Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Sean Szatkowski of Los Angeles

Sean Szatkowski shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Sean, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Are you walking a path—or wandering?
It might be a very wide path that of wandering, bumping up against the rails here and there to guide me forward.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Honestly? I feel like maybe it’s the story of the “Fool Triumphant” out of Chicago (& Chicagoland); where I took a leap of faith and somehow found myself failing upwards as an actor, comic, and producer. I actually didn’t come to L.A. to pursue Hollywood initially, though stand-up comedy seemed like a potential fun thing to try. After my service in the Marine Corps infantry in Operation Enduring Freedom I found myself in working in the advertising world, being the guy repairing “damaged goods” all the while selling the stories I saw in theaters and on television. Some stagnation crept in, as a matter of fact there were even physical signs that the stress of it was killing me. But at a new job, withparticular company and associates saw something former teachers had always seen, something I always knew was in me, in what was the ability to act & be an artist. This was all something thought long behind me as an opportunity, that I wasn’t “pretty” enough for either. But, I could get into a character quickly and viscerally just off the pages, and fortunately a colleague at that new job said “Hey Sean, why don’t you check out this acting school?” Sure enough, that spark of madness hit me and I let the impulsivity take hold, and I auditioned, got in, and it led me to do the age old crazy thing of “leaving my job to be an actor make film?!” And now I’m acting in other films, plays, doing stand-up comedy, and even producing SAG-AFTRA feature films.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Just me, the dreamer and “the gamer” who swings like he’s Sammy Sosa at the plate. I was either going hit a home run or go down swinging. Always marching to the beat of my own drum, for better or worse with a smile on my face and a joke on the tip of my tongue. I dealt with some merciless bullying at young, and while that was hard, that made me want to stand-up for others and fill others lives with love; even if it made me an even bigger target. For whatever reason I never doubted my self worth, even as others placed a less value on me or thought I was (or am) weird. Guess I never really let the world tell me who to be!

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Oh wow! Uh…..I guess….that I could take what others couldn’t while still be myself in being kind, caring, and forgiving to others.That I could lead with that integrity within myself, –that there are people who were and are counting on me to move with my heart. That I am everything I knew I was and can be. Aaaaaaand that I could smile and laugh through it all. So, I guess suffering taught me nothing could steal my joy and desire to be decent and crack a few jokes along the way about it all. Sorry one more thing, maybe it will help someone, but to give yourself grace, you are deserving of such. Life isn’t easy, suffering doesn’t make you a better or worse artist, but giving yourself grace to be imperfect can release you to be free and even your best self.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Oh, definitely. I think that’s what throws people about me most at first haha! I’m an incredibly passionate person, especially for people. -So in Los Angeles where there’s so many masks on it can be a little confusing and or intense for them in a town where so many people “came to get something” that there’s nothing for me to “get from them” other than their friendship. I’ve always felt I’ll get where I want to go, I don’t need to use anyone, just want ya along for the ride and to be champion of yours (theirs?).

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
You’re going to have a lot of misconceptions about other people if you never leave your comfort zones. And most people just find that to be a gym quote versus going out and getting an education and meeting people from different walks of life, not just the people, things and areas you find comfort in as well. Change comes with a little discomfort, pain, and confusion, but it can lead to an exuberant about joy and excitement too if you let it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/szatsean/

Image Credits
Main Photo Matt Marcheski