Meet Abby Tozer | Creator, Actor & Producer of Positive” “

We had the good fortune of connecting with Abby Tozer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Abby, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
“Eat the toad.” This is a phrase my dad has been drilling into me for as long as I can remember. This is the mentality of not only discipline and follow through, but in times of extreme overwhelm, knee deep in work: the only way out is through. I carried this mentality with me throughout countless AP classes, test prep and college applications in high school. I took it with me to get my Neuroscience degree at Berkeley, adding on a music minor, then an acting minor. No matter how much I piled on, I was never fearful of finishing it. All I had to do was one thing at a time, starting with the most difficult and working my way down. Once the toad is eaten, the rest is chocolate.

Now as an actor, writer and producer, I find this advice more helpful than ever. The discipline that has been ingrained in me since youth is my most powerful weapon. There is nothing I enjoy more than an immense amount of work that I get to sit down and sink my teeth into. Discipline is the prerequisite that allows creativity to flourish, and there is no healthier habit than pure commitment.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My creativity has always been a part of me, but it took a long time for me to face my fears and align my career with my passion. My journey has been anything but conventional, but I am thankful for the opportunities that have brought me where I am today. I grew up obsessed with musical theater. I performed in my first musical when I was nine years old: Annie in Annie. I had never sang for anyone, and auditioned with the only song I knew by heart, “Walking in a Winter Wonderland.” Following casting, I remember coming home with the exciting news to which my parents responded, “do you even sing?” A fair question. I spent many years downplaying my artistic abilities out of fear of the reactions of others.

I was the AP chemistry buff, French Honors society president, track athlete, star-student headed for a top tier university. I grew up inundated with the narrative of “women in STEM,” “back-up plans” and success surrounding status. The perfect mold I created fit me so snugly (and was so appealing to the average passerby) that I slowly began to believe it myself. A career in the arts seemed perfectly intangible.

Following in both my parents’ footsteps, I went to the University of California, Berkeley and pursued a degree in Neuroscience. My parents met in the dorms their sophomore year, both in STEM degrees. My grandfather and Great Aunt are also Golden Bears. Needless to say, it seemed to run in my blood. But no matter how hard I tried, how many medical positions I took to “gain experience” or clubs I joined, I couldn’t shake my inner artist. I slowly, furtively, began to add my creativity back into my life. I picked up a music minor, jazz piano performance, then an acting minor. I spent a summer auditioning for commercials, doing background work on “13 Reasons Why” (season 4) and slowly plotting my eventual return to entertainment. It wasn’t until the spring of my senior year that reality hit.

I received a supporting role in my first feature film. It followed a happy go lucky guy going through a quarter life crisis following a breakup. I played his fun rebound girlfriend. I was over the moon. My master plan was coming into view. I would shoot this project, get my SAG card, find an apartment in LA, call my parents up (while staring at the Hollywood sign) and laugh at all my friends in medical school. The pieces were falling into place. My inner artist was finally breaking through. This was the fall of my senior year. The fall of 2019.
March, 2020. Rehearsals for the feature, “This Side Up” are slated to begin in one month time. I am in my last semester, living in an apartment with four of my closest friends, auditioning for commercials, planning my final projects (from cadavre lab to movement class), and having the time of my life. It was a Tuesday, in acting class, and we were all holding hands in a warm-up. The goal was to pass the energy through hand squeezes around the circle and respond organically to whatever energy you received. Our unyielding and incredible teacher, Margo Hall, stood in the center of the circle. She received an email that distracted her. She stepped out of the circle, ducking under unsuspecting hands. My hand was squeezed rather tightly and I passed the sentiment onto my right side partner.

Margo re-entered the circle, breaking up two hands to my left. “I think everyone should stop holding hands,” she said. Her lips were pursed. The email declared that we were going into a “lockdown” for the next two weeks. Class was suddenly dismissed and I was ardently confused. My family, based in Texas, was a four hour flight and a long conversation away. Two weeks of free vacation might be nice though.

I packed my bags and headed home to quarantine with 6 of my family members. My parents, two siblings (of which I am the middle child), my grandparents and our three cats and dog. It was cozy to say the least.

