It’s possible you’re one of the 4,733,340 people currently following GloZell Green on YouTube. Or maybe you know her from her work in “Trolls,” “Ralph Breaks the Internet” or “The Wedding Ringer.” Green spoke with Casting Networks to share a bit of her journey from influencer to actor. The University of Florida alumna graduated with a degree in musical theater, and her plan when moving to Los Angeles was to land a sitcom. Green started doing stand-up comedy as an avenue to pursue that goal. She also began blogging, which led to vlogging, and eventually, a friend suggested YouTube. Green recalls that she started off small, but after a month or two, her channel took off. She tackles questions on how her following grew into acting opportunities and offers advice on how other actors can do it, too.

GloZell Green
How did your following develop and eventually lead to acting roles?
When I started being recognized from YouTube, that’s when I learned early on that this is my ticket, that this is what I want to do. There was nobody else that looked like me. And still [today], I’m going to VidCon, and for the most part, everybody recognizes me. Because everybody else is cute and young and white and blond, and I just stand out. I’m the older one, I’m middle-aged, I’m black, I’m tall, and I wear green lipstick. And what I love about the internet is that people just want to laugh. Kids just want to have a good time. They don’t care about my weight or my color or my religious preference. They don’t care about any of that. They’re just like, “You are my friend because you make me laugh.”
People really started to realize how important the internet was. Not everyone jumped on board right away, but most television shows now have to have—or should have—an internet component to them. So now I’m getting roles that I didn’t audition for because I’m bringing an audience.
Overall, my complete social media following is over eight million. It’s bringing something to the table. That’s helped a lot to get in the door. And once you’re in the door, they’re like, “Oh, you can actually sing! You can actually act!” A lot of people don’t have to act on the internet because a lot of it on the internet is editing. And that’s fine, too. There’s enough for everybody. I just happened to be older, happened to have the degree, happened to have the background and then I fell into the internet.
What advice would you give other actors on how to build their following in order to help their careers?
Always post. And that is not always the easiest. Sometimes I don’t feel like it. But those are the times you need to post. Your audience is there, and how you build is posting. Be regular and consistent about it. Do your best to be yourself. People might think, “Oh, I want to be the Kardashians, so I’m posting what they post.” Well, that’s them, and you can’t outdo the Kardashians. They’re great, but you have to figure out your niche, your thing about yourself. And the audience will follow.
The thing that you’re going through, someone else is going to relate to it. It’s as simple as that. You don’t have to be someone else, and you don’t have to be over the top. Keep posting and keep it positive. Negative [content] gets hits faster, but it’s not for the long term. For the long term, keep it positive. That’s how I got the chance to interview President Barack Obama [in 2015]. I mean, who knew he was watching? So just do your best, keep it positive, be happy and keep it moving. And don’t worry about the numbers so much. That’ll come.
If you’re interested in growing your following to create acting opportunities for yourself, Green’s words and her encouraging story could provide the inspiration you need. She started with 10 followers, and that number grew through dedication to become her current following. On the strength of that following, acting roles came her way. Regardless of the level at which we’re influencing others on social media, we can all take to heart Green’s advice to keep it positive. Who knows? Adhering to the philosophy might even lead to an interview with the President one day.
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