Actress (Part Two)

Inside Television 550

Publication Date: 4-23-11

By: Hubert O'Hearn

Actress Part Two: We continue the story of Lisa Marie DiGiacinto on her ten years' journey leading from Thunder Bay, to Calgary then Vancouver and finally returning back to Thunder Bay to style and profile as the female lead in the feature film Quiver, shooting here in next month.

One of the hard truths of acting that Lisa's story clearly highlights is that no matter how good you might be in Thunder Bay or other hinterland cities, if you want to make it, you have to leave it. Anyone who tries to argue that it is possible to make a living here solely as a creative artist in theatre, film or television either a) has never tried or b) has tried and just hasn't gone broke yet. Small, divided and unsupportive markets will do that to you. Acting is a great hobby in the hinterland; as a profession - no.

The logical place to start for a Canadian actor is Toronto. Lisa looks back today at her fears of Toronto and laughs at them: "There were a few things I was scared of though- the biggest ones being high cost of living and... Apparently I couldn’t drive, apparently no one in Toronto had cars?? WTF, coming from Tbay, I didn’t understand public transit haha." So, as one of her best friends Harmony had moved to Calgary, which was a growth market for entertainment, she moved there in January 2004.

There survival got in the way of her dreams. Having a degree in Commerce, Lisa worked in a bank for two years and it all might have ended there as it ends for many an actor. But, "I was...depressed. (or so I thought)... so I did some self analysis, and came to the conclusion that I wasn’t happy with my path and something had to change, drastically. So, I did some job personality type tests and what was the #1 career choice for me EVERY TIME???? ACTRESS. I knew in my heart that I would never be happy and fulfilled if I didn’t pursue my dreams... the # 2 was broadcasting... so I did both. I started going to acting classes and got a job in promo for a radio station... from there, I started auditioning, and landed my first small one liner role in an indie short called Stolen Horses." But a credit's a credit and a successful actor knows how to build a mansion starting from one brick.

From that one-liner she continued to get work in Calgary, including a part in a picture directed by her teen years heartthrob Jason Priestley. (He was Brandon in the original true classic Beverly Hills 90210.) But just as you can't go anywhere in Thunder Bay, you can only go so far in Calgary. So in December 2008, Lisa gave herself a Christmas present and moved to the production hotbed of Vancouver.

Next week: we bring it all home. Literally. Be seeing you.