Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher Craven
Hi Christopher, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi my name is Christopher John Craven. To get started, the “acting bug” bit me when i was 4 years old, when I was part of the tech team with my first play. Thankfully someone’s assistant needed an assistant and that’s where I came in. After that, I starred in my first show at 5 and then it slowly became an addiction. I did many shows a year and continued to do so, and once i was older, i got into more professional theatre. I’ve won numerous awards for my skills as well as my tenacity for making theatre part of my everyday life which includes ushering, seeing shows, performing, tech, etc. Then, once i graduated high school, i wanted to take my acting career to the next level and decided to move to California with my dad. Once i moved there, i took some professional acting classes and started booking commercials, movies, and short films. Currently i am in a new phase of my career and have become an audiobook narrator.
Today, i spend most of my time in my homemade recording studio submitting for projects while also being on the lookout for any acting jobs that come my way.
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?
It was not a smooth road to get where i am today. Although my acting career was very fruitful and i met lots of connections along the way, my mental state was the real struggle, and still is. I dealt with a lot of depression and anxiety when i was little, and it has been with me so long that only very recently did i understand that i had a lot of anxiety built up in me. Those thoughts of always thinking that i am never going to be good enough, or comparing myself to others and seeing only the negative side to things existed pretty much every day of my life. It was not only a huge blow to my confidence, but it had me thinking of very dark and deep thoughts which limited my potential. Yet, something in me told me to kept going, and i still don’t know what that driving force is. I’m in therapy at the moment and have been for a couple years to improve my mental well-being and its been going well so far, but to get to that stage in my life took many nights of crying and self-realization, as well as a lot of anxiety attacks.
Not everyone is perfect. But i learned that if you’re able to accept that part of you, even the darkest part of you that thinks the worst of everything, then you can then take steps to improve your life bit by bit. Being in this industry beats you down. Hard. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. It’s a really tough business and tougher even now, with all of the recent changes to an actors life. Yet I am still sticking it out because i cant think of being anything else other than what i am right now.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My acting journey has expanded out into many different fields ever since i moved down to Los Angeles. I work as a pottery instructor, actor, audiobook narrator, and a writer. Since last year, I have starred in one audiobook that just wrapped and is in the works to being released and am now in the process of producing my next one and a few others in the pipeline. I have have a movie coming out pretty soon called “Garlic Parmesan”, where i play a supporting role. Both of these accomplishments i am incredibly grateful for and the opportunities that they granted me to show too keep doing what i love.
I think what sets me apart from others is trying out new things to add to my arsenal. The pottery instructor job was only very recently, but it still stayed within the lines of me wanting to be a creative. You have to be versatile in this business, otherwise you are jus limiting yourself and your possibilities. Try as much as you can.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My parents were the main reason and my main support for a long time in my acting career. They always kept driving me to rehearsals, encouraging me to audition for more theatre shows and grow my resume, then eventually move into film and tv. Whether it was their plan or my own, i am still very grateful for what they have given me. I am also grateful to a major supporter in my life Bri. She unfortunately passed away years ago, but she was one of the very few people who lit a fire in my soul. I will never forget her or her words that she said to me. Those will live within me forever. I am also grateful for my singing mentor David Moore and audiobook mentor Andrew Eiden, for giving me their advice and guidance to further improve myself and stretch out to new possibilities.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @christopher_craven
