reacted to us was rather amusing.

What is the best part of acting in the South? Its like a giant family everyone knows each other. If you know one person chances are they know someone else. Its easier to find work and get your foot in the door.

How is it different from acting experiences you’ve had elsewhere? I wouldn’t know I’ve only worked in Savannah, I’m still getting my start.

Desiree Markella

Travel and competition are the differences Desiree has noticed working as an actor in the South, but she put those differences to good use in a book she wrote for actors that helps them to log their acting expenses for tax purposes.

My website is www.desireemarkella.com
My IMDB page is: www.imdb.me/desireemarkella

Age: I’m as old as I look
Hometown: Prosperity, SC
How long have you lived in Savannah? 2 years

How many productions have you been in? 56 total – a mix of feature length films, short films, TV commercials, web commercials, TV episodes, industrials, music videos theater, and print modeling gigs.

What are the top three highlights from your portfolio? My most recent big commercial was for 5 Hour Energy. It’s a national spot that is currently playing on the Golf Channel. The first feature film I ever did was called Death Sentence and I had a scene with Kevin Bacon and Garrett Hedlund. I also had a role in an episode of the second season of Lifetime’s hit TV Series Army Wives

Clips of all of the above can be seen at: http://800casting.com/profile/26376/0/#view=Videos
I am with 2 different agencies – First Coast Talent in Jacksonville, FL and Coastal Talent in Charleston, SC. Last year, I was First Coast Talent’s TOP female producing talent.
I also have recurring work with Gulfstream. I do all of their egress videos.

Please describe your biggest project (“claim to fame”): Well, I am one degree from Kevin Bacon. I feel like I’m in some exclusive club for that reason That film, Death Sentence, is what got me the invite to join the Screen Actors Guild very early on in my career. Kevin is great to work with and super nice. Garrett Hedlund (from “Country Strong”) was also in the scene with me and a pleasure to work with.

What is the best part of acting in the South? I would say the best part is our community of actors here. For the most part, everyone is friendly and will help their fellow actors out – whether it’s carpooling to an audition, putting each other on tape or offering other services at an affordable price such as headshots. I offer website services to actors by creating actor websites so they can market themselves better. My company is www.fishnetcreations.com. I also wrote a book for actors that helps them log their auditions, mileage, and expenses for tax purposes: www.actorlogbook.info
Another perk to working in the South is you can form some great relationships with local production companies here and they will use you often if you do your job right and are dependable.

How is it different from acting experiences you’ve had elsewhere? As actors in the South, we travel a lot or put each other on tape for an audition and then email it in. We don’t really have a localized center like NY or LA. I have driven all the way to Orlando for a 10-minute audition and then turned right around and came back. I feel we also have more competition for bigger roles here. A lot of major motion pictures that come to Savannah have already cast their lead roles in LA or NY. What is left are the dayplayer roles that offer fewer lines. However, with that said, the independent film market I feel is great in the South and offers some great opportunities for starring roles for actors.

Mark Tymchyshyn

Since leaving college, Tymchyshyn has rarely stopped working and in addition to his theatre work in New York and LA, he has guest starred in over 50 different television shows.

Age: Speed Limit (55)
Hometown: Champaign, Illinois
How long have you lived in Savannah?
We (wife and 2 children) moved her 5 years ago.

How did you first become interested in acting?
My father taught theatre at the University of Illinois and when they needed a kid for a production I was able to do it. I fell in love with acting and the whole process of putting together a production.

Where did you study?
I studied acting at Illinois State University and received my MFA from Wayne State University. ISU, though in the middle of nowhere, was filled with extraordinary talent. My classmates there included John Malkovich, Jane Lynch, Gary Cole, Laurie Metcalf, Terry Kinney, and the majority of future Steppenwolf Theatre co.

How many productions have you been in?
After leaving college I started working in television, and never stopped working until I moved to Savannah. I’ve guest starred on over 50 different shows. I also did theatre in New York and LA.

What are the top three highlights from your portfolio?
The last acting job before moving to Savannah was playing Mel Powers on the George Lopez Show. I was a regular on the Gregory Hines Show, and played Gavin Kruger on As the World Turns.

Please describe your biggest project:
My biggest project since coming to Savannah has been as a director. I directed a production of Macbeth in the Lucas theatre for SCAD’s Performing Arts department, where I’m a professor. It was a huge undertaking. I used Orson Well’s adaptation and placed the time of the play in the future. The students did a fantastic job and it was well received.

Please describe one of your favorite or most memorable projects:
As an actor I loved working on the Gregory Hines Show. We only did 22 episodes, but working on a sitcom is fantastic. You make strong friendships; and being surrounded by such talented people you grow so much as an actor.

What is the best part of acting in the South?
I have yet to really take a role here in Savannah-but I’m looking forward to hitting the boards again. But as a teacher, teaching acting, I am rewarded everyday with helping young actors become better actors.

How is it different from acting experiences you’ve had elsewhere?
I look forward to seeing if there is a difference. I have a feeling there wont be a big difference in terms of on stage work. The audiences in Savannah are wonderful-enthusiastic and eager for good theatre.

