Rochelle Davis part 3 / Barnes and Noble / Langhorne, PA
Important Note: Photos provided by Rochelle Davis. Used with full permission. Rochelle Davis retains all rights and copyrights.
I met Ms. Davis at Lehigh Valley Fanfest in 2014. She played Sarah in the movie, the Crow. After having several conversations on Facebook, I realized Ms. Davis is very down to earth, real and does not have an egotistical / typical celebrity attitude.
I have to point out this was another first for the magazine. The first time I have traveled outside of the Lehigh Valley to do an interview.
I want to thank both Ms. Davis and her boyfriend for taking time and doing this interview. I wish both much success and happiness.
I have to point out this was another first for the magazine. The first time I have traveled outside of the Lehigh Valley to do an interview.
I want to thank both Ms. Davis and her boyfriend for taking time and doing this interview. I wish both much success and happiness.
Interview
Part 1 was fun / interesting / covered a lot. Part 2, we went into the more technical side of the industry.
Part 3, advice for anyone who wants to become an actor / actress. Anyone, no matter the age or if they want to get into local theater all the way up to major motion pictures.
Rochelle: My advice, to most people is pretty much the same all the time.
It is an absolute cutthroat business, no joke. At 12 years old, I was told by agency, to lose 12 lbs. no joke.
If you are the kind of person where your feelings get hurt easily. If you can not take constructive criticism. If you have no room to grow because you think you are already great and everything is wonderful that you do. You are in the wrong business. You are going to slam down hard on your face and fall. This business is about learning, growing, taking criticism, taking advice and being rejected constantly. Getting back up and keep going. There is nothing about anybody that it will be different for. I don't care if you are Julia Roberts or Tom Cruise, you have been rejected and told horrible things. That is just the way it goes.
That is the business. It's something you have to be ready and prepared for when you get into it. Know that it is part of it. Have a strong, Teflon, outer layer.
I take things in without letting them hurt me deeply. Somebody could say "You could lose weight for this role". My reaction will not be "They hate me because I am fat!" I will think "Ok, this role is for someone thinner and I am not at that spot right now." I don't take it a personal place. I take it to a place where it is criticism. Where it needs to be changed, whatever it is. It's hard, not just an easy business.
What I tell most people: If it's something you can't stop doing, there is your answer (laughing).
Almost like "If it's in your blood..."
Rochelle: Right. If it's something you can't stop doing, it is your only option, deal with it. I know some people who want to be in the business because of what it will do for them (become famous / how many girls they will get / etc.).
The whole thing is "IF". If your heart is not into it the right way. You are doing it for those (above) reasons. You are not going anywhere. Good luck with that endeavor! (laughing)
I take advice from anybody in the business. Anybody who has been in the business longer or done more than me, I ask. I take people's advice wholeheartedly. They don't just give it for no good reason. If you have access to other people in the business who are trying to help you, take it! If you take as insults or bashing you, you will never go anywhere with it. Everything has to be a learning experience. It has to push you and make you greater. Sometimes, it's people that tell you "Hey, that was terrible" that get you to where you need to be (with strong emphasis).
Almost like lighting a fire
Rochelle: Right! I had a teacher in 6th grade who told me I could never be a professional actress. The next year I did The Crow. The year after that, I few back to Florida to live with my mother. I called that woman up and said: "My movie is out in the theaters and you can watch it in my staging room." She was speechless. It felt good to call her and think "You didn't think I could do it". I pushed myself farther than I ever could. I did it just fine. Sometimes it is always those (types) of people you need.
Success is always the best form of revenge.
Rochelle: Right! Again, a lot of it is just a learning experience and pushing for what you want. Not giving up on that dream. Another thing, if it is really your dream. You are not in it for fame and fortune. You are in it because it is what you love to do and it makes you feel good to do it. Example: If you are 3 years into acting, not famous yet and get pissed off at the world. You are in the wrong business.
How many people do you think can be out there and be big names in the world? Just not the way it works. You may be an independent actor for the rest of your life. You may (also) have 80 films by the time you are done. You may have TONS of fans you may not even realize are out there. You have done what you said you were going to.
In some aspect, at that point, you have achieved immortality.
Rochelle: RIGHT!!! You don't have to be chased down by TMZ (Copyright) to do what you wanted. I have no desire to be chased by paparazzi. If I even got close to that, I would just veer away. I don't want that. Some people it's what they are after. If that is what you want, you are in the wrong field. If you are one of those people, you are not putting much work into your craft. You are putting into just being known. You will be laughed at one day, basically. Put your energy into your craft.
That's good advice for anyone, no matter what you do.
Rochelle: Yes. Just go at and that is what is going to pay off. People are going to notice that and say: "This person really works hard at what they do. We want to work with someone like that."
To sum up part of what you said: "If you want to be in the spotlight, be ready to handle both sides of it."
