CHRIS Damon shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi CHRIS, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day are my most sacred. I wake up at 4:00am at least six days a week. People often cringe when they find out what an early riser I am, but I tend to cringe if I don’t get up before the sun. I heard once that 4am is known as the magic hour — I don’t know if there’s any truth to this, but for me, I would agree. My mind and body are the most receptive and quietest in the early morning, and I like to think I take advantage of this. World news round-up is a must, as is pour over coffee, taking time for gratitude and finally a good, efficient workout. By mid-morning, I often feel accomplished, hopeful and prepared for a full day ahead. Nap included.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. Although my views may differ from many in my hometown, I truly love Pittsburgh and have a lot of pride being from such a hardworking town. I have been a professional actor since I was in high school, thanks to people believing in me and providing opportunities that kept me inspired and eager to do more in the industry. To this day, I was surrounded by some of the most talented people I know, and I soaked up as much as I could. After attending a conservatory for theater, and a brief national tour, I moved to New York City. New York is a tough city, yet where I spent what I think are my most formative years. For over a decade, I fell in love with that city every day. I decided after ten years to kick myself out of the Big Apple to continue a career in film and television in Los Angeles. However, without my time in NYC, I wouldn’t have the work ethic I have now, nor the gratitude I have when I get the luxury of stepping onto a film set. L.A. life has given me a lot of perspective and has pushed well beyond my comfort zone; I went from being an actor and print model, to becoming a true renaissance man — having my hand in producing, directing, cinematography, photography and writing. Just don’t ask me to paint anything…
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
If we’re going with the earliest-earliest memory of feeling powerful, I think it’s when I was in the second grade. I used to be a huge fan of Star Search — what a show. After many late nights recording each episode, I got the idea to produce a talent show at my elementary school. So, at seven years old, I set up a meeting with the principal to pitch him my vision. The moment he gave me the green light, it was all systems go. I held spontaneous auditions; had people singing to me in the hallways, doing magic tricks on the playground — you name it! I made the program art, wrote a 5 minute play to be performed, and after receiving push back from the school that the printer could not be used for extracurricular activities, I went to a neighbor’s house to print out one hundred programs. Red tape and all, I felt like I could do anything. I sometimes have to remind myself of that little kid who just got it done.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
As artists, a significant part of our journey involves self-doubt and overcoming rejection. We’re not machines, and we tend to feel a lot, so facing possible defeat is inevitable. Through the years, I’ve learned my feelings are valid but not to wallow…too long. With that said, I likely think about giving up on a daily or at least weekly basis. “What am I doing?” is a consistent question I ask myself. Yet, my answer is always the same: “Not giving in and not giving up.”
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would undoubtedly say that animal rights are most important to me. This is an area I feel very strongly about, and it has truly shaped my belief system. I have been a vegan for over twenty years and an animal advocate since junior high. I believe a person’s character and moral compass can be judged by the way they treat animals. I wish I could do more to raise awareness about the atrocities livestock face daily — and I won’t even get started on animal testing. I will say this: It only takes a moment to makes sure the food you’re purchasing is humanely farmed, or if your cleaning/cosmetics are cruelty-free. I’ll now step off my soap box.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace in, on or near water. A day at the beach, camping by a lake, boating, kayaking, swimming — you name it. For a fire sign, I ironically find an immense amount of calm with water. There’s a great scene in an old Jodie Foster film called Stealing Home, where she she has this ritual where she dives down to the bottom of a pool, touches the bottom, then all her problems seem to fade away. I think I was ten when I saw that movie, and I’ve been diving down to touch the bottom of pools ever since.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bio.site/Itschrisdamon
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itschrisdamon/
- Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user50818403?fl=pp&fe=sh
IMDB: imdb.me/chrisdamon
Image Credits
Stefan Alfons.
David Wagner/WagnerLA
