Today we’d like to introduce you to Todd Felderstein.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
With the recent success behind Smartphone Theatre (www.SmartphoneTheatre.com) it would be easy to brush this off as perfect timing, however the truth is another matter.
As a screen & stage director with a myriad of hyphens which include technical and business savvy, this platform is the culmination from many years in independent film, theatrical know-how and the knowledge behind turning an idea into an immediate working digital platform, lickity-split. It was certainly a case of “if you build it they will come” and boy have they ever. From playwrights, actors and directors to audience – a global audience, I might add – this little engine has gone from our local community to more than 40,000 people who have tuned in from all around the world. It was founded at the onset of the pandemic when, as a directing member of the Actors Studio, I recognized that our community needed a creative outlet. The rest is now history.
To understand my path and the genesis of Smartphone Theatre is to really best embrace my journey in theatre, film and photography, all disciplines of which I continue to work professionally. A career in Hollywood is rarely a straight line and I can attest that mine resembles more of a very fun roller coaster than a SpaceX launch. Yet I would argue that my path is similar to many and has prepared me for most.
With roots firmly planted in photography, picking up a camera as often as possible continues to be a joy. I call myself a “humanist” which applies to both my photography and film work. I look to the greats for inspiration: Dorothea Lange, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank, along with storytellers who traversed the screen and stage with aplomb: Sidney Lumet, Sydney Pollack and the more contemporary Sam Mendes. My directing, whether in film or on the stage, is highly character-based as that is my sensibility. I have had wonderful mentors in all mediums and recommend to all finding a light to help navigate what can be treacherous landscape. The result is that I have been fortunate to work in the independent arena with wonderful creatives which came about when preparation met opportunity. That would be my biggest piece of advice for those seeking a career in this industry, whatever the occupational pursuit, prepare, prepare, prepare; little accomplishments often lead to much larger opportunities.
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 such a thing as “smooth road” I certainly missed that turn. This is a highly competitive industry with a business model that operates in the fringes. What I mean is that creativity is ubiquitous. Today’s technology has made it much easier to harness inspiration with perspiration, regardless of your background. Movies have become films which have become “content.” Yet we live in a time of tremendous opportunity due to our streaming services and advancing tech. Programming is creating new inroads for all sorts. Live theatre, of course, has suffered a blow because of health concerns, but I firmly believe that that too shall pass. In the meanwhile, I think the Smartphone Theatre platform and other similar digital venues have exposed theatre to young and new audiences that for whatever reason were unable to enjoy the majesty of prior live storytelling. My hope is that this exposure will foster a curiosity into the theatre and keep bringing this new audience back for a lifetime.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
To say what I’m known for has little to do with my professional career and more to do with my character; people say that I’m kind and I am very okay with that. This world and its growing divisiveness is toxic, if I can be an antidote to this climate I will gladly be the first in line.
Professionally, I’m fast getting the reputation as an “actor’s director” which is a thrill. Working with talent, whittling down a script, getting an understanding as to what makes characters come alive, finding the hidden gems a playwright or screenwriter leaves behind all are what make what I do so magical. Whether nonfiction or narrative, it’s such a pleasure to meet my characters, gain an understanding of their needs and ultimately find their truth.
I have made a series of nonfiction pieces, both short and feature-length. The productions have offered opportunities to meet with those who are have been enemies throughout recent history and political leaders on both sides of the aisle. Each and every one of these conversations has been a privilege. One of my earliest assignments was working with Grammy award-winning artists in the studio where I created a series of nonfiction shorts about their creative process. Sitting in a recording studio with world-class musicians remains one of my favorite pastimes. I consider it a hair short of heaven.
Am I prideful? Probably not enough. What I can share is that when working with actors on a role or a story, when they deliver a wonderful performance, there is very little that rivals that experience. In the world of photography, when a wet print emerges or a digital image comes out of the printer, that is a thrill.
So yes, I do gain enormous satisfaction in jobs well done. There’s a saying that projects are never finished, they’re abandoned. With that in mind, my goal is to create to the best of my ability, evolve always and have very little downtime as I wrap one production then jump to the next. That’s true with my photography and my directing career. I’m not a workaholic, I just really enjoy what I do.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
If anything, I’d say it is to respect your mojo. I firmly believe that we are all wired with a certain set of tools that the world needs in order to function properly. Think of everything as a collective, what we do supports the other. Though it may take a lifetime to figure out exactly what your specialty is, that’s all right as long as we stay true to our journey, remain humble and share. I find my greatest successes and worthwhile rewards are from when I am in service to others. That said, I sincerely hope my projects and productions always strike a major chord with audiences which offer inspiration, introspection and motivation, always for the better.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thesteinonline.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toddmakesfotos/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TMFelderstein
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/smartphonetheatre
