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Reader, how are you today?
Please stop before you bore me with the same monotonous response you probably gave ten other people today: "I'm Good."
Apologies for the call-out, but it was the perfect introduction for this interview piece. I recently had the chance to chat with writer, actor, and producer Jonathan Tysor. We had an amazing conversation about acting, life, and most importantly, his brand new short film (aptly titled) I'm Good. If you are an actor, a creative, or just someone putting on a brave face, you'll want to check out this film.
I'm Good
I'll let him give you a proper introduction to the film's concept:
"I was actually at a mixer at my agency and had just been going through a breakup–I was real sad. Also, I had just graduated from college and my feelings were really heightened! I didn't really want to go to this mixer, but I know how important it is to show face and mingle. So as I'm introducing myself to other actors talking about this project and that new job, everything just felt so overwhelmingly good!"
(Derogatory)
"I would just go to the bathroom and take a second and like CRY. And then I would wipe my tears, go outside and be like 'Oh my God I'm so good! Hahaha!'"
He went on to tell me that he realized that story is most people's lives in a nutshell. Whether you're checking out at the grocery store or calling your uncle, we as humans are so conditioned to say "I'm good". Because what else are you to do? You can't necessarily trauma dump on the AT&T employee, now can you?
I feel this especially over the summer. It's a hard time to be an actor, not to say there has ever been an easy one. But when it comes to auditions, most performers would tell you there's been a bit of a drought. We're always dreading graduation party season, chock-full of gatherings during which well-intentioned family friends ask the dreaded, "So how's acting going?" You can either say, "Well, I haven't had a theatrical audition in 2 months, my commercial auditions have never been dumber, and McKenna Grace just booked a part I auditioned for–for the 9th time this month," or you can simply say "It's great!" and hope to God they don't ask a follow-up. It's very hard to explain the industry to someone whose only connection to it is watching blockbusters and Netflix Top 10s.
That phenomenon is why this film is so great. It not only explores the humorous relatability of the struggle we all go through, but it also challenges us to be more instinctually authentic.
I'm Good takes heavy stylistic inspiration from Prime Video's Fleabag. The short captures that same dry, dark humor as Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s hit show. The director, Izzy Watts, was also quoted as saying she wanted the cinematography in I'm Good to have the same "visual, claustrophobic cringe" as the Netflix movie Shiva Baby.
If you're a fan of either of those works, or can relate to the concept, be sure to check out I'm Good, streaming for free on YouTube right now!
The Power of Playing Yourself
"I don't know if this film has the solution for what to say necessarily, but it really does go back to this idea of authenticity–opening up and sharing a little bit more."
Tysor and I actually got talking a lot about the power of authenticity, and that works great for me because it's also a main theme of the film! Yay transitions!
"The woman playing the manager in my film has actually been my acting coach for about 8 years, maybe longer. Regardless, she is such an interesting, funny, kooky person, and I really know what our dynamic is! It became a highlight of the film, everyone says 'Deb is such an interesting character. How did you write her?' I know her. She's real. I feel like a fraud a little bit."
It's the age-old saying "Write What You Know." Tysor and I discussed how important it is to play to your strengths: as a writer, actor, and creative.
Knowing who you are and what you are good at is so crucial to success.
"When your agents ask you 'What type of roles do you want to play?' and you say 'I'll do anything! I literally just want to work!' and while, yes that may be true–you actually can answer that question. When you say 'I'm open to anything' you're actually open to nothing because they don't know where to put you."
Too often actors get caught up in their desperation and sacrifice their artistic identity. In reality, our strongest performances come when we are bringing a version of ourselves to the character.
"I just played a very confident character last year, he was very flamboyant, but he was a yapper–like what I'm doing right now, that was him! And that was such a great experience because I was giving a part of myself!"
FYI: yappers make the best interviewees!
"So I would say, that's what really influences the type of characters I play: heightening parts of myself that I think are interesting or funny. I think it's really important to do that self-reflection on what resonates most with you; those are the roles you will really be able to shine with."
So really... how are you?
The truth of this discussion is: as an actor and as a human, you can only really succeed when you start bringing yourself to the table. So, next time you walk into that audition room, job interview, or mundane graduation party and someone asks how you're doing–don't just say "I'm good". Answer authentically in a way that shows your personality rather than stifling it. If you'd like a little more inspiration, be sure to stream I'm Good and always remember:
"You are the author of your own story." -The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
