Today we’d like to introduce you to River Collins.
Hi River, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I made a decision at a very young age to pursue the arts, in whatever fashion interested me. Acting became the lead runner of that pursuit later on in my college years. I spent a lot of my early middle and high school time bouncing between acting, dancing, scriptwriting, poetry, drawing/painting, music (piano & guitar), and modeling. Once I turned 17, I decided that modeling was something I wanted to dive into heavy. So, I started posting whatever and whenever I could, styling, doing make-up, and orchestrating a lot of my own looks. Going the balanced route of showing the real version of me but also being aware of what’s artistically responsible when constructing my image. I started doing freelance work as a model for the next few years while focusing primarily on an acting major at California Institute of the Arts. Gaining experience in music video, runway, magazine, and e-commerce entertainment. I, of course, stuck to my dance training on the side as to maintain my professional dance ability that I graduated high school with. Eventually developing further ability and experience in creative writing, dance, voice, acting, photography, videography, and music production. Which all have one way or another assisted me in making and being a part of the art that I am today. As a fresh-out college graduate, with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts (BFA) in Acting, I’ve been dedicating my time to auditions for modeling, acting, and DJ work. I recently was a part of the cast for ‘The Inheritance’ which just finished its debut at the Geffen Playhouse Theater. I just played my very first live DJ set for the Ghost Light Residency Program Anniversary Fundraiser and plan to play another in December for BBC LA (DJ Collective). The rest of my time goes toward actor’s access, seeing how to connect with more agents and managers, and developing some of my own theatrical/written works.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As a black and non-binary artist. There has definitely been struggles, both internal and external. My parents have always raised my siblings and I, to do our best, no matter the task. To not make excuses for situations we know we either got ourselves to or can work through with action and focus. I think a lot of that has made me a powerful artist now, but definitely is a part of the internal issue. Not being able to accept my growth and accomplishments because there’s always room to be better. Ignoring my own pain, habituals, and trauma, to show I’m high functioning or adaptable. Especially being black, sometimes interactions become more about competition than it does authenticity and community. A lot of my acting process in college helped me understand ways to slowly and healthily that away, but it’s always still a process. The festering and spreading of racism, homophobia, and transphobia is an apparent fear for me as someone moving in and out of the entertainment world. Constantly teaching myself that despite these barriers and fears, I can continue to show the real me because that is what will satisfy and pay me the most emotionally, physically, and spiritually. A lot of my early queer experience was me watching and learning how to move as a queer person and figuring out my mental scape to make it digestible for the later generations and older. My generation (2000 baby) is the start of the term non-binary. When I was in high school in 2014 is when people started to find a way to define how someone like myself and those before me felt inside, and barely now do they try and make room for authentic queer experiences in entertainment. It truly shows the constant battle between understanding myself and understanding how the rest of the world perceives and learns of me. Learning to get comfortable with being the generation that sets the tone of gender, fashion, and art making. Kind of like a constant software update system.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am currently working as an actor, creative writer, dancer, model, and DJ. I’m known in various LA art circles for all of these different forms of art. However, above all, people always know me to serve one of the best looks in the room. I would say I’m most proud of my ability to be boundless. I have always moved through life with the belief that I can do anything I put my mind to, regardless of the hurdles. With patience and dedication, I have proven that to myself every single time. I said 4 years ago, starting college, after going to my first underground techno event in LA, that I would be DJ’ing now. 4 years later; I’ve learned sound production, taught myself how to use multiple mixing tables, gathered 3000+ songs, and made so many different friends and acquaintances that work in different ways in music. That reflects in all my other at forms. I said I would graduate college right after high school, and with the help of many and so many grants, I did. It’s this level of authenticity and ability to understand the interconnected workings between the arts that allows me to build and play as characters that could either be so grounded in our reality or completely out of this world. Something I think a lot of cisgender and nonqueer individuals hesitate to do due to their preconceptions and fears based around gender, morality, or sexuality.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Always reach out. Don’t hesitate to ask well-thought-out or genuine questions. I’d you want to collaborate or hire someone, just ask them and be professional. Respect people the same way you wish to be respected. Don’t make a decision until you have to. If in doubt, go without. When you can get paid for your art and labor. Don’t run around doing a bunch of free work while others are getting paid to do the level of work you do. Know your worth and own that, no matter what it takes, so that others see your value and pay you as such. If you’re looking for a mentor, again don’t hesitate to reach out, but be short and sweet with whatever it is your asking for and offer some form of compensation even if that’s just a paid lunch to get a meeting. Understand that just as you’re a professional and your time is valuable, so is the person you’re asking to educate you. Be 15 minutes early to whatever meeting you have. Share your content and the content of others, and don’t stop doing so.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/rivussy
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rivussy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/river.collins.583
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/river2k18
- SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/7oWCjSocNueSWTVh8
