Today we’d like to introduce you to Gregory Blair.
Hi Gregory, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I fell in love with movies and theater from day one. I was acting, writing, and making my own films as a pre-teen and then got into community theater as a teenager. I had a stream of survival jobs (retail, food service, office work, etc.) while I continued perusing a career in film, theater and television, building up a cache of screenplays, auditioning, getting representation, etc. It’s never an easy road for someone who has no connections in the business. The journey took many years for many reasons, with many pitfalls and wrong turns, but I now enjoy a modest career as an actor, writer, producer and director.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The entertainment world is fraught with struggles and I’ve faced many of them throughout my years: studio executives forever changing what they want from a script, the virtual catch-22 of getting into the unions, finding (and sometimes losing) funding, ageism, lookism, unhealthy egos and so on. I think I’ve run into every roadblock there is. But I’ve always held the belief that obstacles are opportunities to train our brains to think and evaluate: wrong turns teach us valuable lessons; for every problem you solve, you now have that skill or knowledge going forward. I think if you just be your best, authentic self that beautiful, magical things will happen and–hopefully they will be enough to offset the struggles.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a freelance entertainment professional and can be hired as an actor, writer, screenwriting consultant, director and producer. I’m actually hired the most in that order. I think that fits with my essence, though. My quiddity, if you will. My mind has always been a mix of logical/analytical and creative/imaginative; my attitude has been a mix of intense/focused and goofy/playful; my look (or “type”) for acting has always been a mix of affable/adorkable and psychotic/villain. The alchemy of those opposites, in addition to my offbeat, animated energy makes me a unique flavor that, fortunately, most people seem to enjoy. And making people happy always makes me feel joyful and proud. Of all the things you can accomplish–whether you’re acting, writing or serving lunches in a diner–making other people’s lives just a little brighter, to me, is the greatest achievement of all.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I’m never sure what is luck, fate, opportunity meeting preparation, or just me seeing causes and correlations that aren’t really verifiable. But I’ve certainly had things happen to me (good and bad) that I’d be willing to attribute to something like luck. Most of the good things that happen to me involve what I call “connection to your best path”. I know that sounds a little silly, but I think our lives can go innumerable ways and that forces from within and without forge our way. The forces within are our determination, perseverance, choices, actions, etc. and the forces without are the era we’re born into, our experiences and, among other things, the opportunities and connections that come our way. That last element is where I’d use the term “luck”. When it’s “good” luck, it’s helping to send you on a path that’s best for you and the world. When it’s “bad” luck, it’s revealing you’ve strayed from that path. And if that all sound like a bunch of hokum-hooey, apologies. But it will resonate for some people and so that’s who it’s for; they will get something valuable out of it. And I’d call that a bit of good luck!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://gregoryblair.info/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegregoryblair/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gregory.blair.entertainment
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-blair-4217779/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GregoryBlairFilm
- Other: https://gregoryblairentertains.substack.com/
