Meet Katie Martin | Owner & Actor

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

Hi Katie, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
My favorite quote is “luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” It is a quote that I like to share with my acting students in class, and that I like to live by in my personal life as well. I believe the amount of training one needs to become a successful actor can at times be overlooked and there is so much to learn about the craft. When an opportunity presents itself, wether that is a great audition or you have booked the job and you are on set, the training that you have received prior is what will prepare you to be successful when the opportunity presents itself. I also like living with this mindset because I feel it gives us some control over our destiny. Instead of luck being some small moment we are sitting around and waiting for, it is a small moment that we are preparing for and ready to be successful when it happens.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have been involved in acting from a very young age. I was the kid performing for my parents, and sometimes the friends they had over, on the fireplace so my parents knew very early on that they needed to enroll me in an acting class. I grew up involved in theatre, and by having that experience as a child it has influenced choices that I make as a theatre instructor and owning a theatre school. I am very passionate about acting and am honored to be able to pass that passion on to my students. However, being an actor comes with many challenges that I think are especially difficult for young actors to understand and know how to overcome. With acting comes a lot of rejection and a lot of disappointment, there are so many auditions you will never hear back from, plays you will be cast in a role you didn’t see yourself cast in, songs and scenes that will be cut during the rehearsal process and so on. Learning to find the positive in every situation you face as an actor is an important lesson and one that I feel is important to pass on to my students. It is also a great example of how theatre and the arts prepares us to be successful in life, because we all benefit from learning how to manage and overcome disappointment and to find the positive in the situation we are in moving forward. It is important to me that I encourage my students to be aware that what we view right now as a disappointment, will likely be a great opportunity for growth and we may enjoy it way more than we had anticipated. At Spotlight Acting Academy, all of our instructors provide our students with a high level of training that will prepare them to be successful actors. We have provided a place where young actors feel comfortable and encouraged to step out of their comfort zones while exploring different acting techniques, and give them the confidence to be comfortable with who they are and what they can bring to each character they portray. By knowing who they are, and what makes them unique and special, they are able to develop unique characters that are natural and real. It is very rewarding as an acting teacher to watch students come in for their first class nervous and apprehensive and with time and training, become confident and take on lead roles. Not only do you know that you have helped them grow as an actor, but you have also helped them gain confidence in themselves and that is something that will benefit them for the rest of their life!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Houston has so much to offer! During this period of time when we have had to quarantine and isolate, it has really made me realize all the things I have taken for granted. I absolutely love the arts scene in Houston, from small community theatre to larger venues like The Alley and The Hobby Center to catch a Broadway tour. It is a lot of fun to drive around the city and check out the different murals. Also being a huge fan of Contemporary Art, I do frequently visit the Contemporary Arts Museum and have always been in awe of their exhibits. If I am in the mood to celebrate or have a really fun time, I LOVE a good drag show! I have had a blast at Hamburger Mary’s and have been dying to see The Broads Way at Michael’s Outpost (one day I will have to take a Monday night off of work to go)! There are also so many great restaurants in Houston. Right before quarantine, I ate at MAD for the first time and the food presentation, and the trippy bathroom hallway, were definitely Instagram worthy! Another great thing about living in Houston is there are so many great places you can drive for a good day trip. I really enjoy taking a day to visit Round Top, do some antique shopping and have a slice of pie at Royers. And who doesn’t love an Astros game? In Houston, we are really lucky to live in such a diverse community with so much to offer!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many incredible people involved in the arts, and I have been lucky to work with and know so many of them. It is truly a network and a community that is centered around creating art together and supporting one another. I have had the opportunity to work with one of the best local directors, Kale Adams who owns Terrace Film Works and currently has several independent films in production. This has been such an important relationship for me, because I am constantly amazed and inspired by Kale’s talent and passion. Working under Kale’s direction, I have had the opportunity to grow as an actor and to share my passion with someone who loves filmmaking as much as I do. He has become a huge support system for me, both professionally and personally, and is someone I can reach out to for input and advice. We have a genuinely symbiotic relationship and I am grateful for every opportunity I have to create something amazing alongside Kale.

Website: www.spotlightactingacademy.com
Instagram: @spotlightktx and @katiemartinktx
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-martin-025b0736
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpotlightKTX and https://www.facebook.com/katiemartinktx
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/spotlight-acting-academy-katy-2
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SpotlightAA
Other: www.imdb.me/kmartin