Artistic Statement
Why acting? I wish I knew. The truth is, I wish I didn't. Who would willingly choose a career in such an oversaturated and cutthroat industry that promises rejection and failure on a regular basis? But when the call to the craft is so strong, and it consumes your every waking thought, it's not something easily ignored. And when the art of the work makes you genuinely happy in a way little else does, you just have to go for it. It's hard to articulate the root of my adoration, but I love every aspect of acting, from the preparation and deconstruction of text, to the play and exploration of rehearsals and the unique result produced from each actor's interpretation.
There's a reason so many people in this industry are multi-hyphenate–when you love the medium of film so much, it's easy to explore other aspects of production. This is why I have personal interest in writing, directing and producing.
As a cinema patron, I do my best to see every picture released in order to stay up to date on the latest work of production companies, directors and actors. As the credits roll, I tend to have an overwhelming amount of thoughts and opinions that I like to sort through in the form of an essay. Writing it down gives me peace of mind to sort through all the feelings and analyse why–whether it be positive or negative. This why then informs the craft I go on to create.
A recent film I was extremely impressed by was Emerald Fennell's 2023 thriller-comedy ‘Saltburn’, specifically the performance of Rosamund Pike. Her excellent comedic timing is such a joy to watch and counter the ominous tones that suggest a tragic end to the gothic picture. Though subtly painted as the antagonists of the film–possessing an envious amount of wealth and status, that is unobtainable to the everyday person including the jealous protagonist–nothing about the character of Elspeth screams villain. She is soft spoken, welcoming and charming (despite her tendency for excessive gossip), all of which is executed expertly by Pike.
The age of the streaming wars is both a blessing, and a curse. With each platform establishing their own studio to create work in-house, the number of shows and films being greenlit has created an unprecedented demand for actors and creatives alike. This one-percent industry has suddenly cracked open for a few more. More roles means more opportunity, right?
Well, this influx of media has a downside too. Audiences have more content to consume than ever before and that means that not everyone can watch anything, and low view stats are causing shows to be more frequently cancelled, once again putting creatives out of work.
For the last five years I have dedicated my life to making a career in acting a reality. I have accepted a hard and non linear path of dismissal and professional heartbreak in pursuit of my dreams–which tells me acting is where it wants to go.