Hannah Bryan

The moment Bryan realized she could feign illness and convince her parents to let her stay home from school, Bryan realized acting was her calling so, she studied at RADA in London and has been working in professional Southern productions ever since.

Age: Old enough to know how to do things well – young enough to learn how to do them even better.
Hometown: McComb, MS
How long have you lived in Savannah? 1 year

How did you first become interested in acting/theatre? I saw how effectively I could pretend to be sick and convince my parents to let me stay home from school – they fell for it every time. That’s when I realized that maybe I had a knack for this. I started writing and performing little skits and scenes to practice with my sisters and friends. When I was 14, I wrote and directed a 10-minute modern adaptation of the assassination of Julius Caesar, assembled the cast of main characters from my friends, with myself as Mark Antony, and then videotaped it. After that I started doing some local theater, then commercials and eventually branched into film.

Where did you study? I’ve studied with a few private coaches and attended workshops throughout the years, but I’m probably most proud of my opportunity to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, the school which boasts an alumni consisting of Anthony Hopkins, Alan Rickman, Timothy Dalton and one of my personal idols, Vivian Leigh.

How many productions have you been in/worked on? Four full-length independent features as a main actor, three major studio films on which I worked as a double or stand-in, and probably more than a couple of dozen smaller projects, which include short films, book trailers, industrials, training videos and commercials.

What are the top three highlights from your acting portfolio? Studying at RADA, doubling for Megan Fox on Jonah Hex, and having two movies released for distribution to cable network and DVD – Rites of Spring and Abraham Lincoln vs Zombies. I walked my first Hollywood carpet inside the legendary Graumann’s Chinese Theater at Screamfest last year.

Please describe your biggest project: In terms of production value and budget, definitely Year One, which had a greenlit budget of $150 million. I was a stand-in for Olivia Wilde, which was the first I’d ever seen or heard of her, and it was the first time I’d seen a big studio picture being filmed on that kind of scale. The set was unbelievable, and it had hands down, the best food on set of any film I’ve ever worked on, large or small. As an actor, probably the two movies that I mentioned above which were released to DVD. And when I got Dixie Melodie, it was being promoted around the New Orleans area as a new pilot being pitched to networks like Showtime and HBO, so that publicity landed me a couple of local newspaper interviews. There’s another movie I recently had a supporting role in currently locked in post-production that when released is going to pay homage to the style of 1980s teen blockbuster films, like The Goonies. I’m pretty excited about that one.

Please describe one of your favorite or most memorable projects: It’s hard to pick just one. As far as the bigger Hollywood studio pictures go, tossing prop knives back and forth with Michael Fassbender and then getting a kiss on the cheek from him for helping coordinate his fight scene with Megan Fox on Jonah Hex and singing Johnny Cash songs with Harold Ramis on Year One were a few of the cool moments from working on those kinds of productions, but then there are the smaller productions that have a special place in my heart because of the camaraderie I shared with the cast and crew who worked on them and what it meant to us at the time…productions like Dixie Melodie, my first starring role which got an IMDb credit and Blindsided, the short film which got my best friend and partner, Opie Cooper, selected by Steven Spielberg for his show On The Lot. Abraham Lincoln vs Zombies, filmed here in Savannah this past year held some unique and unforgettable experiences for me as well.

How is it different from acting experiences you’ve had elsewhere? People are still very excited about films happening around the Southern film markets, so they sort of treat you like you’re already an A-lister, even if you’re on a low-budget film. They’re not as jaded or “over it” as people perhaps in the bigger markets, such as NYC or L.A.

Sheldon Pinckney

After his debut performance, vomiting in Problem Child 2, Pinckney has been a stand-in for Matt Damon and Kenneth Branaugh in addition to television work he has done for Disney.

Age: They tell me I’m 44. I don’t believe them.
Hometown: Savannah, GA
How long have you lived in Savannah? Born and raised but moved away after high school. Orlando, Nashvile, NYC, Osaka Japan…Lived here off and on from 94-97 and have been back full time since 2003

How did you first become interested in acting? During my first trip to Disney World when I was 4, I tried to run on stage to meet Mickey Mouse. It was pretty scary for my parents because the elevated stage was sinking into the ground and I came close to being crushed to death but it ended up being a prophetic meting with Mickey. I ended up doing shows with him for many, many years at Disney later on.
When I was a kid I watched a lot of classic television. I loved variety shows, especially like the Bob Hope and Bing Crosby specials. I knew these actors more from TV as song and dance guys than I did from their movies. I looked forward to those and never missed them. I think they called them “specials” for a reason. They were events, completely different from anything else on TV. I would do impersonations of all the actors on those things. Everyone from Elvis and Johnny Cash to James Cagney and John Wayne. I would put on shows for my family all the time. The musical numbers on these shows performed by actors I had seen in movies was really exciting to me. I still love the classics. There are very few actors today who are as versatile as these guys were. You’d never see the “Al Pacino Christmas Special” or “Tom Cruise Sings For The Troops.” Kind of funny I ended up doing tv specials like this for Disney as well.
I learned at a young age that actors on TV were “pretending”. I will never forget seeing Carol O’Conner (Archie Bunker on “All In The Family”) on a different show and thinking, “why isn’t he talking like Archie?” I was an only child so I had to make up a lot of stuff to entertain myself.

