Conversations with Clayton Conroy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Clayton Conroy.

Hi Clayton, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always been a bit of an adventurer. I lived in three countries on two continents before I was five years old, which I think turned me into this romantic wanderer – always learning facts, always curious about different cultures, and always appreciating stories. In college I did sketch comedy, sports production and theater, which got me really excited for a life of unemployment as an artist. Can’t help it. Stories are the most important thing to me and I love exploring them. From studying theater in Ireland, to building a film academy for Indigenous youth in Canada, to shooting a Mexican tv series in Mexico City, I can’t help chasing stories.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Hell no. Literally never smooth. I started my professional career right before the pandemic, so you can imagine how much of a slow start I got off to. And then of course the strikes right after that, and then the recent geopolitics and socioeconomics that have been rendering our industry slower and more unstable than ever. Finding work, finding courage, finding will power to keep going. Those are the struggles. But we’re addicted, aren’t we? We can’t help but keep going.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’d describe myself as an actor-filmmaker. Three things I’m most proud of:

1) I helped build an academy for Indigenous youth on a Métis Settlement in Alberta. There we explored culture and filmmaking, combining local stories with skill-building for the youth. Now, the program has evolved beyond film and I couldn’t be more excited.

2) My short film, Grim, which was inspired by my experience during the pandemic. By the feelings of loneliness, the feelings that the world is moving forward without you.

3) I acted in a Netflix show called The Gringo Hunters, about a Mexican police task force who hunt down gringo fugitives who have escaped into Mexico. I will forever be honored and grateful to have been part of such a show at this critical moment in American political history.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Motivation and excitement. Keeping the north star of why do you do what you do.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: claytonmconroy

Image Credits
Hollyshorts Intl Film Festival
Moneeb Nain
Netflix – The Gringo Hunters
Raghav Ravi