Today we’d like to introduce you to Craig M. Cartwright
Hi Craig M. , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I specifically remember reading a quote from my Great Grandfather about my Grandfather when I was a kid. “I always thought my son was going to be a great actor – among the Hollywood greats because he was a con artist par-ex-cellence.”
That was my first exposure to performance arts. A recognition of family talent. Ultimately, I found myself on Discovery channel at around 3 or 4 years old sitting on my grandfather’s lap during an interview. Not because he became a Hollywood great, but because he lived a life as a covert special operations agent for the federal government. He was an actor, but he chose to be truly “method” by putting his life on the line for years at a time.
Actually, I’m pitching my new television show concept now at film festivals to secure funding to tell the story of his life – a period piece across 5 decades – the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. A deep dive into federal covert operations, the dangers it brings, and the family dynamic complexities.
But, regarding my journey:
I grew up SEVERELY socially anxious – extremely shy. Which is hilarious because everyone knows me as an extrovert now. Acting, performance art, is what threw me out of my shell. I remember in high school, we had to take an elective art our freshman year – band, chorus, visual art, or theatre. I had no clue what to do – I never considered my creativity as a valuable asset that anyone would care to see. So, on a whim, I chose theatre with a roll of the dice. Love at first sight is real; learning about the greats, learning the methods, learning about The Globe Theatre, it was all mesmerizing. I immediately knew, no matter the circumstance, I was dedicating my life to becoming an artist.
But, what is art, right? What does that even mean? It’s completely subjective – no one can say, objectively, this performance piece is greater than this performance piece. It’s a subjective path. Art influences culture, but it’s also something that must exist at the right time, the right place, to be culturally relevant. Think about Edgar Allen Poe. He died penniless in a gutter. No one read his work. He was often mocked. Yet, there isn’t a middle schooler or high schooler in America today who isn’t taught about the greatness of Poe and his rhythmic rhymes.
My point is that I fell in love with the subjectivity of art. It doesn’t matter how long we pursue art. It doesn’t matter if we’re brand new or a multi-decade veteran. We’re all in this subjective path where we can only hold on for dear life and put our most authentic self forward to showcase real human emotion. No bullshit. Only the human experience.
Isn’t that exciting?!
I found myself putting on at least 6 straight plays and musicals per year in high school. It was an unbelievable ride where we even managed to get ranked by the International Fringe Festival as ‘Top 100 High School Theatre Departments’ globally! Going to college, I was pressured, significantly, to pursue a tangible career to offset the immense expense of college. I fell into the trap and ended up studying international business. YIKES! But, I didn’t give up on “the dream.” I was immensely involved in The Clarence Brown Theatre for around 3 years while at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. We put on a new work straight play called, “Walls: A Play for Palestine.” It was directed by one of my closest mentors, David Ratliff – a creative genius in Knoxville, Tennessee who deserves more recognition. I remember receiving a check for acting the first time – it literally paid my rent and groceries that month. I’ll never forget that feeling. “Wait…can this actually be a career?”
But, I didn’t stop my pursuit of authentic story telling. I’ve always been a writer, and I wanted to see the world. I always talk to actors and writers who haven’t seen anything beyond their hometown, and I always ask, “What f-ckin’ stories are you telling?! You gotta go live!” So, I found myself traveling to Cuba, living in Europe, getting stuck and stranded in Guatemala City. Each of these experiences creating realizations about the world and myself. But, more on that in other interviews – haha!
After college, I fell into the rat race. I worked in oil and gas and AI for 5-6 years before waking up this year. “I GOTTA get out!” So, here I am in LA, pursuing acting and production work full time.
If anything, I hope people stay authentic to themselves and pursue their passions, unapologetically. The world needs to see our authenticity, and it would be a mighty beautiful world if people contributed their most passionate desires to the world!
My artistry is dedicated to bringing stories to the world through performance art both on film and stage. My mantra is, “To bring meaningful art and authentic expression into the world through stage and film performance, writing, and music. I can’t wait to continue this journey and bring stories to the world.
If anyone wants to connect about projects or hear my pitch for the show I’m working on, you can contact me through my manager, Justin Crawford, at [email protected]. Or, you can follow me on IG @CraigMCartwright to stay in touch <3.
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?
Oh God no. This isn’t easy. I mean, yeah, it’s cliche, but if it was easy then everyone would be doing it. Being an artist basically means an endless cycle of doubt, uncertainty, and second guessing. It’s our job, as artists, to protect our hearts, minds, and spirits to ensure we’re ready to hit the marks when it’s our time.
Jason Alexander has a WONDERFUL quote that basically states, “The age of being just an actor is gone. You have to find the cinematographers, find the directors, find the producers, find the troupes, and make your own way.” It’s paraphrased, but it’s basically stating we’re living in the era of self-production to prove our chops. We have to make our own big break.
I take that quote to heart, and I strive to create my own stories and scripts to tell authentic stories to the world.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in stage and film acting. I began stage acting in high school and never looked back. I fell in love with film acting almost two years ago and started incorporating that into my life immediately after. I pursue film acting more than stage acting at this stage in my life as I find such a joy in creating something on screen with moderate rehearsal (compared to stage). Yet, the film will be seen by more people. It’s a way to solidify a story and share it with the world. Whereas, stage means extreme rehearsal for a moderate reach. Both art forms are incredible, but film feels really special to me right now.
I’m most proud of several things:
– Achieving a ‘Top 100’ ranking in high school through The International Fringe Festival
– Working at The Clarence Brown Theatre in Knoxville, TN
– Bringing my grandfather’s story to more people to create a lasting impact with his story and life
– Traveling the world and experiencing stories, gaining an invaluable perspective of life
These accomplishments, so far, have helped me grow as an actor, writer, and storyteller, equipping me with the tools to create great performances and stories!
I believe my passion and eagerness for collaboration sets me apart from others. I LOVE meeting and working with people. This career path is a DEEP passion for me, and it’s a BLAST and such a blessing to be on set with other creatives. Being on set feels like an absolute dream, and it’s such a blast to tell stories with others!
I’m also a writer and creator which helps create my own stories for people to see. I think the ability to write is a great asset when pursuing this industry because us writers don’t have to wait for the story to come to us!
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Yeah – absolutely! And honestly, this is advice I could listen to myself. It’s something I’m working on heavily right now.
This industry is a GRIND! It’s tiring, it’s full of insecurity, and it’s full of rejection. It’s a marathon – not a sprint. Live your authentic self and find key collaborations where you can tell your stories utilizing your existing friends and colleagues.
I find myself in sprint mode often. I get really freaked out if I haven’t booked something in a week. But, we’re all in this marathon together. Slow down. Breathe. Recognize our blessings. Send out our gratitudes. And work hard!
But don’t burn out!
Something I should live by….we’re all workin’ on it – haha!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.craigmcartwright.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craigmcartwright
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11798133/
Image Credits
Samantha Hearn, Alexis Dickey, Casey Newell