Where did you study? Truett McConnell College/ Cleveland, GA & University of Central Florida in Orlando

How many productions have you been in? Depends on what you call productions. Traditional stage shows? Probably around 30. If you count TV specials, movies, theme park shows, and parades etc? Probably over 100

What are the top three highlights from your portfolio? People have different opinions of what a “highlight” is. I’ve performed for and with a lot of celebrities throughout the years. I was in a New Kids On The Block video and I even sang back up for Celine Dion on a Universal Studios TV special when she was just breaking out in America. I’m a huge baseball fan, so getting to sing The National Anthem at the Major League Baseball versus The Japanese Professional Baseball All Star Game in Osaka, Japan in 2002 was very cool. Also, speaking of baseball, I was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle at Disney and was hired to perform at one of Roger Clemens’ kid’s birthday party once. I was playing Michaelangelo. His kids were asking for my autograph and I was asking for his. But my real highlights are performances that have really become part of who I am and met people who have become part of my life. Hometown boys Trae Gurley and I were in a production of Forever Plaid here in Savannah in 1997. We became roommates in New York City and have remained the best of friends. One of my favorite highlights was getting to sing at my mom and dad’s 50th wedding anniversary. It’s little things like that that get into your heart and mean the most to you.

Please describe your biggest project: I was a performer at the Opening Ceremony parade and show for the opening of the Disney MGM Studios theme park in 1989. We had to walk through the back lot of the studios with hard hats on to get to rehearsals because the park was under construction until the minute the park opened. The night before opening there was a huge press event and parade for this “Hollywood World Premier” It was televised all over the world and there were celebrities everywhere I looked. Some of them were just as interested in what we did as we were of what they did. Lauren Bacall walked right up to me after the show. She congratulated me and told me how much she enjoyed the show. Pretty thrilling to have a legend say she enjoyed your performance. The next morning before the opening ceremonies, I found myself in the studio commissary with Bob Hope who was a big influence on me, and got to escort Annette Funicello on stage.

Please describe one of your favorite or most memorable projects: I was in the opening cast for the Beauty and the Beast show at the Disney MGM Studios. We worked with animators, writers, some of the actors as well as some creative staff that went on to be a part of the Broadway version of it a couple of years later. We even got invited to the animator’s Academy Award party when it was nominated for Best Picture

What is the best part of acting in the South? Smaller audiences. The Savannah Theatre only has 525 seats. It’s very intimate. You never feel disconnected from your audience. That can be good or bad depending on the audience. Most of the time it’s great because you feel like they are all right there with you. When you don’t feel like they’re there, it can be pretty painful. That and being close to my family.

How is it different from acting experiences you’ve had elsewhere? My time at the Savannah Theatre has been the best part of my career so far. Actors can be a lot like gypsies. You move around and whoever you’re with becomes your family but eventually you move on to another family. I’ve been in show business for 25 years and been around the world. I can tell you that the family dynamic we have at the theatre doesn’t exist anywhere else. it’s something very special. We have been seen 4 weddings and 10 babies born. You can’t help but feel like family you’ve been through all that with.

Jenn Doubleday

Hailing from a family of entertainers, Doubleday got the performing bug watching her parents as they traveled and worked with entertainment greats around the country.

Age: 27
Hometown: Savannah, GA!
How long have you lived in Savannah? Most of my life.
How did you first become interested in acting/theatre? I was born into a family of entertainers. My first memories are of sitting with my dad in a recording booth or playing with my mom’s headset backstage at a show.

Where did you study? On the road! My parents were fortunate enough to work with everyone from Carol Channing to Tyler Perry, and I was fortunate enough to travel with them.

How many productions have you been in/worked on? It sounds absurd, but I’m going to guess somewhere around 800+. At Savannah Children’s Theatre alone we offer 45 shows a season.

What are the top three highlights from your acting portfolio? I really enjoying character-acting, so I would have to say Babette from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Schwarzy from 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and the Mouse from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Really, anything that involves a silly voice or a rubber chicken.
Please describe your biggest project: The Savannah Children’s Theatre, of course! With the amazing guidance of our Artistic Director, Kelie Miley, I have had the privilege of helping our fledgling company grow into one of the largest children’s theatres in the southeast. It is the most challenging and rewarding project I have encountered – and it just keeps getting bigger and better!

Please describe one of your favorite or most memorable projects: My favorite project is the Let’s Put on a Play field trip program at SCT. We guide young students through each step of putting on a musical comedy in just two hours! We’ve done this field trip for over 47,000 students from Georgia and South Carolina, and each performance is a new adventure.

