Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Guest.
Aaron, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in Western Michigan within the tight knit theatre community of Grand Rapids. With several community theatres and events year round, I had easy access to art programs and opportunities. I had no idea how spoiled I was. Looking back, I see how the community helped me uncover what I wanted from my life and career, including moving to California to pursue producing, writing, and acting. It was also here that I felt safe enough to come out as gay when there seemed to be no other space to do so. It opened my eyes to the importance of creating a supportive space for everyone – something I now try to do with all my projects.
After moving to California, I was quickly surrounded by a strong team of compassionate and hard-working people that continue to develop me as an artist and person. With them by my side, I was blessed to work on CBS, Hulu, Nickelodeon, ABC, FX, as well as various commercials and independent features. Opportunities have now been opened for me to produce and write, allowing me to focus on the raw, unfiltered stories I would have loved to see when I was closeted.
I am currently working on a feature and some short-form content, dealing with topics like sexuality, masculinity, and mental illness in 2020, and I’m so excited to see how it continues to grow post-COVID, as a voice for the voiceless.
Great, 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?
I would say the hardest challenges have all been internal. Of course, the constant rejection in LA, from all directions, wears on you and can make you question if you’re doing things right. Thankfully my faith in Yeshua (Jesus) has helped me see purpose in all of the ups and downs, giving me strength to push through and persevere.
The biggest challenge though has been learning to open up and be vulnerable in my work, no matter if it’s acting, writing, or producing. Growing up gay in “the bible belt of Michigan”, I put up so many walls. I suppressed so much of my true self. This made being authentic as an actor and writer impossible. It wasn’t until I started to let those walls down and show my real self, my real pain, and my real story that I started to make strides in my career…and when I started to actually find satisfaction in my work.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am an independent producer of scripted content (features, short-form content, and more), a SAG-AFTRA actor, and a writer based here in Los Angeles. I am also a graphic and web designer that helps create pitch decks, marketing materials, actor websites, and anything you might need to boost your project or career.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I am most proud of the unapologetic authenticity in the work my team and I produce. We are all united under the same goal of creating positive social change (me in particular with the LGBTQ+ community). Everyone I work with is also so kind and supportive of each other, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dutchpandafilm.com // www.aaronmguest.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaronmguest/
- Facebook: https://twitter.com/aaronmguest
- Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/aaronmguest
Image Credit:
Christi Guest Photography
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