Amanda Miller
Hollywood is in the midst of a historic period with both the Writers Guild Of America (WGA) & The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) currently on strike. While this strike action is absolutely necessary to ensure an equitable future for the entertainment industry it is also a daunting time for new actors such as Amanda Miller.
Amanda recently sat down with Pario to discuss her journey from a career in emergency medicine to acting. While chatting with Amanda the strike action inevitably became a major talking point as we spoke on the eve of SAG-AFTRA joining the cause alongside the WGA.
STRIKE HISTORY & CONTEXT
Before we dive into Amanda's story we need a little context about the WGA & SAG-AFTRA strike. As part of the union strike action writers & actors, from all levels & stages of their careers, are fighting for better working conditions, a more equitable share of residual payments & safeguards against AI developments.
The WGA began their strike action on May 2 with SAG-AFTRA joining them on July 14, which then marked the first time since 1960 that both unions had gone on strike at the same time.
FROM TRAUMA PHYSICIAN TO ACTOR
Amanda's journey to Hollywood is certainly a winding path, which she describes as "unconventional". As a child, Amanda was bitten by the "creative bug" through her time participating in ballet before then trying theatre in high school & then finally dabbling in broadcast journalism at Baylor University. However, growing up in a small town Amanda knew she had to find a "stable career".
"There's always been a creative bug in my genes. I was a ballet dancer since I was 3, so being on stage really set my heart on fire," recalled Amanda with great glee. "I grew up in a very small hometown though, so I knew I would have to shift away from the arts into a career that was more stable eventually & that’s how I got into medicine."
After completing her medical degree Amanda set about working as a trauma surgery physician's assistant all across the United States.
"What that essentially means is when anybody comes into the hospital after a car accident, a gunshot wound, or whatever the trauma may be, I'm one of the first provides to them in the trauma bay."
While this is an incredibly rewarding role it's also incredibly challenging. So eventually Amanda realised she needed a change.
"Eventually you just get to an age where you're like, 'screw it, I really want to be who I authentically am & be unapologetically that,'" explained Amanda. "Getting back into the arts has done wonders, not only for my soul but it has also allowed me to be unapologetically myself."
IMPACT OF THE STRIKE
As someone new to Hollywood the strike came as both a blessing & a curse for Amanda.
The curse side is quite obvious with opportunities suddenly dissipating as production across the industry ceased. However, on the flip side, the strike has been a blessing as it has allowed Amanda to ease herself into the industry slowly as she begins to focus on acting as a full-time career.
Reflecting on how she came to learn of the strike & how it impacted her Amanda said, "I signed with my agency in February & then the writers went on strike around 30-45 days later, so the strike has kind of been my entire career thus far."
Although Amanda knew the strike would pose challenges she told Pario, "It didn't hold me back from wanting to continue the pursuit of being a full-time actress. I'm a big believer in creativity finding a way when the situation might not seem optimal."
With that mindset, Amanda found other ways to prepare herself for the inevitable restart of the industry, "Being that I'm newer I really wanted to get with coaches, instructors, workshops, whether that be online or in-person to really understand the craft more & respect it... So for me, this has actually been a blessing because I've been able to really hone my skills... This is a great time to have your materials prepped. If you need new headshots, get them done. If you need to update your resume, do it. If you need to update your social media, get it done now so that when the floodgates open back up you are ready to go at 100%."
Follow Amanda’s Creative Journey on social media at: @amandamiller_pa
Pario Magazine stands in solidarity & support of the WGA & SAG-AFTRA in their fight for better working conditions.
Our publication has always been focused on the creative brilliance of these individuals rather than on the business of film/tv. As such we will continue to highlight their creative talents during this time so that their contributions to our entertainment are not overlooked.
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