Welcome...
This is the Official Website of Darby Ford - an Actress living in Los Angeles.
Click around to learn more about Darby and her adventures and career in Hollywood.
09.21.21
A Change of Scenery
A year and a half ago, Darby went to Louisville, Kentucky, to wait out the pandemic safely with her family, thinking that it would be six or eight weeks at the most. That time stretched to over a year until she received her covid-19 vaccinations and was able to return to Los Angeles in May of this year. The city was much different than it had been when she left. The crowds of tourists were absent, and many businesses had permanently closed, some of them favorites of hers. The film industry, which had temporarily closed down the year before, was open again but on a smaller scale and under strong restrictions. Classes and auditions had gone to online and Zoom-style formats. After great consideration and consultation with her manager at the ESI Network and her agents at BBA Talent, Darby decided to move back to Louisville and continue her training and career from there. She retains her management and theatrical representation in Los Angeles, but she is now also represented theatrically and commercially on the East Coast by the Helen Wells Agency. It is an exciting change for Darby to be expanding her representation and opportunities for acting.
Darby has kept busy with her training in online classes, private video lessons and voiceover training. She learned to drive and obtained her license in Kentucky, and she even drove in Los Angeles. Darby also has been spending a lot of time in the kitchen while experimenting with new recipes, including gluten-free cooking and baking. She has played piano, practiced archery and enjoyed walking many miles throughout the city park near her home. Of course, that includes hunting Pokemon! Her Little Buddy Gilligan is thrilled to be living in a house with a yard and three other dogs to play with, as well as the new puppy recently adopted by Darby’s brother.
The next new adventure for Darby is a return to academics as she begins college courses in computer technology. At present, her interest is in coding and cyber security.
03.25.20
Stay Healthy Y’all!
During the past two weeks – heck, just the past week alone – things have been getting progressively crazier. But I know that as long as everyone does their part to stay healthy, we people of the world will make it through this to a brighter future. So here are some nice, healthy tips:
If you feel sick, don’t assume that everything is terrible and call up all your friends to hang out and vent about things. Stay home and get some rest; and call a doctor, if needed.
If you think a doorknob looks tasty, make sure you disinfect it thoroughly before serving it on your plate. Don’t lick it while it is still raw on the door.
Wash your hands with warm water and soap for twenty seconds before giving yourself a facial massage.
Finally, this is the one time I say that you can pick your nose but you can’t pick your friend’s nose.
Stay home every day, watching TV and playing video games.
But in all seriousness, if you do suspect something is up, please consult a doctor and try your best to practice proper hygiene. Staying at home, unless you need to get food supplies or get to work, helps prevent some of the spreading of sickness ’cause getting sick is not a good thing at all right now!
Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay as positive as you all possibly can, and stay in contact with loved ones and friends with video chat or calling when you can! We will make it through this together!
03.20.20
Safer at Home
Last week, before Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti issued his emergency order, Darby decided that it would be best to return to Louisville and be with her family during the Covid-19 pandemic. By that time, her acting classes had already switched to online instruction, and many productions were shutting down to decrease the risk of contagion. The trip home was smooth; there were far fewer travelers in the airports and on the planes, and the flights that had not been cancelled were on schedule.
While in Louisville, Darby is still taking her acting classes via Skype and Zoom, although the difference in time zones means late nights twice a week. She is enjoying being with her family, and Gilligan loves being able to run around outside – something not possible for him in Los Angeles. In the meantime, Darby plans to practice her piano and archery skills.
09.07.19
Living in LA
Three years ago, Darby climbed into a car and headed west to start a new life in Los Angeles. It was a place very unlike her hometown of Louisville, packed with people and bursting with possibilities, both scary and exciting. Darby had just signed a management contract with The ESI Network, who would guide her path into the melee of the entertainment industry. She started taking a variety of acting classes and moved into her apartment in West Hollywood, on her own for the first time.
When Darby isn’t in class or on a job, she is navigating her way through one of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas. Commuting is a long, tedious experience which always requires well-thought planning in order to arrive anywhere on schedule. Lyft has been a reliable mode of transportation for most destinations too far to walk, and the Metro Rail is an affordable option for farther distances. Many locals utilize the increasing number of electric scooters, although they are not Darby’s mode of choice.
Los Angeles is quite an expensive place to live. On average, a one-bedroom apartment in West Hollywood rents for more that $2000 per month. That may or may not include wall or window unit air conditioning, which is much-needed most of the year. The Los Angeles sales tax is a whopping 9.5%. Commodities, including food, cost more than the national average, and bottled liquids are subject to a 5 or 10 cent deposit per the California Bottle Bill.
Los Angeles is the entertainment capital the world, so there is always something to do there. There are numerous live entertainment venues, such as theatre and comedy clubs, as well as (of course) cinemas. Tourist attractions include Hollywood Boulevard (the TCL Chinese Theatre, Ripley’s Believe It or Not and Madame Tussaud’s, among other fun places), studio tours (Warner Brothers, Paramount and Sony), amusement parks (Universal Studios and – farther south in Anaheim – Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm), the Griffith Observatory and the La Brea Tar Pits.
While Darby has taken the opportunity to experience some of the many things LA has to offer, she generally spends her energy on classes and work. She lives with Gilligan, her adorable toy poodle, in an expensive apartment. She is grateful for the on-site laundry facility and off-street parking, and for a terrific building manager. Darby’s recently added a scene study class at Zak Barnett Studios and completed intermediate improv at the Groundlings Theatre and School.
