DAVID DASTMALCHIAN: No Agent, No problem

Today, I sit down with actor, producer, writer, and filmmaker, David Dastmalchian. For over a decade, David has built a dynamic career driven by ambition and vision. In an industry that often tells us there is only one way to success, David has proved time and time again that there are any number of roads an artist can take to get to where they want to be, and with he himself often taking the road less traveled. Starting out in the theater world of Chicago, David quickly began racking up commercial credits which brought him to New York. Having been told throughout the early years of his career that his type would not be marketable in Los Angeles, David stresses just how important it is to have representation that believes in the vision you have for yourself. So important in fact, that David has been flying solo without an agent for the last 4 years and has still found tremendous success in his career. Including his incredible story of auditioning for Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight," and the advice that Christopher offered him about acting that has stuck with him all these years later. After his time in Chicago and New York, David relocated to Los Angeles in 2010. Even with the success of "The Dark Knight" under his belt, David reveals that he still struggled to gain career momentum. David stresses to listeners the importance of doing anything and everything you can to practice your craft as you never know where it may lead. David began writing, making short films, creating his own features, taking every class and workshop available, as well as auditioning for filmmakers fresh out of film school - a move that ended up serving him well a couple years later in his career. You've seen him not only in "The Dark Knight," but also in Warner Brother's "Prisoners," Disney-Marvel's "Ant-man," opposite Sandra Bullock in the hit Netflix feature film, "Birdbox," "Blade Runner 2049," "Reprisal," "The Belko Experiment," and soon to appear in James Gunn's "The Suicide Squad," and the upcoming sci-fi feature, "Dune" both premiering later this year. Starting every single day looking at his dreams and goals board mounted on his wall, David candidly and openly discusses the importance of caring for your mental health, making your own opportunities, and the value of knowing that whether or not you reach your life goals, that you're going to make amazing things happen along the way. Guest links: IMDB: David Dastmalchian INSTAGRAM: @dastmalchian TWITTER: @Dastmalchian AMAZON: Count Crowley: Reluctant Midnight Monster Hunter For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at AlyshiaOchse.com. And don't forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me (@alyshiaochse)! Show Links: THE NEW TRIPLE THREAT: Script Analysis Class CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher Credits: WRITER: Erin McCluskey SOUND DESIGN: Zachary Jameson WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings ASSISTANT: Elle Powell SOCIAL OUTREACH: Bebe Katsenes