Today we’d like to introduce you to Beth May.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Beth. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
When I was young (and I’m talking baby teeth, velcro shoes young), I used to drive my family nuts demanding bedtime stories about mundane daily events. Whether it was a supermarket trip or a soccer game I’d say, “tell me a story about it” and I wouldn’t shut up until I heard a flowery nail-biter about a fender bender in the Target parking lot. My mom still teases me about it. Nowadays it sounds like the corniest possible intro to my love of telling stories, but while everyone else cringes, it’s how I remember that this is something I’ve always wanted to do.
I consider myself a writer and actor. I have passions for both in a few different mediums, from sketch comedy to slam poetry, but the writer/actor umbrella is something that’s always felt very authentic to me, and it’s a label I’ve been protective of throughout my life. In high school I was president of our drama club and took the same creative writing elective three times. In college, I majored in film and minored in theatre (one of those fabulous educational combos for the soon-to-be-unemployed).
After college and since my move to Los Angeles in 2016, “writer/actor” became the mantra I creepily chanted into bathroom mirrors to remind myself why I came here. Between part-time jobs and non-industry gigs, that goal feels a little murky or far away at times, even now as I’m becoming more confident. I’m still figuring out how to make ends meet. I’m still working as an assistant at a production company. I still feel pressured to justify my passions as something I can make a sustainable career out of. I’m still just trying and hoping, but that’s showbiz, baby.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I am privileged and extremely fortunate in that my parents have consistently believed in me and supported my endeavors. I’ve always had a place to live and my circle of friends is wonderful to a near-supernatural degree. That said, the road has definitely been less smooth at times. When I was 19, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The illness’s impact on my life is something I’ve been frequently ashamed of and occasionally been in denial about, but I acknowledge that it’s a huge element in my life, for better or worse.
I say “for better” because manic episodes have facilitated a lot of my creative productivity. I spent a semester in college taking 18 credits, rehearsing plays until 10pm, writing scripts in a 24 hour coffeehouse, and then doing it all over again on 2 hours of sleep or less. Back then, when my episodes were less severe, bipolar felt like a gift. I absolutely cherished that laser focus, the endless energy, the confidence. These days I’m more cautious. The manias became more delusional, paranoid, and ultimately dangerous. The depressions were devastating, at times putting my entire life on hold.
In the years since my diagnosis I’ve seen multiple hospitalizations, 68 treatments of electroshock therapy and the subsequent memory problems. Without being too dramatic, I will say sometimes I’m surprised to still be here, but I’m really glad that I am. I credit this to the unwavering, extraordinary support of my family and friends, as well as some great doctors…and plain ol’ luck.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I think what sets me apart (in writing at least) is my ability to play with tone. I feel like it’s actually kind of rare for humans to only be experiencing one emotion at a given time, and that uncertainty and flexibility is something I really prioritize in my work while trying not to make anything too emotionally crowded. I’ve been influenced and inspired by genre-twisting stuff like Fargo, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Juno. Ultimately, my priorities are to laugh hard, be challenged, and thrive in a community where I can lift up others and feel good.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I try to say yes to as many opportunities as I can without over-extending myself. Currently, I’m involved in a few projects; I play a clueless step-dad on a comedy D&D podcast called “Dungeons and Daddies,” and I’m developing a TV series in the vein of “Memento” meets “Lady Bird,” based very loosely on my own life. In between, I’m editing a video game script and gearing up to act in a punk rock horror audiodrama that I’m really jazzed about. One of the best things about living in LA is the sheer volume of talented people working on cool projects, and while it’s very important to me to spearhead my own projects, I really enjoy collaborating and getting the chance to contribute to other folks’ brainbabies.
I try to live as “in the now” as I can because I want to give my all to what I’m doing despite doing multiple things. When I’m acting, I’m not thinking of writing. When I’m writing, I’m not thinking about doing the dishes. I’m actually never thinking about doing the dishes, which will likely be my downfall. Men like Donald Glover, George Clooney, and Joseph Gordon Levitt are mentioned frequently as talents who wear many hats, but I feel like women have a more pressing need to be multi-hyphenate, to be in a position where we can professionally advocate for ourselves from all angles. I don’t pretend to know the secret to accomplishing it, but it’s definitely something that’s on my mind in a city where personal brand is everything and people want a one-sentence answer to “So what do you do?”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSFA5zz1h2cTdpnn0MVqt7w
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: heybethmay
- Twitter: heybethmay
- Other: www.dungeonsanddaddies.com
Image Credit:
Tim Trumble, Justin Yngelmo
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