Eight years ago I lived a real cubicle lifestyle.
It was a real job. I had a real boss. I was making real money and had real paid-time-off.
So I bought a real condo, took on real debt, and was a real adult.
Then in the fall of 2008 the mortgage industry — my industry — started hemorrhaging employees. Hundreds of thousands of people were out of work through no fault of their own. I was laid off along with all of my other co-workers. Our office building became a graveyard.
I did exactly what I thought Society demanded and was caught in the crossfire. Rightfully, I was angry.
Getting laid-off did teach me, however, that there are no safe jobs. Everyone is disposable and replaceable. (That’s a lot of black/white thinking, I know!)
That’s when I decided to pursue acting. I knew the statistics. I knew it’d be tough. But really, at that point in my life: how could pursuing a dream be any more risky than not pursuing a dream to work a 9-to-5?
It was two weeks after my last day in corporate America when I started working in front of the camera.
Not only did I not know how to act on camera (you’ll see), I also didn’t know how pursuing acting could bring so many talented amazing people into my life…
Like the students at MCTC who directed/shot/edited this first film in November 2008.
In the many years since, I’ve worked with these folks repeatedly. From independent shorts, full lengths, music videos, and commercials — we keep running into each other and working together.
I love these guys. Especially Alex, Biruk, Matt, Muluken, and Ryan. They make everything fun. The conversations and experiences we’ve shared over the years have shaped me into the man I am today. I am forever grateful to them…
THOUGHTS?