Today we’d like to introduce you to Gregory Piccirilli.
Gregory, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am an Atlanta native who fell in love with acting while attending Georgia Southern University. It was the first thing in life that gave me butterflies. After graduating, I worked for the Alliance Theatre as a teaching artist and understudied for a role in one of their Theatre for the Very Young shows. After leaving the Alliance, I traveled, went through life challenges, worked odd jobs, and continued to act here and there. In June 2017, I decided to pursue acting like I had always thought I would. I got headshots, submitted for roles through Actors Access, joined an acting class. and booked a commercial and some student films. It felt good to have the ball rolling. At the end of that year, I performed in a show called The Electric Baby directed by the amazing Ibi Owolabi (@yungdirector) and produced by The Weird Sisters Project. Because of that show, I was able to sign with an agency. Jacob and Corey Lawson of Privilege Talent saw me in that production. They signed me and I booked my first SAG film lead role with them. Privilege Talent has been incredible.
In 2018, I studied improvisation for the year and I was a part of an improvisation team called The Channel Surfers with an awesome group of people performing at The Village Theatre once a week. Throughout that time and to this day, a large part of my money comes from working as a production assistant for photoshoots. In addition, I learned how to record and edit voice-over using sites like Voice 123 to make additional money. While auditioning and booking things here and there, I focused a lot on how to schedule my time, eat better, get to sleep on a normal schedule, and just gain overall mental strength. At the end of 2018, I booked a lead in “Angry Fags” at 7 Stages, a union production. After a successful run of the play in 2019, I have been doing non-union films and consistently sending in self-tape auditions. I recently booked a one-liner on the second season of the Netflix show “Insatiable”. Because of that role I am now SAG eligible. I am so thankful for the opportunities from Privilege Talent and I have been focusing on creating opportunities on my own. Life as an artist is hard, but I would not want to be doing anything else.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
HA! No way has it been an easy road. Anyone who makes you think that is LYING.
After I graduated college in December 2015, it was a struggle. No one really tells you how hard that transition is. 2016 and 2017 were rough years. I felt “off.” I was depressed (deeply depressed) and I didn’t know why. So, 2016 was the year of trying to figure that out. I am the type of person who needs to work through their issues before being able to move forward. 2016 consisted of me moving out of my parents’ home into an apartment, hating it, falling into deep depressions, and then moving back into my parents’ place. Then, I thought it was my health that was making me feel so bad. So, I decided to go on a month-long juice cleanse; I drank nothing but juiced fruits and veggies for an. entire. month. Wouldn’t recommend that long of a cleanse, but I learned a lot about the power of food and its relation to mental health. After that, I thought, “I need to get away and take a crazy trip.” So, I bought a one-way ticket to Hawaii, not telling any of my family or friends I was leaving and landed there with no place to stay and no job. It was scary but I felt extremely adventurous. For some reason, I needed to shock my system. I worked for UPS and then as a host at a restaurant. I slept outside in bushes and occasionally crashed with friends. I was in a very weird place, but I needed to do something crazy like that. I stayed for five weeks, and yet, I STILL felt “off.”
It was time to confront some things I realized I was avoiding. So, I went to see a therapist that specialized in sexuality and depression. I did a lot of work on myself in therapy to get mentally healthier. The therapist’s name is Karri Johnson. She is one of the most incredible people I have ever met. She saved my life. I was honest about things pertaining to my sexuality that I had never really been honest about and after working through so much, I realized and came to terms with the fact that I was gay. I thought, “Okay, wow, so this is what was gnawing at me the entire time.” It was a relief. After coming to terms with that, it was not easy breezy, but it was big for me. Through all of that, I felt much more in control of my life. In July of 2017, I made the conscious (and scary) decision to officially “start” my career. It was scary as hell. I have accomplished a lot, but it has still been hard. Pursuing your passion is a mental battle.
