Today we’d like to introduce you to Carl Fisk.
Hi Carl, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been fortunate enough to have had a pretty interesting life thus far. I grew up near the Adirondack mountains in upstate NY. My father was a scoutmaster, and we had no TV channels or internet, so I grew up playing in the woods and learning an assortment of outdoor skills. This and my discovery of Tolkien’s works as a child have been wildly formative for me creatively. After discovering acting in high school, I went to Syracuse University to get my BFA in Acting, then moved to NYC to pursue my career. I acted in a number of projects, both onstage and on camera, including a two season arc on The Path and an award-winning production of Henry V with The Hudson Warehouse. During Henry V, I worked with some incredible fight directors who inspired me to study fight choreography and performance. I studied with Neutral Chaos studios in NYC and began working as a fight choreographer for several theaters around the city.
As further “fight research” I ended up taking part in and winning an episode of the History Channel show, “Knight Fight,” launching a side career and hobby as a fighter in the full contact armored combat sport known as Buhurt. I’m a multiple-time medalist at regional and national level events, I’ve got an unbroken profight record, and I’ve started armored combat schools in Brooklyn and Atlanta. During my time as a fighter, I became inspired to get into filmmaking. Over Covid, I began producing a feature documentary entitled Steel Soldier. The doc is about how combat sports – and Buhurt in particular – are helping veterans and others with violence-related PTSD to overcome their trauma and reclaim their lives. This project brought me to Atlanta, as my director and editor both live here in the city. With me, I’ve brought another passion of mine: What The Float. An immersive, traveling, silent disco that I became involved with as a DJ in NYC. Imagine a bar crawl crossed with a silent dance party; everyone wearing headphones with the same music and dancing through the public parks and neighborhoods of the city. It’s a pretty magical experience, and in 2022 we completed our first full season! We hope to be returning in April or May this year, depending on weather.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road hasn’t always been direct. The entertainment industry runs on nepotism. The vast majority of A-listers come from a background of privilege and industry connections. Coming from a blue-collar family in rural upstate NY, I have neither of these things going for me, so I’ve had to get creative. I view obstacles as an opportunity to expand my skill set. As an example, I’ve already mentioned when acting was slow, I learned fight choreography. That brought more connections and work and allowed me to take advantage of another way into the industry. I might not have been born into money or connections, but good lord have I developed a work ethic as a result. When I run into a door, I find a way around it or over it – much more interesting than just walking through an open door. This is as much philosophical as it is practical; I’m cognizant of the fact that life is finite, and even the greats eventually fade from memory. In light of this, I welcome adversity, as it gives me the opportunity to have experiences that just wouldn’t be present if the path were easy. Bruce Lee said, “Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.” I think he was on to something.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I think I’ve mentioned several of my “claims to fame” in telling you my backstory, but I might add to the list that I’m an Eagle Scout. I try to live my life and create art in a way that upholds the principals that I learned in scouting. This leads into what I’m most proud of, which is my status as an unrelenting do-gooder. I’m a bit of a moral philosophy nerd, which is exhausting these days as I watch the Social Contract stampeded beneath greed and consumerism. My goal as an artist is to create work that moves people, so that I may eventually leave the world a better place for my having been here. I’m proud that the work I’ve created so far has moved me toward that goal. If I had to pick something that sets me apart from others, it would be my track record of saying “yes” to new things. I have a strong acting resume of numerous network shows, I’m a nationally recognized face in one of the most extreme combat sports in the world, I plan and DJ a silent rave here in Atlanta, I’ve done fight choreography for stage, tv, and music videos… the list just kind of goes on, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memories are the many nights I spent in the Adirondack mountains, twenty miles from the nearest man-made light source. Canoeing on lakes beneath an ocean of stars, scaling cliffs for the thrill of it, hunkering in a tent with friends on a sub-zero night as a blizzard rages outside – these are my core memories, and they serve as a compass pointing me towards what’s real and important in a society that is increasingly superficial. Beyond their value as incredible memories, they inspire me creatively and provide me with a solid foundation whenever I feel untethered.
Contact Info:
- Website: carlofhousefisk.com
- Instagram: @carlofhousefisk
Image Credits
Headshots by Noel Nichols