What is the best part of acting in the South? We get the southern accents right!
How is it different from acting experiences you’ve had elsewhere? Southerners are known for our hospitality, and for sharing our customs and talents with each new generation. In the South, theatre isn’t just a hobby; it’s a tradition.

Christopher Stanley

Age: 31
Hometown: Westford, MA
How long have you lived in Savannah?
A total of 10 years. I lived here from 2000 – 2005 while at school, and moved back in 2009.

How did you first become interested in acting?
In 8th grade, some of my friends convinced me to try out for the school play, Annie. I wound up playing Daddy Warbucks, and was hooked from that point on.
Where did you study?

Savannah College of Art and Design (B.F.A. – Media & Performing Arts, 2005)
How many productions have you been in?
Since I returned to Savannah in 2009, I’ve been in about a dozen plays and musicals. I’ve also directed two plays, and musically directed four, including Bay Street Theatre’s upcoming production of Rocky Horror.

What are the top three highlights from your portfolio?
Clifford Bradshaw – Cabaret (Bay Street Theatre, 2011)
Roger – RENT (Bay Street Theatre, 2012)
Nicky – Avenue Q (Bay Street Theatre, 2012)

Please describe your biggest project:
My biggest undertaking would have been my senior project at SCAD. I wrote, scored, and acted in a 30-minute short film, which then became the senior project for two film students. I was fortunate at the time to have Annette Heywood-Carter (director of the 2012 film Savannah) as a professor. She gave me a great deal of insight on the writing process. It won me two awards at the SCAD senior film showcase (now know as the SCADDY awards), and was showcased with other SCAD work at the 2004 Savannah Film Festival. Having Hollywood actors, writers, and directors recognize me and compliment my work at the after parties was a truly remarkable experience.

Please describe one of your favorite or most memorable projects:
This past May, I had the chance to play one of my dream roles. I was cast as Roger in the Bay Street Theatre’s production of RENT. I worked with an amazingly talented cast, as well as an amazing director (JinHi Soucy Rand of Muse Arts Warehouse). Members of the cast still meet up for lunch every week.

What is the best part of acting in the South?
Particularly in Savannah, people seem hungry for theatre, and being able to provide that for them is my passion and joy. From the Bay Street Theatre, to Muse, The Collective Face, The Savannah Theater, and more, I love being able to work in a city where local theater is able to thrive.

How is it different from acting experiences you’ve had elsewhere?
I lived in New York City briefly after college. On top of being outrageously expensive, it’s really hard to break into the industry there. You’re a very small fish in a gigantic pond. You can make money as an actor, but you’re often stuck doing extra work and internet commercials, which isn’t very satisfying for an actor.
Here, theatre is constantly a part of my life, instead of a fleeting dream I’m searching for in a big city. I’m able to work with some of the most talented people I’ve ever met, and put on productions that are just as good as what you’d find on Broadway!

Sarah Jones
Photography by Jabberpics

To say that Monroe, Louisiana, natives Jeremy Davis and Clay Johnson are two peas in a pod is the understatement of a lifetime. Best friends since the seventh grade, the tenor saxophonist and vocalist unite to create the unstoppable lead entity of Jeremy Davis and the Fabulous Equinox Orchestra—a musical force that has been gaining strength in Savannah since Davis’s arrival in 2005.

Their most recent wave of success is the beginning of their concert series at the Westin Savannah Harbor, “MadMonday,” which kicked off September 17 with a release party for the band’s first CD, “Great American Swagger.” The event offers martinis and a show on the third week of the month throughout the fall at the Westin’s clubhouse, which will be transformed into an intimate space with a lounge atmosphere (Davis is kicking around the idea of calling it “The Bungalow”) where the audience can interact with the entire 17-piece big band.

Monday nights are, Davis explains, a traditional time when jazz musicians around the country gather at clubs and lounges for jam sessions. “It’s going to be this opportunity to try out new material on the audience, and it’s always going to be a new show,” Davis says. “Clay is the main event, but we’ll have some special guests, including people like Roger Moss, Savannah Children’s Choir co-founder, and some of our friends from out of town.” And these guys have no shortage of those. In fact, their goal has more to do with making connections and building relationships with people than it does with putting on a traditional show.

“We don’t call what we do a concert,” says Johnson, explaining their mission in performing. “It’s not like we’re here to entertain you for 90 minutes, we’re here to establish a friendship with you that’s hopefully going to last for a long time, and I think that really better defines who we are and what we do on stage than just doing a concert.”

Read more in the October/November issue of South!

Jeff Vrabel
Photography by Bob Jones and Jabberpics

Gary Glemboski has been shooting for 50 years and practicing martial arts for 46, long enough to become a seventh-degree black belt. He’s received a Medal of Valor from his police department for climbing a Savannah TV tower during a nighttime thunderstorm to pull down a potential jumper, and he’s been awarded a Silver Star for an operation in which he and his fellow officers were shot at about 80 times.

He knows what he’s doing. And he wants to teach it to others, often by showing them how they don’t.

