Today we’d like to introduce you to Drez Ryan.
Hi Drez, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
At 20 years old, I was working various jobs after realizing being a nurses aid(eventually an RN) was not what I wanted to do. I remembered in high school doing skits depicting how to handle various social interactions but I never viewed it as acting just as something to do with my friends. But I remembered that it was fun, so I thought maybe something along those lines. So I went on Craigslist(yes Craigslist) looking for performer and or acting jobs. Fortunately came across a legitimate project filming in town looking for talent with no knowledge of the business or training. I auditioned initially for a lead role. Didn’t get it, which was a good thing because I had no idea what I was doing but apparently, I had enough of something to get a small part in the movie and even got to experience behind the camera as well. I don’t know if I was automatically hooked but I know right after that, I leaped into theatre! Wound up doing that for the next five years until I transitioned to film acting.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
If there is no struggle, then there is no growth so I am grateful for the challenges I’ve faced on this journey of becoming a better man a better father and a better actor/artist. The challenges I’ve faced as an actor, I think so far aren’t too different from the ones most people face that are pursuing a passion or dream. The doubt the anxiety, lack of work lack of money lack of stability, etc. I became a father right before I turned 22, so all the concerns that come with being a first-time father and young father were there. But once he was born, I wasn’t afraid. Fortunately, that switch that flips for most people when their child is born did also flip for me. It wasn’t “what am I gonna do?” It was just DO.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Simply put, I never get bored with what I do and I want to be better at it everyday. I get to live and connect in so many ways through my craft, whether it’s the character I am portraying or the people I’m working with. I cannot say what I am known for, I don’t know if that’s up to me. I mean yea I see myself a certain way and I want to put out certain energy and images into the world. But a great quote that I believe to be true is that “We’re not all watching the same movie.” Meaning we are seeing the world and people in our own unique way. So what or who I am can be perceived in an endless number of ways depending on a person’s individual vantage point. That seemingly also answers the question of what sets me apart from others, my experiences. What I am most proud of other than my son and my best friend/lover is who I am becoming. I recognize the potential I have (we hall have) to be great so I’m chasing that. For me, that starts with the impact I have on the people I come in contact with. I want to be as kind as I can as helpful as I can as empathetic as I can as patient as I can. I want to look people in their eyes and truly see them and for them to see me and have a genuine connection, find what makes us similar and share the lessons our differences have taught us.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Get to know yourself and train. I met myself at 29, and that person wasn’t at all close to who I am going to be. But I wouldn’t ever have the opportunity to become that person without the initial meeting. But not just for your own emotional mental, spiritual health but knowing yourself better undoubtedly makes you a better actor. Because at the end of the day, it’s a study of people and why they do the things they do. And it’s hard to be truly open, receptive and empathetic to others when you’re so closed off to yourself. Because we are so similar, to understand yourself is to understand others. At least parts of them. And I say train because I don’t mean any particular type of training, just whatever speaks to you, for me. Theatre was my training ground, then when I switched to film acting I took film acting classes but that was more for the technical aspects of film acting but even throughout that, I learned plenty that would be make me a stronger actor.
Contact Info:
- Email: Carla.Hough@gmail.com (agent)
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drez_ryan/
Image Credits
Evan Kafka/ Blythe Tierany/
