We polled a handful of successful Portland actors on what they learned in 2022, who inspires their work and where they’re focusing their efforts in 2023. Here’s what they had to say.
What was your most educational/enlightening/fun acting experience in 2022?
Matt Berger: I think the most formative experience of 2022 was building a community of fellow actors and comedians in Portland, and organizing an independent comedy improv troupe. It’s one thing to take lessons or classes in a formal environment, it’s another to take the initiative to rehearse and learn on your own as well as book yourselves for shows/work.
Tracy Rogers: Photo shoot for Vital Choice in Josephine, OR. Even though I was not featured it was a paid gig that included travel and hotel in a charming town in Southern Oregon. The cast and crew were super creative, kind and professional.
Tracey Hugo: Being on set working with my husband and young adult children doing what we love and "playing" together has been a wonderfully unique experience. As a family, we've completed a dozen film/modeling projects together!
Tiffany Fajen: I took acting classes at The Studio NW and got guidance from some incredible coaches. I truly believe it took me to another level of commitment and dedication and drove me to explore this as a career. I'm so happy I did!
Luke Carlson: Booking my first role after a year of almost zero auditions coming in.
What specific skill do you think set you up to have that experience?
Matt Berger: Ironically, it’s taking that step to take a comedy or acting class, or attending shows and events to network. I hate the idea of networking on paper, but you won’t be able to make and produce your work without a community of likeminded artists. Networking was arguably my most valuable skill set in that regard.
Tracy Rogers: I think my ability to connect with folks set me up for a positive experience. Being present helped too.
Tracey Hugo: I think it's all about attitude and an eagerness to try new things. We enjoy our individual experiences, while also work to enjoy experiences together making family memories. It's a work hard, play hard mindset.
Tiffany Fajen: I knew I wanted to go deeper into more theatrical acting. In a way, my commercial acting experience pushed me to pursue this. I love commercial acting so much but I knew I wanted to help drive stories through film and television.
Luke Carlson: I remember my mindset during the audition. I was going trough a rather transformative period in my life and felt, for the first time, zero attachment to the outcome of the audition. So, maybe there is something to that.
What actor/actress inspired you in 2022? Why?
Matt Berger: Regina Hall without a doubt. She put out two incredible yet polar opposite performances this year in Amazon’s Master and Universal’s Honk for Jesus Save Your Soul. To see her play against type in Master was thrilling, but watching her walk the comedic and dramatic tightrope in HFJSYS was even more impressive. She’s a performer to watch out for.
Tracy Rogers: Issa Rae. She is a badass creator/writer/producer/actress/entrepreneur that lifts up the people she works with and her community.
Tracey Hugo: As a group, young and new actors inspire me. They just into acting class and on set with an energy and eagerness to participate in the magic!
Tiffany Fajen: I'm sure the expected answer for this question would be a movie star or big celebrity name but to be honest, I am most inspired by the community of working actors around me. I've come to know quite a few people in the PNW (and beyond---thanks social media!) and seeing the incremental progress and even struggles helps me not feel so alone in this industry. It fuels me to keep going and to have the vulnerability for aspiring actors (and models) who come to me with questions. I believe when acting communities are really healthy, its a circle. Someone inspires me, I take that inspiration and bring it to others and the cycle begins again.
Luke Carlson: Dacre Montgomery
What show inspired you in 2022? Why?
Matt Berger: Nathan Fielder’s The Rehearsal. I’ve loved Nathan’s work since his days on Comedy Central. The Rehearsal however was one of the strangest and cringe worthy comedies I’ve seen in quite sometime. It took the idea of an unreliable narrator to a whole other level. Some folks might be against audience manipulation, but this show proved it essential.
Tracy Rogers: Ted Lasso - I love storytelling that makes me laugh and cry and restores my faith in humanity.
Tracey Hugo: Landscapers and Peaky Blinders both had strong female characters who lit a spark for me as a middle aged actress. The performances of Olivia Colman in Landscapers and the late Helen McCrory introduced characters with intense layering which inspired my desire to dig deeper into character development.
Tiffany Fajen: I was really inspired by the character development and the ways the stories unfolded in Only Murders in the Building.
Luke Carlson: Obi Wan. For a long time people were not happy with the Star Wars universe, but this show I think made a lot of people fall back in love with it as it was done so beautifully.
What specific skill are you going to focus on improving in 2023?
Matt Berger: I’ve spent much of the last year honing my comedic skill set that I’m looking forward to spend some time on more dramatic muscles. While it’s ground I’ve worked before, it’s always good to readdress those skills after some time away.
Tracy Rogers: Being present
Tracey Hugo: Heading into 2023 I'll be focusing on grounding myself more and narrowing in on the specific roles/characters that I love to play.
Tiffany Fajen: I want to practice my emotional range but more importantly I want to be able to compartmentalize those expressions so I can feel safe and real at the same time.
Luke Carlson: Becoming more present to the moment and trusting instincts.
Matt Berger is represented by ZT Agency and studies with Ted Rooney.
Tracey Hugo is represented by Big Fish Northwest and Talent Model Management and studies with The Studio NW, Bonnie Root and Brian Sutherland
Tiffany Fajen is represented by The Option Agency and studies at The Studio NW
Want to learn more? See what industry experts are saying in our Shop Talk (Industry Edition) article here.
Michael Verity is a photographer based in Portland, OR specializing in acting and business headshots, modeling portfolios and fashion editorial photography.
His acting and modeling clients are consistently placed in film, television and theater productions and his fashion work has been published in magazines worldwide. His creative and business clientele range from middle management to C-level professionals working in a variety of industries.