As an instructor, he says, his job isn’t to make someone a stronger shooter. “My job is to make you fail. To push you to the point where you can no longer operate. We want you to fail, your guns to fail, everything you bring with you to break, because that’s when you start learning. From a self-defense standpoint, hitting a target consistently and at a speed that’s combat-effective is what you need to be able to do.”

Glemboski’s Global Tactical Training Group (GTAC) — he’s the founder and director — has been instructing Savannah residents in self-defense, shooting and the martial arts for five years. He’s a tall guy who speaks directly and very fast, and it’s not easy to believe him when he says he’s 59 years old, even when he starts talking about his hip replacements. He’s also an expert in the way that you can tell he knows things, is planning things, is a few steps ahead of you tactically, at all times. And he’s an avid reader — as well as writer of a few articles (including one for the FBI Bulletin), and a book he’s working on called The Tao of the Gun. He’s also a cook and an almost-piano player. In learning each, he followed a simple plan: Basics first.

Read more in the October/November issue of South!

Nick Lucey
Photography by William Torrillo

Sharks. Jellyfish. Stingrays. Getting caught with a beer bottle by the Tybee beach patrol. These are just a few of the dangers that many fear when going to the beach in Savannah. But keep in mind that the whole shark thing is way overblown—you’re infinitesimally more likely to be involved in an accident with the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile driving to the beach than you are to be attacked by a shark once you get there. Jellyfish (administer Windex, not pee) and stingrays (everyday I’m shufflin’) can pose threats, too, but are still relatively rare.

So no doubt I won’t be making any friends when I tell you that you’ve got one more thing to worry about in Georgia’s murky waters: Pterois, or lionfish. If you’ve ever visited an aquarium, you’ll immediately recognize this ornate, flamboyant fish with red, white and black bands, looking as if it’s dressed for Rio’s carnival. They range in size from 6 to 42 centimeters, with adults averaging around 38 centimeters and weighing 480 grams (that’s nearly 17 ounces). Just 10 or 15 years ago, you’d have to travel several thousands of miles to the Pacific and Indian Oceans to see them.

But you needn’t worry about stepping on one while wading into the surf—they live farther offshore, and the problem is bigger than that. They’ve invaded the waters off the southeastern United States and the entire Caribbean, and are disrupting the delicate fabric that is our marine environment. They’ve got no natural predators and specialize in hunting and decimating smaller species. Those beautiful feather-like appendages that make them so recognizable are actually venomous spines that can not only unleash a painful wrath on quarry, but also make the lionfish unsavory prey to larger fish that would otherwise keep these harmful populations in check. Lionfish stings are rarely fatal to people, but symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, convulsions and extreme pain, which can sometimes cause discomfort over several days.

So how did these fish arrive at our shores? It’s widely believed that lionfish were unintentionally introduced into the Atlantic when Hurricane Andrew demolished an aquarium in South Florida in 1992. The fish can now be found as far north as Cape Hatteras, all along the Carolina, Georgia and Florida coasts, throughout almost the entire Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, and all the way south to Barbados.

Read more in the October/November issue of South!

Sarah Jones
Photography by Pat Bombard

The SCAD graduate has represented her home state as Miss Georgia Teen USA in 2003 and as Miss Georgia in 2010. After wrestling with the decision to set aside acting, she obtained her degree in journalism at the University of Houston, where she became interested in broadcast communications. Throughout her experience as Miss Georgia, Lance furthered her passion for communicating and writing, and she joined the WJCL team in early 2012. “I feel like I am a stronger, more confident person because of my unconventional journey,” Lance says.

Read more in the October/November issue of South!

Janice Shay

For more than 50 years Bobby Zarem has lived the American Dream. Mind you, this is not the middle class dream of a suburban house and 2.2 kids, although he still lives in his childhood home in Ardsley Park and keeps an office in New York City.

No, Bobby Zarem has achieved what every red-blooded American has wanted since Al Jolson opened his mouth to sing in front of a camera and the talkies were born: Bobby knows movie stars. Lots of movie stars—famous people who call him at all times of the day and night, take him out to dinner, travel to exotic places with him, send him flowers on his birthday, ask him to look after their dog—well, I’m not sure about that last one, but you get my meaning. He is best buds with people we’d give a year’s worth of paychecks to meet.

Savannah-born Bobby Zarem has been a successful publicist for more than half a century. In 2010 he moved back to Savannah, but he’s quick to note that he is by no means retired and still conducts daily business through his partner out of his New York office.

You may think because he’s a Southern gentleman Zarem must hew to politesse and be modest about his work and his illustrious friends. You’d be wrong. One is immediately and literally star-struck upon entering Bobby’s house, which is littered with pages of scripts, contracts, messages signed “from Arnold” or “Cher,” piles of pages and notes for his memoir (more on that sure-fire blockbuster later), and framed snapshots of Bobby with people whose faces I know—we all know—quite well.

