Today we’d like to introduce you to Timothy Michael Blewitt.
Hi Timothy Michael, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I got my first taste of semi-professional acting at The University of Illinois at Chicago, where I received a B.F.A. in Theatre Performance and a B.A. in English and Creative writing. In our conservatory-style program, we would put up a play once per quarter (usually with a professional director from outside our University system,) so we received a good awareness around what it would be like to work with many different directors, all with unique styles and differing accolades. It helped to keep us on our toes; to keep us working, exploring, trying new things, and it exposed us to a diverse catalog of work.
After graduating from UIC, I felt confident in my abilities but a bit academically rigid… a bit too contrived… and I was looking for ways to shake things up. So I auditioned for The Second City Conservatory (a dream of mine) and started taking classes with them, as well as at the iO Theatre. I really credit these improvisationally-inclined institutions with giving me a sharp focus on listening and an artistically inclined Devil-may-care attitude! I loved paying fierce attention to my scene partners– Supporting them and working with them to create the best possible scenes, and at the same time not taking ourselves or the work too seriously.
Studying improvisation in Chicago really took a lot of the ‘professional edge’ off for me… I was able to knock myself off of my own proverbial pedestal and to return to the joy of the work… Return to what made me fall in love with Acting in the first place.
And while I was studying improv for a couple of years, I also worked in several storefront theatres around the city; gigs ranging from classical Shakespearean texts to whacky, experimental theatre of the avant-garde! It was an exhilarating time! Trial and error and heartbreak and determination and making a small (but interesting) name for myself… Working on cultivating the type of actor that I would eventually grow into. But there was still something in the back of my mind that thought, “There must be something more than this… There must be more to Acting than simply auditioning, not getting the part, auditioning again, getting the part, working, then auditioning again…. There just must be something more!
That’s when I decided to apply to a small, private Physical Theatre school in Brussels, Belgium… When I was attending UIC, I had the chance to work with a woman from Italy named Paola Coletto, who directed us in a Commedia dell’Arte piece… A show that truly rocked my world! I never knew that Theatre could be so dynamic, so active, so improvisational, so risky, and so demanding, all at the same time! At least, it had been AGES since I had felt that way on stage. I felt it was a style of Theatre that I absolutely HAD to learn! So I asked Paola where I could study it, and she encouraged me to go to ECOLE INTERNATIONALE DE THEATRE LASSAAD. After being accepted into the program and working to save up enough money, I literally packed up one whole suitcase, hopped on a plane, and flew to Belgium.
At ECOLE LASSAAD, I was introduced to a wide array of techniques for the stage that I had never before seen! Acrobatics class every Monday, Analysis of Movement on Wednesday, Poetry of the Body on Thursday, etc… I learned some of the Grand Styles of Theatre from around the world; styles that have been passed down from Master to Student for centuries… Styles in Pantomime Blanche; Greek Tragedy; Commedia dell’Arte; Bouffon; and the ever-impressive, elusive, and enigmatically alluring Clown! I pushed myself harder than I ever had before at this school; Oh Yeah! And the classes were all in French; and I didn’t speak a lick of French before I arrived! So in addition to engaging with these grand styles of theatre, I also learned to speak French, haha!
After two intense years of training and making a handful of connections and contacts in Europe, I graduated from ECOLE LASSAAD and wanted to try my hand at “La Vie Boheme,”– I was fortunate enough to travel throughout Europe, developing and performing original, devised works of Theatre in England, Finland, Germany, Greece; even taking one show to the renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland where we had a 28-day show run! An amazingly exhaustive feat that I encourage every actor to experience at least once in their lives.
But between the complications of obtaining Visas for long-term international stays and the instability of an Artist’s life overseas, I decided to come back to America… To throw my hat back into the Artistic Ring in The United States and to fulfill a lifelong dream of moving to Los Angeles to work in Television and Film.
It took me about six months working a full-time job back home; delivering radiopharmaceuticals from the South Side of Chicago to Central Illinois, Monday through Friday, but that job helped me save up enough dough to finance a car, pack up everything I owned, and just drive West toward a new chapter of opportunities.
