Daily Inspiration: Meet John Machesky

Today we’d like to introduce you to John Machesky

Hi John, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Theater was always a part of my life, through volunteering as an usher with my best friend at a local theater or my first girlfriend being involved with summer theater and me parking cars before I even had my driver’s license. I transferred high schools my junior year and was put in an acting class where I had to audition for the play, where I got the lead, and then I realized I was hooked.

I studied Theater and Psychology at Indiana University Bloomington. I then moved to Chicago to pursue theater but quickly got more involved with film and television. I had a friend that moved to Atlanta and she slowly worked on me until I moved down here to Atlanta, where I’ve been for the last six years.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I think it has been a long road of learning to fail better along the way. All the time training to be just a little bit better with classes or learning new skills, getting auditions for a job you’ll never get but making an impression for the next opportunity so you are ready and thought of for the next one. Everything is an opportunity if you approach it with curiosity and an open mind.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m an actor and model. Some of my credits include: Will Trent, Them, Kelly Blue Book, and Home Depot.

I’m most proud of having the crew premiere of the short film that I wrote, produced and acted in, followed by filming another short film I co-wrote and produced being made the next weekend, and being lucky enough to write this while on set for a film I get to act in.

I think what sets me apart is the connections and community that I have, I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for the Kick the Ladder community, which I was lucky enough to be introduced to when I first moved here. So stay curious about people and don’t be afraid to make friends in line, especially at the Atlanta Film Festival.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I think Covid really highlighted how much we need each other, which makes it really heart breaking how polarized and insular it made our worlds even after.

I think it also made me count my blessings and really feel grateful for my family and community, we are only here for a short time and what we leave behind is what we do for other people and how we make them feel.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.johnmachesky.com
• Instagram: Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?

Image Credits
Matt Dickstein
Tyler Buckingham
Jonathon Wade
Edgar Pereyra