Fast forward several months and countless quarantine meltdowns later, I finished my Neuroscience degree from the nostalgic discomfort of my high school bedroom. At the brink of true adulthood, I was thrown back to square one, but I wasn’t alone. It was the fall of my younger sister, Mady’s, senior year at the John Cooper School. She was in the midst of applying to colleges as a business major, adjusting to strict mask mandates and missing milestones (homecoming, prom etc). I was attempting to piece together film rehearsals while trying to scavenger for any existing auditions. From virtual play readings to self-driven acting meet-ups: time moved slow, and so did we.

Two weeks before principal photography for “This Side Up,” I needed to get a negative COVID test to send to SAG. I got a phone call from Mady. She was in tears, somehow positive and needing to quarantine from school for two weeks. She and everyone she had been in contact with were suddenly thrown into quarantine. I got tested. I’m positive too.

Suddenly, we were two strangers quarantined in the same room, our lives completely on hold. You never realize how well you know (or don’t know someone) until you spend every waking moment with them. Those 14 days could’ve gone very poorly, but something magical started to happen. Mady asked me to read her college applications, and I had absolutely nothing else to do, so finally agreed. I sat atop her pink duvet surrounded by stuffed animals, and came to a realization. She was applying to school for business, a practical and applicable degree. Mady was a four year all State choir member, dedicated musical theater performer and true thespian (a girl after my own heart) in blatant denial of her inner artist. But this time I could see it, and I might just be able to stop it.

I proposed that we switch some of her applications to vocal performance. We had two weeks of complete freedom, and no supervision. Without outside voices to dissuade the inner artist, we slowly united into our common pursuit. We sought to craft our futures –together.

I started to see Mady not only as my sister, but as my best friend and a fellow artist, and a brilliant one at that.

Now, Mady is an opera performance major at USC Thornton school of music. She just completed her freshman year (Dean’s list both semesters!) and is currently in Italy, cast in a production of the opera: “La Bohème.” I spoke to her this morning on WhatsApp, delivering exciting news that she was given a solo role in another opera. She sent me the music to help pluck out her tune (I am the eternal essay reader and on-hand pianist).

I have spent the past year creating this story to the best of my ability. Since I moved to LA (woohoo!) in August, I have spent countless hours writing, producing and paving a path so that this story might be told in a way that is impactful to every person that gets a chance to see it. I have been lucky enough to meet some amazing creatives along the way who have helped me, despite my own mis-steps, and continued to stay true to the vision regardless. My producing partner, Connor, and I plan to launch a non-profit charity, Hometown to Hollywood, to help creatives in smaller markets get connected in the industry. I want to bridge the gap, giving everyone a chance to feel like they have “family in the industry.” I want to give creatives the tools they need to unabashedly express themselves, without fear of judgment, and help inspire the confidence needed for success.

Ultimately, I am grateful for my unconventional path. I spent the first three years of my college career watching from the sidelines, jealous and angry at those in the arts. It wasn’t until I faced my true fear that I found confidence in the support of an artistic community. To anyone searching for their passion, wanting to connect with a family member, or simply get inspired, this film is for you-and I can’t wait for you to see it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh! This is a great one. I’m gonna do a quick little run-down of my two spots: LA and The Woodlands, TX.

LA:

I am in Koreatown, but I definitely get around. For right now (the wonderful LA summer) I recommend some of my favorites:
– the Hammer museum (on the West Side) which is FREE and always has amazing rotating exhibits
– EP & LP or Bacari (for a night out)
– Felix (for delicious Italian food)

The Woodlands:

– Trist by the Waterway (the chefs table is incredible)
– Torchy’s tacos (a must have for any visitor)
– Perry’s Steakhouse (gotta have a good Texan steak!)
– Cinepolis (the NICEST movie theater)

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shoutout to

– The wonderful Cast & Crew of “Positive” and everyone involved in the making

– My incredible creative partner Connor Angus for his undying commitment to the vision

– Our fiscal sponsor, From the Heart Productions, for all their wonderful mentorship and support

– My incredible friends & family for their undying support of my creative endeavors

(no matter how big or small)

Website: www.positiveshortfilm.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/positiveshortfilm2022

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tabbyozer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/positiveshortfilm22/

Other: https://abbytozer.wedid.it/campaigns/10482-positive-short-film

Image Credits
Kate Phillips Kerianne Parker Clavin Parker Connor Angus Savannah Bryan Savannah Beene Quinton Lowe Jonathan Alvarado