Once in L.A., everything had that goldenly glazed hue, as it always does for everyone who just arrives… The Honeymoon phase! (Which I also encourage every actor to experience at least once in their lives!) And I truly couldn’t believe it when I learned that people would actually pay you a couple hundred bucks and feed you a decent meal just to be in the background of their film or tv show or music video, or whatever else it was they were producing at the time. So I immersed myself in the world of “Background Acting” for a little while… Not the most glamorous of choices, I admit, but I really wanted to learn how films were made; and that line of work introduced me to the glory and the guts of modern-day filmmaking. It also afforded me an amazing introduction to the city of L.A., as it took me on jobs all around town to some of the most beautiful destinations that Southern California has to offer– Mountaintops in Malibu; Working directly on the beach; Mansions in the Hollywood Hills; not to mention working right on the studio lots themselves for Warner Bros., Disney., Paramount, etc. Like I said, I know it’s not the most glamorous line of work, but it really forced me to break down some personal barriers and to face my fears. There was once a time when I was absolutely petrified and shooketh to be anywhere near a film set! Now I recognize them for the working habitats that they are, and I find it thrilling to be a part of them.
And while I was learning about how the industry worked by being in the trenches and paying my figurative dues, I never lost sight of my own personal goals of pursuing meaningful work. In addition to educating myself in my new West Coast environment, I relentlessly pursued any principal and supporting opportunities I could get my hands on, which more often than not led me toward the Independent Film Scene…
I began working with a diverse combination of people from all around the city and getting involved in some amazingly creative Indie projects… Working in little bit parts with Shots Studios for influencers like Lele Pons; Moving on to more meaty, digital campaigns with All Def Digital and the stylishly-edgy clothing brand MA®KET, both under the immensely talented and creative eye of director Syd Kim; even performing briefly before the Pandemic in the inaugural play at Billy Magnussen’s co-owned (but short-lived) Theatre Company The Foxhole Hollywood… And all of this creative adaptability and flexibility ultimately led me to one of my most recent and impressive gigs to date, being on set with Zack Snyder for an entire summer for his newest upcoming film. I feel like I’ve carved so many interesting opportunities for myself and picked up so many techniques and a great deal of ‘know-how’ in the film industry, and I’m hoping to keep going! The things that I’ve learned have been invaluable! And they have all culminated into leading me to my next chapter, which is creating my own work.
I’m beginning to infuse my skills and techniques of physical theatre with the new technology and opportunities we have in modern film… I think that’s what’s needed in the next evolution of filmmaking. The opportunities afforded by CGI are boundless! But they often can hinder the primal guts of storytelling because the story is too reliant on eye candy. But what if the boundless Eden of modern-day cinematography could be coupled with a razor-sharp precision of the fundamentals of compelling acting and storytelling? It’s something you wouldn’t be able to take your eyes off of… And something you would want to watch again and again!
So I’m moving into a new phase of creation with some very close collaborators, hoping to engage in a new level of exploration within the medium of film. And at the same time, trying to give back my time, energy, and insight to anyone who’s interested. I just completed a Teaching Artist intensive program with the Entertainment Community Fund, made possible by a generous grant from Sony Entertainment, which has provided me with the skills and credentials to teach various lessons in the Performing Arts all around L.A. County and opens me up to a new sphere of being able to give back what I’ve learned from all around the world.
As I continue to shed the cocoon that the Pandemic put most of us Independent Artists in, and as I continue to ask and to answer some creative questions about my own personal, Artistic trajectory, I’m working on cultivating a balance between creating my own work, propelling my brand, and giving back to my community through teaching what I do best.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I think the most recognizable struggle for me has come from my nomadic lifestyle. There’s an old proverb stating that “A rolling stone gathers no moss” which applies to someone who moves around a lot. I think it was meant as a warning that if you don’t have any roots, you’re not likely to have a family or a life that enjoys other cumulative advantages. And I think the same might be said for my budding career as an Actor. Throughout the trajectory of my professional career, I’ve moved around the world! But the downside is that no one particular city or entity has really gotten a chance to get to know me, or what I’m capable of, or what I might be able to offer. What I’ve learned from being in this business is that people come and go, often quite frequently… It makes financial sense not to invest in someone who you think will leave your town within a short while. Even Albert Einstein said that the most powerful force in our Universe is compounding interest… If I haven’t been in a place long enough to “gather moss,” then by force of nature, my yield will be much smaller than those who have stayed in that same place for a longer period of time. But I’ve definitely found a sense of purpose and community in L.A., and I finally feel like I can begin to gather some of the green stuff.
