Conversations with Patrick Grant

Today we’d like to introduce you to Patrick Grant.

Hi Patrick, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I take every rejection as a redirection. I have decided that if no one is going to let me in the gates, I am going to have to do that myself.

My name is Patrick Grant and I’m an actor. I am a native of Michigan and went to school in Chicago. I’m an avid gardener who loves fashion and design. And I love a good suit. A good suit is afraid of me, and I will wear the shit out of it.

I started acting when I was five and never looked back, I attended Columbia College Chicago, where I studied acting, stage combat, and improv, graduated into the pandemic, and gave up on my dream. Three years later, I found my way back. My Fiancee, Eric Grant, had gotten into Chapman’s MFA screenwriting program. I dusted off my talents and played with the camera in a way I hadn’t since I was a kid. I realized this was not a part of myself I was willing to give up. A few months later, I was cast in a Long Beach Playhouse production of The Mysterious Affair at styles, perfected my upper-class English accent, wore the shit out of a 1930’s suit, and had the time of my life making my West Coast Debut.

As humans, I believe we take a bit of every person we meet. I believe it is the job of the actor to harness those bits of humanity and turn them into living art. We paint with life and the moment is fleeting.

When my fiance graduated from Chapman, he still felt no movement in his career. He found himself at the same survival job, commuting 2hrs back and forth, trying to survive. We decided we were unwilling to wait for some benevolent Hollywood force to give us our shot.

If no one was going to give us a seat at the table, we decided that we would build our own table and fill it with all our friends. Our comedy pilot CRACKERS is the result. The show is based on Eric’s time working at a Cracker factory in Chicago, I play Maddie Nibblet, the NepoBaby CEO of Nibblet’s Crackery. It’s funny, we have a great cast full of people who, if Hollywood hadn’t seen a 40% fall in production, should be series regulars by now. We hope to send it to festivals by the August deadline.

Since moving to LA, I have trained at a number of studios. Most recently for a six month stint with Annie Grindlay at her studio in Beverly Blvd. Would recommend to any actor who wants to work fast and stay sharp.

I have a beautiful home in the Belmont Shore neighborhood of Long Beach, where my garden blooms on a busy sidewalk for all passersby.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, and it continues to be bumpy and untraditional. I’m a personality, and I don’t think people know what to do with me. But I’m entertaining, and people enjoy watching me, so it’s about finding our niche and going where we are wanted.

In college, I auditioned for many main stage productions but was never cast. My graduating class was some 80 students, and if you know acting schools, you know that is far too many. I don’t come from this world, my mom is a teacher and my father an engineer, I recieved a good education but I was ultimately lost in the crowd as far as Columbia College was concerned. I suppose that prepared me for an acting career better than I care to admit.

I found a home within the Stage Combat department, with teachers who saw something in me that others did not. My biggest obstacle has been those industry gatekeepers not seeing my worth. I’m a gay man, and people see me as a gay man, but it wasn’t until those stage combat classes that I was told I could play the Romeo. That I don’t always have to be the clown. I’m working on changing that, on my own terms, and that’s exactly what CRACKERS is.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an actor. Presently, I am most proud of my work on CRACKERS. As the lead of the show (and soon to be husband of the director), I felt that it was my duty to play host on set. When we wrapped production, it was encouraging to hear comments from our underpaid independent crew like “When are we filming episode 2″ and ” This week felt like theatre camp.”

Don’t you think we should all be doing work that makes us feel like that kid at theatre camp again? I want my work to take us there.

Our stretch goal would be a season order for CRACKERS but honestly, it’s my dream to simply bring this cast and crew back for an Episode 2. And maybe overpay them this time.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
That remains to be seen. Is the absence of any luck a form of Bad Luck? I don’t think so.

I’ve been lucky in love, in friends, and in family. The only thing I can control is the preparation for when that lucky day comes.

To loosely quote RAYE “She must have faith in the seeds that are planted beneath the snow.”

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @notpatrickgrant
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits
Personal photo was taken by Chris Jon Photography

Photo 1. By Erika Dunn

Photo 2. non applicable.

Photo 3 Sean Cook Weddings. Pictured Eric Grant

Photo 4. non applicable. Pictured Eric Grant

Photo 5. The Long Beach Playhouse

Photo 6. A still from CRACKERS directed by Eric Grant, shot by Joshua Knoller.

Photo 7. non applicable. Pictured Elizabeth Valenti (producer), Ariana Hoshino, Eric Grant.

Photo 8. Erika Dunn. Pictured Susan Isaacs.