The reason I feel so good and I am able to relentlessly pursue my dream is because of confronting my mental health issues, working through them, and not ignoring them. I have built a mental toughness that allows me to continue fighting for what I want. I still am dealing with dips in depression, although the bounce back to “normal” is shorter and shorter every time. I feel so good right now. I say all of this because I know I am not the only one going through things like this. If you are, don’t feel ashamed or embarrassed. People do not talk enough about mental health. You are definitely not alone.
Over the years, the trial and error of figuring out how I like to work has been a constantly changing process. I have learned my favorite way to schedule my time and how to be patient. I watched a lot of Gary V and Other Youtube videos that helped. I am in a much better place now. 2019 is the most level emotionally and mentally I have ever felt. I honestly love myself now.
Notice how all of that struggle had to do more with life than with my acting career? Following your passion is a continuous battle and most people let the life part (the doubts, fears, negativity, insecurity) stop them from achieving their dreams. I am so thankful I worked through my issues. It was worth it.
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a non-union actor who is SAG eligible that does film, television, commercials, and theatre. I specialize in films because working in film is my dream. I like to think I am known for being a good actor who is energetic, collaborative, and passionate. I am most proud of my mental toughness, my patience, and determination. This year the idea of being patient finally sank in. I have taken solace in the idea that my acting dreams are going to happen. There is no world where they don’t happen. I just have to make moves every day, every week, and every month to go after them knowing my time will come. All of the work I have done for my mental health has slowly paid off. I have “off” days and weeks, but I get reorganized and jump back in. What separates me from others is my ability to organize my time. Most Sundays, I schedule out my week, making sure I block out the times and dates for things I want to finish. If I make specific time for making gains on my goals, they get achieved.
I am most proud of a project I am currently working on. At the beginning of the year, I set the crazy goal to be cast in the upcoming Bradley Cooper film “Bernstein.” Leonard Bernstein was a famous conductor and composer who composed the music for “West Side Story.” I am submitting myself for the role of the young Leonard Bernstein. The film is in pre-production. I do not even know if there is a young Leonard Bernstein role, but after reading about the film I am making an educated guess that there will be. I have used this submission as an opportunity to construct a character more deeply than I ever have before. I have learned a lot. At the beginning of the year, I had no idea how I was going to make this crazy goal happen, but slowly I formulated a plan. My plan is split into different phases. Phase 1: Recreate famous photos of Bernstein from when he was young. Phase 2: Learn his dialect and perform a short piece of dialogue. In addition, conduct a piece of music in the style of Bernstein. Phase 3: Send out this video to anyone who has worked with Bradley Cooper or with any of the casting directors for the film. Phase 4: Audition for Bradley Cooper and the casting director and get cast on November 16th, 2019 (random date I chose earlier this year).
So far, I have taken photos with the insanely talented Eley (@eley_photo). The pictures look identical to photos of Bernstein in his younger years. Below, the black and white photo, where my arms are raised, is one of the photos I am using. I have also filmed the dialogue and conducting portion with a filmmaker named Rolands Smith. I have documented the process on my YouTube page. Go and check out the ups and downs of the process. It’s been a ride. Now I have to send the video out and get an email from the casting director asking me to come in for an audition. Crazy dream, I know, but it is going to happen.
Having encouraging and loving people around me has been huge in my success. My family and friends are so supportive. Jacob and Corey Lawson at Privilege Talent grind harder than any agency I know. I love that I have found the courage to be ambitious. I am not the type of person to wait around for my opportunities to present themselves, I make mine happen.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I liked to follow the rules and was friends with everyone. I liked to dance and play basketball. I loved movies and television. I loved superheroes and comic books. I was always social and really enjoyed people. Looking back now, even though I was a very social person, I definitely enjoyed my alone time. I loved to eat cereal in front of the tv in my basement. I did not know what I wanted to be when I grew up. I didn’t figure out acting was a love of mine until the very end of high school.
Contact Info:
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Email: gregpic07@gmail.com
- Website: gregpic.com
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Facebook: @gregpic07
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Instagram: @gregpic07
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Imdb page: imdb.me/gregpic
Image Credit:
Eley, David Rusev, Casey Gardner
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