Which leads me to a second struggle which every young Artist faces… The Financial One! I can still hear the words of the Head of the Theatre Department at UIC from over a decade ago… “You should be so lucky to work as an Actor…” And while I do believe it’s true to consider yourself fortunate to book work as an Actor, I also think that that mentality of leaving things up to fate might be a bit outdated in 21st-century corporate America. And I would say that this has been a big struggle for me – Balancing between paying the necessary bills, enjoying my life, staying focused on my artistic goals, and working jobs that don’t entirely drain me of my energy or worse, my self-worth. I truly believe that I have what it takes to be successful in my Artistic practice, and up until recently my mantra had always been “put in the work and grind it out; the big payoff is coming…” Somehow, that mentality had become gospel in my mind… But now, I think I’m starting to realize that Actors and Artists can (and should) be asking for more… Much, much more…
I think there’s an age-old sentiment, passed down from generations of dreams deferred that put an unhealthy bias on being an Artist… I still don’t know exactly where that comes from in America. I think that one of my biggest struggles has been shifting my outlook into a more entrepreneurial mindset, specifically geared toward all of the advantageous platforms we all have access to now. And that is what I am tremendously proud to see in our younger generations coming up… A fearlessness to be bold in an uncharted, digital world, and a yearning for the development of an entrepreneurial spirit, even if it is unbeknownst to most of us at present. We have SO many tools at our disposal! It really does only take discipline and consistency and spirit to make it work!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an Actor/Writer/Improviser/Creator/Teacher specializing in Physical Theatre and Improvisation as it pertains to building characters and telling stories. Specifically, Neo-classical Mime, Clown, and Commedia dell’Arte
I’m most known for the little bit parts that I play… Physical, non-verbal cameos in productions all around town… From digital shorts with Instagram influencers to more fleshed-out digital campaigns and music videos.
And those that work with me know me for my reliability and my honor to my commitments with a strong, Midwestern work ethic; and for delivering a classically trained boldness with a lighthearted, yet sturdy physical flare!
I think I’m most proud of completing my physical theatre training in Belgium and touring around several different countries with original theatrical works. It’s tough to leave your friends and family behind and to go out in search of something that is not at all guaranteed. I still remember lonely nights in countries where I didn’t speak the language… I remember being so strapped for cash that my only dinner for an evening was a single, faded tomato… But I got through it! I put in the work, I believed in myself… I got by with A LOT of help from my friends! And that determination and desire took me on a journey of epic proportions–It’s the stuff any good story is made of. Sometimes I look back on that chapter of my life and think “Whoa… Did I really do all that??”
What sets you apart from others?
My Physical Theatre training is a big one… Film Acting and Theatre Acting are very ‘Technically’ different; however, the underlying work is the same. And the physical training that I received for the stage has insurmountably set me up for acting in film… The Precision; The Repetitive Rigor; The Go-with-the-Flow attitude… “Sorry, the lighting was bad on that one, can we go again?” “Yeah, absolutely!” It’s nothing personal… Let’s Go again; Let’s Go better!
And honestly, I would say another strength would be my resilience in the face of constant rejection. The tenacity to be able to start something new, all over again, all for the sake of learning… All for the sake of a deeper understanding in my field.
I have seen first-hand just how much work and preparation and muscle goes into making a film or a television show… It’s more than a Blue-collar job. People are working hard, long hours round-the-clock to make these things happen! I do not for a second take for granted a speaking role: One-liner, 5-lines-or-under, supporting role, or principal… Or take for granted ANYONE’S role on a film set. I recognize that everyone is working toward a common goal; Everyone is working hard; And everyone deserves to be treated with respect.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love the geographical locale. Do you prefer Mountains? Just drive an hour East. Do you prefer Desert? Just drive an hour North. Beach? Head West! City? You’ve come to the right place! But going to the ocean is by far my favorite! Take me to Zuma, baby!!
And I love the cuisine, as well! I like to do my share of cooking, and when it comes to encountering new inspirations for cuisine, LA has it down! So many unique flavors and cultures and local spots… Never a dull moment for the mouth!
What do I like least?
(The Traffic!!! I mean, c’mon!)
I’d also really like to see improvements in our Homelessness situation…
It’s both heartbreaking and critical.
And I know most of us are doing what we can to help out in little ways; but I’d really like to see some bigger, long-term solutions put in place. This city belongs to all of us… We all have a responsibility to make it better.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.timothymichaelblewitt.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_feisty_rascal/
Image Credits
Anthony Mongiello. Yvette Marie. Polymath Tree Photography