Rochelle: Right. I wasn't prepared for what The Crow did for my life when I was that young. I didn't realize how big it could get. Going from independent film to cult classic in a year. Now that I know that, I am more prepared for what this business throws at you. I am always on guard for that and know what to look for, what I do and don't want. Always try to make the best of every role I get and doing the best I can. I am always about receiving feedback and criticism. I take it all in.
Thank you very much for your time.
This is one of the very few times I will say this. It was a true honor to do this interview. Rochelle Davis is a very real, honest and point blank person. Even though she is a celebrity, does not act that way in the slightest. No, I was not nervous, even if I would have been, Ms. Davis would have put me at ease right away.
Part 3, advice for anyone who wants to become an actor / actress. Anyone, no matter the age or if they want to get into local theater all the way up to major motion pictures.
Rochelle: My advice, to most people is pretty much the same all the time.
It is an absolute cutthroat business, no joke. At 12 years old, I was told by agency, to lose 12 lbs. no joke.
If you are the kind of person where your feelings get hurt easily. If you can not take constructive criticism. If you have no room to grow because you think you are already great and everything is wonderful that you do. You are in the wrong business. You are going to slam down hard on your face and fall. This business is about learning, growing, taking criticism, taking advice and being rejected constantly. Getting back up and keep going. There is nothing about anybody that it will be different for. I don't care if you are Julia Roberts or Tom Cruise, you have been rejected and told horrible things. That is just the way it goes.
That is the business. It's something you have to be ready and prepared for when you get into it. Know that it is part of it. Have a strong, Teflon, outer layer.
I take things in without letting them hurt me deeply. Somebody could say "You could lose weight for this role". My reaction will not be "They hate me because I am fat!" I will think "Ok, this role is for someone thinner and I am not at that spot right now." I don't take it a personal place. I take it to a place where it is criticism. Where it needs to be changed, whatever it is. It's hard, not just an easy business.
What I tell most people: If it's something you can't stop doing, there is your answer (laughing).
Almost like "If it's in your blood..."
Rochelle: Right. If it's something you can't stop doing, it is your only option, deal with it. I know some people who want to be in the business because of what it will do for them (become famous / how many girls they will get / etc.).
The whole thing is "IF". If your heart is not into it the right way. You are doing it for those (above) reasons. You are not going anywhere. Good luck with that endeavor! (laughing)
I take advice from anybody in the business. Anybody who has been in the business longer or done more than me, I ask. I take people's advice wholeheartedly. They don't just give it for no good reason. If you have access to other people in the business who are trying to help you, take it! If you take as insults or bashing you, you will never go anywhere with it. Everything has to be a learning experience. It has to push you and make you greater. Sometimes, it's people that tell you "Hey, that was terrible" that get you to where you need to be (with strong emphasis).
Almost like lighting a fire
Rochelle: Right! I had a teacher in 6th grade who told me I could never be a professional actress. The next year I did The Crow. The year after that, I few back to Florida to live with my mother. I called that woman up and said: "My movie is out in the theaters and you can watch it in my staging room." She was speechless. It felt good to call her and think "You didn't think I could do it". I pushed myself farther than I ever could. I did it just fine. Sometimes it is always those (types) of people you need.
Success is always the best form of revenge.
Rochelle: Right! Again, a lot of it is just a learning experience and pushing for what you want. Not giving up on that dream. Another thing, if it is really your dream. You are not in it for fame and fortune. You are in it because it is what you love to do and it makes you feel good to do it. Example: If you are 3 years into acting, not famous yet and get pissed off at the world. You are in the wrong business.
How many people do you think can be out there and be big names in the world? Just not the way it works. You may be an independent actor for the rest of your life. You may (also) have 80 films by the time you are done. You may have TONS of fans you may not even realize are out there. You have done what you said you were going to.
In some aspect, at that point, you have achieved immortality.
Rochelle: RIGHT!!! You don't have to be chased down by TMZ (Copyright) to do what you wanted. I have no desire to be chased by paparazzi. If I even got close to that, I would just veer away. I don't want that. Some people it's what they are after. If that is what you want, you are in the wrong field. If you are one of those people, you are not putting much work into your craft. You are putting into just being known. You will be laughed at one day, basically. Put your energy into your craft.
That's good advice for anyone, no matter what you do.
Rochelle: Yes. Just go at and that is what is going to pay off. People are going to notice that and say: "This person really works hard at what they do. We want to work with someone like that."
To sum up part of what you said: "If you want to be in the spotlight, be ready to handle both sides of it."
Rochelle: Right. I wasn't prepared for what The Crow did for my life when I was that young. I didn't realize how big it could get. Going from independent film to cult classic in a year. Now that I know that, I am more prepared for what this business throws at you. I am always on guard for that and know what to look for, what I do and don't want. Always try to make the best of every role I get and doing the best I can. I am always about receiving feedback and criticism. I take it all in.
Thank you very much for your time.
This is one of the very few times I will say this. It was a true honor to do this interview. Rochelle Davis is a very real, honest and point blank person. Even though she is a celebrity, does not act that way in the slightest. No, I was not nervous, even if I would have been, Ms. Davis would have put me at ease right away.
