Today we’d like to introduce you to Conner Gregorio.
Conner, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Growing up I always loved the idea of creating movies and shows and had a very big imagination. My goal was never to become a famous actor, it was more about enjoying being another person and making something on camera. I would make many short videos with my friends and sisters and always had a great time but never thought about seriously pursuing it as a career.
Fast forwarding to college, I found myself finishing up school at Hawaii Pacific where I got a criminal justice degree. Oahu, Hawaii may not come to mind when thinking about film and productions but it was here that I began doing background work, taking acting classes and working on sets as a PA. I really enjoyed being around set and the more I worked, the more those childhood memories of acting and being involved in creating content and a story came back to me and I realized it was what I wanted to do.
I worked as a set PA for Hawaii FiveO with some amazing people and worked as a pizza delivery boy on the side to save up extra money in an attempt to ship my car and move to LA. After a year of working hard and saving up I move out to LA and have been working on networking and working my way up the ladder in the production world.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been a difficult road. Working to pay bills and making enough to eat while pursing acting jobs is quite hard. Living in LA and trying to act has led me into two part-time jobs where I am working a lot for a little money, I am usually stretched very thin on money but I am determined to make it work! Auditions come up during work days sometimes last minute and it becomes a frantic battle of finding shift coverage and figuring out how to make it to the audition but also keep the job that is providing your income. Combining that with the amount of rejection you receive does not help and I just try to stay positive and deal with the challenges and obstacles because the hope and dream of being apart of something that is bigger then myself such as a TV show or movie remains.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
From a young age, I have always been fascinated with stories. I always excelled in creative writing courses throughout school and became very interested in how unique each person’s experience of life is. When I hear other people’s stories, I really try to dive into the emotions and how difficult or pleasurable an experience was and how it would make me feel. I think my ability to think deeply about small events and emotions in the midst of an entire lifetime is something that really helps me when dealing with a character and drawing up the feelings necessary to tell the story the way the character lived it.
The other thing that helps me and has separated me from others in the past is my work ethic. Growing up with a Father who owned and operated his own pool and masonry business, I saw how hard he worked on the job and was put to work helping out with him as soon as I was strong enough to carry tool bags. My father expected a lot of himself and expected the same of me and working hard without complaining was the way I was raised. I may not have appreciated it at the time and did not enjoy it all the time growing up, but I have carried that work ethic with me in everything I do to this day.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
The two biggest supporters and mentors who deserve credit for all that I have done and am would be my parents. Growing up they worked as hard as they could to support my two sisters and myself; they made sacrifices for us to give us the best they could and are truly the most selfless people I know. They have also been supportive of me and inspire me to go after my dreams while pushing me at the same time. As long as I can afford to pay my own bills and go after my dreams while working hard, I know my parents support me no matter what. I have also been blessed with a supportive friend group who are working hard and trying to make something of themselves which motivates me to be a better man.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 9517956117
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @connergregorio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gregorio218?ref=bookmarks
Image Credit:
Ashley Guzman Photography, Kevin Meno Photography
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