Today we’d like to introduce you to Casey James Knight.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Casey. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve been acting and taking pictures since I was a kid. I told my parents I was going to major in photography in college and they told me to pick something a bit more lucrative. So I chose acting. Lol.
6+ years in LA and I’m finding ways to make both of my passions work. Photography was always a hobby. For the first few years out here, I was an Uber driver. At any given time, my car smelled like Chinese food, cologne, vodka, or feet. So I’d pull over often, roll down the windows, stretch my legs, and snap a few photos of the city. I got very tired of listening to inebriated Santa Monica trust-fund white girls scream about their ex’s named JD at 10AM on a Saturday, so I told myself I was going to make something else work. I invested in some decent studio lights and started taking headshots in between auditions.
Anyone can tell you the acting journey is pretty ridiculous out here. At any given moment, you can walk into a little closet on Wilshire Blvd, read five lines for someone who clearly doesn’t want to be there, and have your life changed forever. That’s a recipe for constant anxiety. There’s a lot of internal work you need to do to find the balance between hustling your ass off and letting the universe do its thing. Photography has helped me tremendously with that. It’s not a side gig, it’s a side passion. I’m able to fulfill myself creatively in between acting classes and auditions and get to meet a myriad of beautiful people along the way.
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?
Of course, it hasn’t been smooth. If the journey is smooth, it’s boring and not worth the ride. I struggle with the same things we all struggle without here in LA; Self-confidence, the uncertainty of the future, the comparisons to my midwestern counterparts with mortgages and savings accounts. F**ing Trump…
I’m an LGBT actor and photographer. There is absolutely no step ladder for any of this. But the struggle has been so integral in my journey with self-discovery, and figuring things out along the way makes the sweet bits that much more rewarding.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
For acting, I seem to specialize in getting covered with blood. It was Ace Ventura that made me realize that acting was something I needed to do. I was always the comedic relief. I made stupid faces and put on a ridiculous voice and had the time of my life. But then I started making little horror films with my roommate in college, and from then on out it was drama and blood. My grandma has started asking, “do you die?” before she watches every project that I am in. I just zip my lips and tell her to enjoy the ride. But I thrive in any acting environment I’m thrust into. I have so many interests and passions that make me who I am and I bring so much of that into every role that I take.
I’ve been fortunate to be cast in a string of horror films here in LA. And right now, you can see me in a few episodes of Ryan Murphy’s Ratched, out on Netflix this week.
My photography involves much less blood. I specialize in headshots and portraits, but throughout this quarantine hell, I’ve been able to nurture my skills and expand into taking photos of pretty much anything. You’ll see when you get onto my website that I love pointing my camera in every direction. Headshots have been my bread and butter for a little while now, and it’s been a wonderfully educational experience seeing the industry from both in front of and behind the camera.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up is weird. It still is. I think every actor has a rollercoaster journey with their identity. I was charming, I was an asshole, I was funny, I was an idiot. I was straight, I was gay…
I’ve always been a bit of an odd bird, with interests growing out of my ears. I spent my childhood banging on drums and making movies with my parents’ massive VHS recorder. I jumped around from sport to sport until I landed on a bowling league for the better part of a decade. I love Shakespeare, astronomy, old maps, mythology. I’m a sucker for jazz and swing but I’ll always love metal. I’m currently learning French and trying my hand at the violin. On any given day, I could be watching Downton Abbey or The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
It’s a weird, borderline schizophrenic picture I’m painting, but the point is, I have a lot of interests. I’m always ready to try something and develop a new skill. I think that comes in handy when I’m bringing a new character to life. There’s always something I can connect with.
Pricing:
- Currently running a special 2 hour unlimited look headshot session for $250!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cjkshots.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @caseyjamesknight
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3834613/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
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