06.27.19
One Percent
About one percent of submissions will be invited to audition for an acting project, whether commercial or theatrical. A casting director will first view headshots and select potential candidates based on their appearance. After that, resumes and demo reels are examined for talent and experience before extending invitations to audition. A very few projects will cast from first auditions, and larger projects may have a number of callback auditions and chemistry reads to cast the perfect actors to tell a story. But it all begins with the submissions.
A professional actor needs quality representation to connect him or her with available acting projects. Darby considers herself very fortunate to be represented by The ESI Network and BBA Talent. Three years ago, Darby participated in a showcase event hosted by Gray Studios in Burbank and subsequently signed a contract with ESI to manage her acting career. Earlier this year, ESI connected Darby with BBA, who then signed contracts to represent her as her agents. This is a very exciting time for Darby, who is now more frequently making her way into the one percent group for theatrical, commercial and print opportunities. And the professionals at ESI and BBA have been wonderful to work with.
Darby’s acting classes now include improv at the Groundlings Theatre and School, and she has been promoted to the master comedy class with Scott Sedita at the Scott Sedita Acting Studios. She continues her scene study classes with Paolo at Krater Studios, as well as voice lessons with Joy Graysen. While living 2,000 miles from her Kentucky home is challenging, she is thrilled to be chasing her dream in Los Angeles.
05.10.19
Having Fun!
In December of 2012, when Darby was meeting with her first agent, Peter asked her why she wanted to be an actress. She said, “Because I think it will be fun!” He said it was hard work, and she told him that she didn’t care what anyone said, that she thought it would be fun. It is both, especially in comedy!
Darby has been acting and studying acting in Los Angeles for almost three years now, and she still loves it! Her relationship with BBA Talent has brought her some exciting new opportunities, as her horizons continue to broaden.
This month, Darby will begin improv training at the highly acclaimed Groundlings Theatre. She has previously trained in improv at The LA Connection Comedy Theatre and Upright Citizens Brigade and is looking forward to learning more about one of her favorite aspects of the art.
03.30.19
What’s new with Darby?
On March 21, Darby signed contracts with The Bobby Ball Agency! BBA Talent will now represent Darby for all theatrical, commercial and print work. This is an exciting new direction, and she is very grateful for the new opportunities that are now open to her.
New places to see Darby: https://play.google.com/about/changethegame/ and https://play.google.com/about/changethegame/
Darby continues to study at Krater Studios and Scott Sedita Acting Studios. In the fall of 2018, she began taking voice lessons with Joy Graysen and participated in her first public performance at open mike night at the Republic of Pie, singing Weird Al’s “Dare to Be Stupid”. Darby has also been accepted to begin improv classes at The Groundlings Theatre & School.
In her free time, Darby enjoys playing with her Little Buddy Gilligan, exploring Los Angeles while hunting for Pokemon, working her way out of escape rooms and playing Dungeons and Dragons with friends.
12.31.18
Dare to Be Silly
They do look silly, but these pajamas are really soft and cozy!
11.26.18
So Thankful!
It’s the time of year we think about things for which we are thankful. Darby is especially appreciative of the opportunity to pursue her dreams of acting and of all the people who support and follow her. Moving from Louisville to Los Angeles has been a big life change for Darby, and she has met, interacted with and worked with a great number of people who have made the journey interesting, fun and exciting. Darby sends a huge thank-you to her managers Nelson Parks and Garrett Lindsay at The ESI Network, who have been helping her in all aspects of her professional development.
2018 has been a year of new opportunities and adventures for Darby. She worked background for a Volkswagen commercial and two music videos; one was Tiana’s “Just My Type”, as mentioned in the previous blog post. The other was Disney’s “Legendary”, which featured several talented young stars from shows on The Disney Channel. In October, Darby did a photoshoot for an upcoming Google Play ad. And this week, she will be playing a supporting part in a short film. As for her training, Darby takes sit-com classes at Scott Sedita Acting Studios, scene study classes at Krater Studios and improv classes at LA Connection. She continues to work with director Wendy Faraone in private lessons, and she has begun taking lessons with a voice coach.
Darby still loves walking around LA, looking for wild Pokemon, and she is working on learning to ride her skateboard. She also enjoys comics and spent a few days exploring the vast wonderland of the San Diego Comic-Con. She had a couple of years of piano lessons in Louisville, and she now teaches herself to play new pieces on her electronic keyboard.
08.29.18
California Girl
It has been two years since Darby arrived in Los Angeles to begin her acting career, and she loves it! She has made her home in an area bustling with activity and opportunities; it is also very convenient to her classes and auditions, which keep her quite busy. Darby is especially pleased with her new landlord, who has made many positive changes to her apartment building – her favorite is the new roof that does not leak!
When Darby is not working, auditioning, rehearsing or participating in classes, she likes to explore Los Angeles while playing Pokemon Go! She also enjoys cooking, video games, crafts and – of course – playing with her little buddy Gilligan. Darby plays music on her keyboard to keep her piano skills at the ready, and she practices her karate at home while planning to join a local dojo soon.
Darby continues to take acting classes at Scott Sedita Acting Studios and Krater Studios, and she is a JV player at The LA Connection Comedy Theatre in Burbank. Recent on-camera work includes a Volkswagen commercial and Tiana’s music video “Just My Type”.