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Meet Bridger Trent

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Bridger Trent.

Bridger, before we jump into specific questions about your work, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Acting has always been a part of my life; in fact, I am able to say acting is in my blood because my mother and father met at North Carolina State University in the theatre department. As I was being raised, my parents always gave my siblings and me the opportunity to pursue whatever we chose. I found that I was the only one of my family who took to sports. I played soccer for nine years, as well as basketball for another two years. In one of the off-seasons of soccer, my brother had an audition for a Christmas musical, which was being produced by a community theatre. As the auditioning process started one by one, each member of my family decided to audition. I observed that I was the only member of my family that hadn’t gone up to read.

Being the youngest, I never wanted to be left out of any family activity, so I decided to audition as well. It was also the first time I realized theatre was kind of that “person” in your life that you didn’t know very well, but thought was pretty cool. Well, I got to know this kid named “Theatre” and it turned out she was a lot more attractive than the girl named “Soccer.” Only, we were too young at the time to really have feelings for one another. Nonetheless, I continued to chase Soccer until after moving to Texas when I met Theatre once again. This time we were both a little older, and we got to know each other quite a lot better. Turns out I broke up with Soccer and was able to experience the Theatre through roles such as the Artful Dodger in the musical Oliver!, Tom Sawyer in Tom Sawyer, Prince Charming in Cinderella, and many other wonderful roles. Regardless of the fact that we were a cute couple, it became evident that we were not ready for each other. A few years went by and I started to date a new girl named Fencing… Sabre Fencing, to be exact. Throughout our two years together, she cut my heart like butter. We accomplished many great things, such as achieving a national B rating in the world of sabre fencing. However, after several injuries, I realized she was not the one for me. It was at that moment when the lights shined brilliantly upon the woman I had been crushing on my whole life, Theatre.

Our relationship grew as I explored the community theatre setting within my hometown. I then made the decision to take our relationship a step further and attend rigorous acting training in New York City. I studied at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) the summer after my high school graduation. And trained there for sixteen months. While at AMDA a few personal health problems made themselves known. I discovered I had a cyst on one of my vocal cords and severe ADHD in my brain. After graduation, I underwent surgery to remove the cyst from my vocal cord, and I received proper medication for my ADHD. I now had the momentum I needed in moving forward with my craft. I have been able to work with the incredible Edi Tingle, and her talented team, Grandline Creations, as well as the makeup genius, Amanda Denkler, the fierce up and coming Fatima Diallo at SCAD, and many more talented, growing artists around the Georgia area.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Obstacles and challenges are necessary endeavors needed in order to produce something greater than yourself. During my time in New York City, a few obstacles stepped into light. My teachers pestered me with the same question, “Bridger, do you have a cold? Your voice sounds scratchy.” Every time I pleaded, “No, this is just how my voice sounds.” Discontent with my response, one after another, each teacher would tell me to have a specialist examine my throat. I stubbornly refused their advice until my work began to suffer more and more. My voice didn’t have the power or dexterity of my peers and it took its toll. Towards the end of my second semester, I finally relented and visited the specialist. I was told I had a cyst on my vocal cord. Devastated, I informed my teachers that they had all been correct in their assumptions. I finished out the remainder of my time at school, risking permanent damage to my voice. This vocal abnormality prevented me from producing work to my fullest capabilities and robbed me of performing opportunities throughout the remainder of my time in school as well as in my final showcase. Restless and frustrated with the cards I had been dealt, I decided to keep my head down and finish out the school year as best I could. Upon graduating, I returned home and underwent surgery on my voice. To my amazement, my voice is now stronger than ever!

In addition to the vocal cord issues, I realized I had severe difficulties focusing and memorizing my lines and decided that I may have had a touch of ADHD. Once home, I was professionally tested and It turned out I had been suffering from severe ADHD my entire life. These were two huge obstacles plaguing my existence and everything in it without even realizing its effects on me and the people around me.

I am proud to say, however, that despite these misfortunes, I have been able to graduate with honors from my high school and graduate in an accelerated acting conservatory all thanks to the help of the wonderful people the Lord has blessed me within my life.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
What sets me apart from others, simply put, are my flaws, but better yet, the fact that I have been able to understand myself to a degree that most people are afraid to explore. I pride myself in knowing what’s important and what’s really not, creating the opportunity to treat this life as a “bonus level” for Christ.

I also have a condition called synesthesia. This big word basically means I am able to put a color(s) to letters, numbers, certain words, songs, and people. One could say it’s almost like seeing an aurora of colors pertaining to things I connect with on a meaningful level. Synesthesia, much like a superpower, allows me to connect to specific pieces of art, and specific characters I play. This, sixth sense, if you will, widens the door to my creative capabilities.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I were to start over, I would sit my younger self down and have a serious heart to heart about caring less and doing more and trusting in God, knowing if I continued to live for Him, He would make my paths straight… Not easy, but straight. In addition, it has occurred to me that I missed out on a great deal due to fear. Yes, fear does protect us from certain outcomes that can, in turn, result in great discomfort, but the phrase, “live life with no regrets” resonates with me. Perhaps it’s my age and my surging tenacity, but now that I’m older and wiser than I once was I’ve learned that people enjoy you the most when you are concerned about yourself the least. Recognizing what people thrive at and knowing when to take the back seat to boost them up when they succeed at their craft is a rare commodity these days. The friends I have been very blessed to have in my life have taught me this subconsciously, and I’m all the better for it.

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Image Credit:
Inoa Photo, AMDA, Glenn Prince

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