Bobby was born in 1936 at Telfair hospital, which at that time was next door to what is now the Sentient Bean. He happily admits he’s been obsessed with movie stars since he saw his first movie at age 4. Part of a large family, he says, “There always seemed to be a relative willing to take me to the movies.” He went every week, and now admits—with a guilty grin—that by the age of 5 he had seen and learned things from movies that a child wouldn’t normally know at his age. It didn’t matter, he was hooked.

Read more in the October/November issue of South!

Janice Shay

It may seem counterintuitive to suggest that for a relaxing weekend in the country you should head to Atlanta, but trust me on this one. Located just 32 miles south of Atlanta off I-85, the community of Serenbe is a truly fun and inspiring place to spend a weekend. The 900-acre hamlet is best known these days as the site of the 2012 HGTV Green Home—perhaps the first clue that Serenbe is neither a gated community nor the expected plantation home developments we see along the coast. Serenbe was founded as an ecologically sound and sustainable community where people—from families, businesses, singles, and retirees to artists, writers, and farmers—are welcome to visit and thrive.

It is the bucolic brainchild of Steve and Marie Nygren, who in the early 1990s bought a circa-1905 farmstead set amidst 60 acres of undeveloped rolling hills. Steve was the former owner of the The Peasant Restaurants chain, and Marie’s mother was Margaret Lupo, longtime owner of Mary Mac’s Tea Room in Atlanta, who raised Marie in the restaurant business to know and love good food. In 1994 the Nygrens left their busy and successful lives in Atlanta to settle on the farm and run a bed-and-breakfast. Six years later, Nygren joined with partners to buy 40,000 acres of surrounding undeveloped land, and set aside 70 percent of the acreage to be environmentally protected.

The village of Serenbe has grown to embrace an eclectic mix of architectural styles and neighborhoods around a small commercial center. As you drive into town head for the city center, which boasts antique shops, art galleries, restaurants and a photography center. Stop in for a cup of coffee or a baked specialty at the Blue Eyed Daisy. Ask what’s going on that day, and you’ll no doubt get the lowdown on special events, what’s fresh this week at the farmers’ market, or even hear about the new menu items at the local restaurants. It’s that kind of small town.

Plan Your Trip to Serenbe
By Anthony Guza
South’s has collected the key contact points of the Serenbe community for you to maximize your relaxation before you even arrive. Use these quick trip-planning sites to prepare for your serene getaway soon!

Stay

The Inn at Serenbe: Beautiful countryside accommodations can be found at The Inn at Serenbe. www.serenbeinn.com. Rooms start at $130 per night. Call 770.463.2610 to make reservations. Afternoon southern tea, sweets at bedtime and a full country breakfast are included in the price of guest rooms. Traveler’s tip: The inn fills up quickly in the fall, so book ahead of time. **Did you verify this? Can we include tips in any of the other trip planning aspects?
Guest House Rentals: The Guest House is a restored horse barn from the 1930s. www.serenbeinn.com/guesthouse. This three-bedroom house now contains a large living room with stone fireplace, as well as a pool and hot tub. Rooms range from $190 to $210 per night. Call 770.463.2610 to make a reservation.

Eat

Farmhouse restaurant: The Farmhouse at Serenbe features seasonal ingredients grown locally on the Serenbe Organic Farm. www.serenbefarmhouse.com. Open from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Call 770.463.2622 to make a reservation today.

2013 Southern Chef Lineup: The Southern Chef Series brings together some of the best culinary talent the South has to offer, featuring the talents of chef xyz. www.serenbeinn.com/southernchefs. Call 770.463.2610 to register.

Play

Serenbe Farms: Serenbe Farms is an organic farm offering more than 350 varieties of vegetables, fruits, herbs and mushrooms. www.serenbefarms.com. Everything is distributed within 40 miles of the farm, keeping it fresh and local. Call 678.764.8273 to find out more.

Serenbe Farmers Market: The Serenbe Farmers and Artists Market runs from May until November from 9 a.m. until noon. www.serenbefarms.com/food/market. Located in a beautiful outdoor market in Serenbe, this collection of sustainable food supporters provides a great way to support local artists and farmers.

Les Dames d’Escoffier “Afternoon in the Country”: Held every year in Serenbe, this celebration features over 80 regional chefs, wines, micro brews, and live music. www.Ideiatlanta.org. Hosted by Les Dames d’Escoffier, this year’s event will take place on November 4 from 1 to 4 p.m. at The Inn at Serenbe. Tickets are $95. Call Sue Ann Morgan at 404.329.8426 for further event details.

Bike rentals: Peachtree Bikes has everything you need for a two-wheeled adventure through Serenbe. www.peachtreebikes.com. See their website for a road map through the countryside. Call 404.262.9854 to find out about all they have to offer.

Trail maps: The Serenbe community contains over a hundred miles of nature paths for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding. www.serenbecommunity.com/maps. Visit this website for detailed maps of Serenbe.

Horseback Riding: Created by the PATH Foundation, Serenbe is home to a network of wooded paths that are perfect for horseback riding. www.serenbetrailriding.com. Welcoming beginners and experienced riders, Serenbe Trailriding is located just down the road from The Inn at Serenbe. Call 770.463.2610 to find out more.

