The next casting announcement was made just this morning, and as was reported, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to share my interview with Lauren Francesca, who will be playing District Attorney Deborah Erickson in Nick Belial’s upcoming project, To Avenge. Although I was previously unfamiliar with the work of this talented YouTube sensation, I discovered that she is one who has wholly embraced the power of digital content and videos on the internet. Her impressive list of credits and astronomical views on YouTube have certainly propelled her to virtual stardom in this digital age, and I am quite pleased that Lauren took some time recently to inform me of the details concerning her career and noteworthy projects, including To Avenge.
RH: Lauren, it’s so good to chat with you today. Glad we were able to make a connection.
LF: Thank you, Ruth, I’m glad too.
How did you get started in acting?
My parents are actors, and they have an acting school in Queens, New York. I grew up taking classes from them. And that is basically how I got my start. When I was six years old, I would go to acting and dance classes all day.
Was acting the only career path you ever wanted to pursue?
Well, I have a biology degree, and I wanted to be a doctor. It was hard to book acting jobs. I was acting in high school, and I never really booked anything. When I turned eighteen and went to college, that is when I started booking jobs. That’s when I decided I was going to pursue acting.
What do you consider your first significant, professional role in the business?
Well, it was a role that opened a lot of doors for me. I started working with Barely Political on YouTube {The Key of Awesome}. I had decided not to go to medical school because I would do a video and it would get ten million views in a day on YouTube. The most popular videos I did were of Lady Gaga. From that, I was able to get other jobs, and the biggest of those was on the Louie show.
Louie
While I’m not familiar with a lot of your works, you have plenty of credits listed, which is always good. What are some of your other more popular works?
As I mentioned, the Lady Gaga parodies are what I’m really known for. Then The Key of Awesome stuff. I have also been in some College Humor viral videos as well as some Bo Burnam videos. In fact, I’m really known for one of his most popular music videos on Comedy Central called “Words, Words, Words.” Bo Burnam is just awesome. Some of the sketches on my channel–my 360 stuff, my space girl stuff…I had Tom Arnold in one of my sketches. 
He was amazing, and that got a lot of views as well. So that is what I’m best known for. I’m that sexy, funny girl on the internet.
At the same time, I have booked other roles. I’m in a movie called Lucky Number that’s on Amazon. I’m in a horror film called Muck. It’s interesting how many different kinds of things I’m known for.
It sounds like you’ve taken full advantage of what is known as “new media,” YouTube and other sites for video content. I would say that has helped to get your career going. I know that doesn’t always work out for everyone, but it’s nice that it has for you.
Thanks, yes, it’s been amazing to have all these opportunities.
How did you get involved with To Avenge?
I read one of the articles on Ocean City’s {Maryland} Facebook page. My aunt had mentioned it to my mom because my family goes to Ocean City every year. I got really excited because I had grown up going to Ocean City, and one of my aunts said that they are doing a movie. My aunt recommended that I try to become a part of this film. Well, I wasn’t sure what part I wanted to go out for, but I decided to send the director {Nick Belial} my stuff. He and I talked and connected, and he had me read for the role of District Attorney Deborah Erickson. It was really awesome, and I thought she was a very cool character. Nick and I have had great conversations about the movie, and I’m very excited to get started filming it.
Space Girl
What are you most looking forward to with filming this project?
I really like that this movie requires a strong female lead, and I feel that all the female characters are very strong and bring something different to the table with each one. It’s very hard to find a script written for a woman that features these kinds of characters, so I’m excited for that.
Have you worked with any of the other actors attached to the project?
No, but I’m excited to meet them. I love getting to meet and work with people in the business like this.
In addition to this film project, do you have any other upcoming projects you can mention?
Appland
I have a web series that was featured in Women In Comedy which is something that YouTube was doing with Elizabeth Banks. I shot a pilot for this program, and that was really cool. That just came out. We called it Appland. I’m really excited about it, and I’m pitching it right now. I also have a feature that I produced that we’re editing. I actually shoot all the time. In fact, I shoot every day with my web stuff. I’m always creating new content and working with other people in the industry.
I notice that you are one of these people in the business who seems to do it all. You act, write, produce, direct…whatever needs to be done.
Yes, that’s right. Mainly because it’s my channel, and I like having my voice in every step of production. I want the content to be right for my viewers, and a lot of times, there is a certain kind of tone that is required for these videos I’m doing. I have to be actively involved because I am a YouTuber, and that is just part of what comes with that kind of work. It is a lot of work. Some people think my job is so easy because I get to work from home. I am quick to point out that is requires a lot more work than some people might think. It’s a big 
responsibility.
Definitely. Most people in the business only do one thing, maybe two. But in your case, you wear lots of different hats, and you’re in charge of every step along the way, especially when it’s content for your channel.
Right. Not only do you have to shoot, edit, and upload it, but you have to market it too.
I have a great respect for people like you who choose to do it all. It’s not an easy job, and it’s great to see that you’ve been able to make a success of it.
Thank you, I appreciate that.
I realize you’ve done a wide variety of genres and styles in the business, and not to box you in, but is there a genre that you really enjoy writing for more than the other ones?
Not necessarily. I love just creating content and working with friends. I also love doing topical things. I think I can say I just love it all.
Where do you get your ideas for creating content?
I pay attention to the news and whatever is trending. Sometimes, I’ll be on the phone with one of my best friends, and they will say something that is really funny, and I decide to figure out how to make that into a sketch.
Since this is your passion, I realize it takes up most of your time. But when you have downtime, what do you like to do to in your free time?
I love to sew and fix my clothes. I buy clothes and get clothes sent to me, and I always love getting to alter them so they become an expression of who I am. I also have a garden, and I love doing DIY projects. I have a dog too, and that takes up a lot of my time.
It sounds like you have a wide variety of interests, Lauren, so that’s just great. I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to chat with me today. We are definitely looking forward to seeing you in To Avenge.
Thank you, Ruth. I am very grateful that you reached out, and I’m excited to get going on this new project too.
When it comes to young women in the world of entertainment, very few seem to grasp exactly what it takes to be prosperous. Even fewer seem to witness the virtual success for which they long. However, in the case of Lauren, she is someone who has not only invested the time and resources to flourish in the business, but she has also made herself available to be in the right place at the right time. She never rests on her laurels nor her past glories, but she is constantly generating new ideas and promoting her content. She has taken the bull by the horns, so to speak, and created success for herself rather than waiting around for the proverbial “lady luck” to come knocking at her door. It is ambitious artists like Lauren who tap into the trends and novel ways of doing things in the twenty-first century who have afforded themselves the opportunity to continue to thrive, even when traditional content and means fail. She has come at the perfect time to Hollywood, and I can only wish her continued positive progress as she rides the ebbs and flows of what can be a ruthless business that requires brains, talent, and business acumen. Thankfully, she appears to have all three.
I am extremely excited to see her in the upcoming independent feature To Avenge, and while we are awaiting this intriguing film, I would invite everyone to check out all of Lauren’s links below as well as the links for To Avenge. While success in this business is never guaranteed, as long as people like Lauren continue to draw on popular culture and remain on the cutting edge while keeping up with the current trends, I have no doubt that clever entertainers have an excellent chance of making their dreams come true, and I sincerely hope that will continue for Lauren in the days, months, and years to come.
FOLLOW LAUREN
Website
FOLLOW TO AVENGE
