Today we’d like to introduce you to David Thomas Newman.
Hi David Thomas, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began performing at a very young age and quickly moved into school plays, home movies and music videos in junior high, my own TV News Hour in high school, and then some very early indie films after high school and in my college years. Now I can say I’ve been on a CBS TV show, Peacock TV show, Warner Bros movie, SONY movie, and a soon-to-be released action film headed to theaters. I always knew I would eventually come to Hollywood if I didn’t forego college and make the move, but to have notable resume credits, be on TV and the big screen, and produce my own films in less than five years? Magical!
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?
I think the first struggle I had was deciphering what the heck to do when I landed in Tinseltown. Obviously, you want to find your tribe and get involved in the thespian community, but what about navigating the right pathway to get paid for your work? How do you get one of those highly sought-after “agents” and where do you start? Thankfully, my background in project management and business development equipped me with an insane thirst for knowledge and aptitude for research, and once I found my first opportunity to submit for representation, I immediately got a meeting, subsequently got signed, and then a week later was filming for CBS. Crazy right? I think what most of us actors stumble on is this bizarre imposter syndrome which forces us into analysis paralysis. I overcame those feelings and odds by becoming extremely prepared.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an actor and, now, producer in the heart of Hollywoodland. If I were to choose something to believe is my specialty, I would say I’m definitely skilled in the business side of acting and filmmaking, in general. I find myself giving people advice on my journey and how I got where I am quite often. Now, I definitely wouldn’t say I’m a highly sought after talent in the industry, but with minimal time in this city and very, very few opportunities thus far, I think I can take a step back and appreciate how far I’ve come in such an efficient amount of time. Not only is it an absolute blessing to check off “getting on a Network TV show” and “booking a film that premieres in a movie theater” in less than five years, but it’s also quite a feat to accomplish all of that without being in the actors union. I still have to remind myself… I’m not a SAG-AFTRA actor yet! That speaks for itself. I think if I continue to be my own version of what I had always wished to become, it will most definitely happen. Auditioning for huge roles on shows like “The Offer” on Paramount+, “Pam and Tommy” on Hulu, and the new “John Wick” origin story from Lionsgate feels like a dream sequence. It’s crazy to think an executive producer like Keanu Reeves watched my self-tape.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Oh, wow, I’m still the same weird, obnoxious, opinionated goofball I’ve always been. I spent a lot of my free time in the outdoors playing soccer and baseball, building forts in the woods, hiding from my neighbor’s farm animals, and becoming an Eagle Scout. I backpacked and camped a lot. Like… a lot, a lot. Nine of my buddies and I went from Kindergarten all the way through high school and stuck together until the end. Some of us received a 50 Miler Award, which basically meant we had hiked and backpacked with all of our gear on our backs for over 50+ miles in the wilderness. I’ve been to 15,000 feet with a 70lb backpack at something like 120+ lbs soaking wet. I like to think my personality comes from reading books like “Hank The Cowdog” and “The Hardy Boys” and acting in plays like Moliere’s “The Misanthrope” and the stage version of “Get Smart.”
Contact Info:
- Website: IMDb.me/DavidThomasNewman
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/DavidThomasNewman
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/DavidThomasNewman
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/DavidThomasNewm
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/davidtnewman
Image Credits
Oleg Zayanov Ryan Hartford Bilal Haider