Plan your wedding at Serenbe: The Inn at Serenbe features in-house event designers to help plan your wedding. www.serenbeinn.com/weddings. Call Kimberly Lee and Amy Hansen at 770.463.2610 to start planning.

Read more in the October/November issue of South!

When I finally catch up with the ever-occupied Ginger Fawcett, front-person for beloved area rock band Liquid Ginger, the impressive stage vocalist answers the phone with the cautious voice of someone taking care not to strain her instrument.

“I had a bad case of laryngitis recently,” she explains. “But I’m on the mend. Except for a little cough here and there, I’m doing much better.”

That’s good news for Fawcett’s loyal fan base, who’ve actively and reliably boosted her group in this region for well over a decade. In a testament to that unflinching support, this past June 16 the singer was named Best Female Rock Vocalist in the First Annual Georgia Music Awards—a new statewide music industry competition geared toward recognizing and celebrating Georgia-based artists in the genres of rock, hip-hop, country and R&B.

Liquid Ginger’s lengthy career, acceptance at local radio and close bonds they’ve developed with listeners both here on the coast and in the greater Atlanta area (where a few of the band’s members reside) likely made all the difference in clinching this victory, as the event was patterned after the People’s Choice Awards: meaning that fans and supporters—rather than a panel of judges—decide which of the approved nominees will win by voting for their favorites online.

That process also led to three other Savannah area nominees making it all the way to the finals: The Big Money Band (for Best Country Band), Chuck Courtenay (for Best Country Artist) and The Train Wrecks—who wound up taking home the award for Best Americana/Bluegrass Band. “Seeing The Train Wrecks win in their category was such a wonderful surprise,” Fawcett offers. “It was great to have four of us nominated from here. I am so proud of Savannah.”

Read more in the October/November issue of South!

South magazine had a chance to pick the brain of America’s Next Top Model Cycle 19 competitor Victoria Henley about her experiences.

Hometown: Colquitt, GA
Age: 19
College: Liberty University Online

South magazine: Did you model or perform as a child?

Victoria: Even as an infant, I always showed an interest in being in front of the camera, which led be to becoming a baby model for Walmart. As I grew older my passion for modeling grew more intense, and at 8 years old I enrolled in modeling lessons with my cousin, who was a model with Ford Agency. My interests also developed for acting after I starred in the church play at 9 years old and I later went on to do commercial work, short films, student films, and I even wrote my own stage show at 15. I eventually began to build my resume by modeling in regional fashion shows and events, and I was even approached in the unlikely venue of a Chinese restaurant by someone who asked if I wanted to model for an L.A.-based gown company, for whom I became the youngest model.

South magazine: How did you become interested in modeling?

Victoria: I remember falling in love with the adrenaline rush and instant gratification I got while strutting down my first runway at a local Dillard’s fashion show as a child and thinking, “I really want to make a career of this.” Around that same time, I got a subscription to Vogue magazine, and I religiously studied the poses of all the models in the fashion spreads and practiced them in front of my mirror. I always seemed to know deep down I had to better develop my skills, because one day, I would utilize them in a big way.

South magazine: What is the most important thing you learned during your time at ANTM? What did you learn about yourself while you were there?

Victoria: I told myself before I left to compete for the show that I would stay true to my core values, ethics and beliefs and would not lose myself throughout the whole rollercoaster-ride process. I can’t say that I specifically learned anything about myself that I don’t already know, but the experience further re-enforced how much I love and depend upon my mom. It was excruciatingly difficult being away from her for nearly two months with extremely limited phone time, and I definitely learned I do not want to be away from her that long again. I also learned that living in a house with 11 other girls—many with whom I had nothing in common—is very frustrating. However, some of the incredible, surreal experiences I had while modeling on the show re-affirmed my belief that this is the career in which I am meant to be.

South magazine: Can you describe one of your most memorable moments on the show?

Victoria: One of the most memorable moments for me was when Tyra Banks gathered the 30 semi-finalists together and began to announce the top finalists. It seemed as though she announced an infinite amount of names before she uttered, “Victoria,” in a hushed tone, and I literally couldn’t move for what seemed like an eternity. The rest of the experience, honestly, seems like a blur when I attempt to replay it in my mind, so I will probably be just as surprised by some of the episodes as the fans.

South magazine: Who is your role model?

Victoria: My role model is, beyond a shadow of a doubt my mom, Lynn. She has always supported and encouraged me my entire life, and has never underestimated the things I am capable of. Coming from a family of doctors and lawyers, she easily could have expressed displeasure at my (sometimes less than stable) career choice; however, she has been the most ardent and dedicated “mom-ager” that I could ever ask for. Her intrepid determination, individualistically unapologetic viewpoints, and willingness to fight for what she believes in never cease to amaze and inspire me. Being the ridiculously Type-A perfectionist and career obsessed person that I am, she is the only person who can really remind me to calm down and smell the roses.

South magazine: Who is a favorite designer of yours and why?

