Daily Inspiration: Meet Philip J Rossi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Philip J Rossi.

Philip J , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always loved stories. I would play pretend; dress up and create elaborate games with my siblings, cousins, and friends. At recess a wood chip would become a Star Trek phaser. A stick would become a sword. My imaginings gave way to the idea that you do that, be an actor, when I attended an assembly in 6th grade. The middle school fine arts team was doing a production of “Into the Woods Jr.” as an advertisement, encouraging kids to audition into the fine arts team. I was hooked. The middle school fine arts team lead to high school plays and community theater, which lead to studying at Stella Adler Studio of Acting through NYU: Tisch.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It feels less like a road and more like bushwhacking. The only path I can see is that one where I look backwards at where I have been and what I have done. Looking forward is like looking into the jungle; I just push forward and hope to stumble into something wonderful. I’ve had bad agents, terrible work experiences, and, worst of all, long periods where I feel like I’ve never audition again. It seems like the only thing to do is press on into the jungle of uncertainty and hope it leads somewhere.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m an actor, primarily. I do theater and film. Pretty much whatever I can get my hands on. I especially love classical theater. I’m a big Shakespeare fan and I’ve done a decent chuck of the cannon. Last summer I had the opportunity to play Mercutio in an outdoor production of Romeo & Juliet with Whittier Shakes. I was playing to around 600 people a night. I was great. I also direct and I’m currently writing a feature film with some college friends. At the end of the day, what draws me to this art from is telling stories. I like acting because I get to be in the story but as a writer or director I get to shape the story. I think there is nothing more ancient, more human, than telling stories to each other.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I think my favorite memory is the first day of fifth grade. It was only my second year at the school (we had moved in from out of state) and I didn’t really know anyone except for the 20 or so kids I had been in class with the year before. Anyways, it’s the first day of class and we are assigned seats that are set out in a big ring, an ‘O’ that takes up the whole room. I get to school, walk in, and see my name tag- “Philip Rossi” and look to my left “Jessica Samson”. Now, 25 plus years later, I can’t really remember anyone from my fourth grade class. Except Jessica. I REALLY hated Jessica. She was the single most unpleasant person I had met at that point in my life. And here I was, doomed to sit touching elbows with her for who knows how long, just because our names where alphabetically adjacent. A true low point in my life. Maybe the lowest for a young boy of 9 years old. But as I’m sitting there, wishing I had a different last name another boy wanders into class and sits down on the other side of Jessica’s currently empty seat. He looks his name tag on the desk “Jordan Selander”, looks to his right at Jessica’s name tag, and I can see his spirit leave his body as his shoulders slump. It took us 10 seconds to strike up a conversation about how cursed we were to have to sit on either side of Jessica. That mutual dislike laid the foundation of my longing-lasting friendship. It turns out Jordan was also an artist of the writer/director variety. Over the 25 years we would dozens of films together. I frequently, think back on that memory and retell it with great fondness. In fact, last fall I acted, and assisted Jordan in directing, a feature that he wrote. One that both his wife and my wife worked on. It’s funny how those little connections, like sitting next to an incredibly annoying nine year-old girl can make such a huge impact on your life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.philiprossi.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipjrossi/