Q&A With Ben Whitehair
When you are trying to become a working actor, it can help to know how other people got there. We spoke with actor Ben Whitehair about how he got the ball rolling on his own career and what he’s working towards next.
How long have you been acting? When did you move out to LA?
I moved back to the city my sophomore year of high school after 6 years of living in the boonies as a homeschooled cowboy (true story). I took my first acting class at Littleton High School where I also had one line as the Newspaper Delivery Boy in my first play. I was hooked. I studied theatre and political science in college (Go Buffs!), and began pursuing a film career while there. I came to L.A. a little over a year ago after I graduated.
How did you get the ball rolling on your career?
When I was in Colorado, I tapped into the local filmmaking community and got my feet wet on a number of smaller short and feature length films that served as incredible learning experiences. I did a lot of theater and was a member of The Interactive Theatre Project (www.cuitp.org), using theater for social change. When I got to Los Angeles, I focused on getting as much information as I could possibly get my hands on. I read eleventy-billion (it’s a number) acting books, audited every acting class I could, started reading the trades, tuned in to what industry people were saying on Twitter, began following Bonnie Gillespie’s brilliant blog (http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/), and joined The Actor’s Network (www.actors-network.com). I attempted to completely immerse myself in as much of the community as I could. The fortunate thing for actors today is that there is a wealth of information and resources at your fingertips (and often for free!), it just takes a little digging to find it sometimes.
What have you been working on lately that has given you the most satisfaction?
More than anything I have really found some amazingly supportive and positive actor communities. I find myself surrounded by driven, creative individuals that make it that much easier to pursue a career here. On the acting side of things, I recently wrapped a number of different projects that were absolutely incredible. I finished a web series that was an absolute blast, where I got to work with a lot of my friends. I also had the opportunity to star in a film called Decathexis that another friend of mine wrote and directed. It was a very human piece that allowed me to connect with a lot of emotions and experiences from past relationships.
What is your next goal for yourself in your acting career? What are you working towards?
My goal is always to work with inspiring individuals doing the best work we can. I love collaborating and using art to effect positive change. Career-wise I’m in the midst of finding the right team of people to help me move my career forward. Doing so can be the most challenging part of starting any business, but also the most crucial (and rewarding!). I have a number of irons in the fire for upcoming projects, and I’m looking forward to moving up to the next level of professionalism and exposure in what I work on. I’m a huge fan of the films that Fox Searchlight continues to produce, and am actively working towards getting involved in those types of projects (while throwing around a zany sitcom idea or two).
What advice do you have for people considering a career in acting?
Let me first say that a career in acting is very different than being an actor. You can be an actor all your life without ever making a penny from it, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. If, however, you do want to make money as an actor, then you have to treat it as a business like any other, and be willing to put in the time and effort to launch a business as the entrepreneur that you are. A “career” is success over time, and to that end relationships are crucial. As I continue down my journey I find it helpful to remind myself that those relationships can take years or even decades to cultivate.
Let me also say that if you surround yourself with great people, you will accomplish great things. More than anything I think it is crucial to find and encircle yourself with incredible people. Every success I’ve had in my life has come as a direct result of the marvelous individuals in my life. I think it’s incredibly important to work towards extreme specificity in what it is you actually want. Then, pursue that with zealous determination. Celebrate the accomplishments of others, and be giving where you can. It will come back to you. Working harder than the next guy and being a good person go a long way.
Ben Whitehair is an LA-based actor, entrepreneur, and shenanigan specialist. He started the actor blog www.PlaybillsVsPayingBills.com with two fellow CU-Boulder actor alums. They share their experiences from LA, Chicago, and NYC as three young actors pursuing their shared passion. Ben was Time Magazine’s 2006 Person of the Year, and more information on him (as well as embarrassing baby pictures) can be found on his website at www.BenWhitehair.com.