Victoria: I have admired the clean, tailored and classic designs of Oscar de la Renta since I was a little girl, and I truly believe that his signature look will never go out of style. I really admire the risks that Alexander McQueen took with fashion, and I think that he pushed the envelope with high fashion couture and set a precedent for a new era of avant garde designers. Many of the labels that you will find in my closet are Gianni Bini, Steve Madden, Antonio Melani, Donna Karen and Kenneth Cole, just to name a few. My viewpoint of clothes is that they are more than just garments. Attire can be an art form and an existential exemplification of different aspects of one’s personality, and I think my taste in designers reflects upon that viewpoint. I also love raiding the vintage clothes in my mom’s closet from the 70s and 80s that she has saved, and I sometimes top them off with a vintage Dooney and Bourke satchel I bought at a thrift store a couple years back…for two dollars! I may love high fashion, but I also love a great bargain.

South magazine: What inspires you?

Victoria: I treat everyday occurrences as potential learning experiences, and I often find myself inspired even by mundane things. For example, I was once dining in a restaurant, and started spying on a particularly eccentric conversation the servers were having. I stored their dialogue in my memory bank, and it later became the inspiration for the first scene of a play I wrote and directed. I am also inspired by the works of some of the early great artists such as Carravagio, Gentilesche and Frieda Kahlo, as well as films with a strong message. Most of all, I am inspired by my mom’s resilience, optimism, candor and her ability to always phrase things in just the right way.

South magazine: What kind of modeling do you prefer? High fashion photo shoots? Runway modeling? Why?

Victoria: I enjoy all types of modeling, and it is nearly impossible to choose one form over the other because they all vary so much. Runway modeling provides a distinct adrenaline rush, and I love the immediate audience feedback that you receive on the catwalk. Print modeling is wonderful in the way that it can capture a moment or expression that couldn’t be captured in any other way, and I enjoy conveying differentiating emotions in photographs. In short, I love both, just in a different way.

South magazine: What characteristics, traits or skills do you think give you an edge as an up-and-coming model?

Victoria: My experience in the acting industry is beneficial because it allows me to tell a story with my facial expressions. As a model, you are a silent movie actor. Pretty faces are a dime-a-dozen, but I believe that my own brand of uniqueness and fierce passion for everything I do will set me a part from the crowd and take me far in both the modeling and acting industries.

South magazine: What is your favorite perk of your job?

Victoria: As a model, once in a blue moon, a designer you have worked with will either let you keep a garment or custom make a one-of-a-kind piece of apparel especially for you. A designer with whom I had previously worked custom made a stunning blue gossamer gown with an oceanic print and a jeweled choker neckline for a film event I was attending. I later wore the gown on America’s Next Top Model, and the designer was thrilled to get exposure on an international level. Also, after a runway show for Saks Fifth Avenue, the show coordinator gave me a beautiful brown and white giraffe print purse out of the blue, which was a nice, unexpected perk.

South magazine: What is your greatest challenge?

Victoria: My greatest challenge is trying to keep my perfectionism at bay and remembering to be kind and reward myself when I have done a job well. I often tend to be so obsessive about reaching my next career goal that I forget to pat myself on the back for a prior goal reached.

South magazine: If you could have one other job in the world, what would it be?

Victoria: I have never really pictured myself in a career other than the entertainment industry; however, I do have an affinity for writing and find great pleasure in creating stories and plotlines. I have also written film reviews for several publications, and I feel that I could be successful in many facets of the writing industry. I aspire to eventually write, direct and star in films, and I would also like to do hosting work, as well as write a novel about my ANTM experience. I am definitely not a person who limits myself.

South magazine: Can you share any hidden talents or little-known-facts about yourself?

Victoria: I have photographic memorizations skills and can typically memorize a 200-page script by reading it just once, which was definitely a beneficial skill for me in the many theatrical plays and performances in which I participated. When I got my license a few years back, I literally memorized the driver’s book from cover to cover, and the woman behind the counter commented that I knew the book better than any of the DMV associates.

South magazine: What are your hobbies?

Victoria: When I am not modeling or acting, my hobbies include bicycle riding, long nature hikes, vacationing, going out for long leisurely meals with my mom, and seeing a great movie at the local dollar theatre…did I mention I’m a sucker for a good bargain?

South magazine: What is your favorite movie or book right now?

Victoria: I saw Snow White and the Huntsman at the dollar theatre the other night and was pleasantly surprised by Kristen Stewart’s strong performance in her role and was blown away by the plot twists and cinematography. I am currently working on Happy Accidents, Jane Lynch’s autobiography and am amazed by all of my similarities to her in the way of her ambition, career pursuits and her general manner of phrasing things.

South magazine: What is your favorite food?

Victoria: Mediterranean food is definitely a favorite for me—it is so rich in culture and has such flavorful, distinctive taste. However, sometimes you cannot go wrong with good country cooking topped off with old fashion apple pie and vanilla ice cream!

Friday, September 21st, marked the award ceremony of The Savannah Ocean Exchange 2012 Solution Exchange. The event was held at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center and was based on the theme Leap to Zero+.