Today we’d like to introduce you to Joey Krulock.
Joey, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
This whole journey started when I picked up my family video camera back in….1995? I have old video tapes of me walking around with the camera just recording things. For some reason I liked seeing things through the little viewfinder. It felt like another world that was in my hands. That was my first memory. After that, I started making YouTube videos with my friend Chad in middle school. Then I took an improv class in high school. It was at that point I wanted to be a performer in some way shape or form. I was and still am fairly reserved as a person. More so back then but I think the urge started when my voice was otherwise not being heard.
After high school I went to college on a wrestling scholarship and studied accounting for the first two years. Soon realizing that wasn’t the right path, I ended up graduating with a marketing degree while taking a handful of theatre classes along the way. I immediately started saving my money and finally decided to move to New York to pursue an acting career. 6 months later I was working in Philadelphia, PA and started taking an acting class at The Actors Lab. Bryan Fox, my instructor, opened my eyes to an entirely new realm of craft and skill that is ACTING and life. During those months I began learning that Los Angeles was the most populated place to be for film acting. So, I then changed course again. That brings me to now. one year later and I am settling into this beautiful place. I am proud to call it my home.
Has it been a smooth road?
All smooth, generally speaking. I am very fortunate and grateful to be where I am today and my only true struggles have been the ones created in my own head. For most of my life I found myself behaving how others want me to behave. I am just now learning and practicing being my own person. Giving up the desire to control others’ perceptions of me.
That to me is huge, really. Actors who really pull you in are those who are able to just ooze themselves onto the screen. Everyone is unique and different and that should be celebrated.
I lost my father a few months before moving out to LA and he left this earth letting me know he is proud I am pursuing something I am passionate about when he hadn’t felt that way in the past. I think that speaks volumes.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am a filmmaker. I make films and I am grateful to get paid for it, as rare as it comes. I do not have anything I am most known for; I only have a few short films under my belt, no features yet. I have experience in front of and behind the camera and that has allowed me to make a decent amount of little “micro films” that I put up on my Instagram and YouTube. Creating these little pieces has introduced me to a wide range of like minded creators and lifelong friends. I think what sets me apart from others is my ability to work on the technical side of the camera and the technical side in front of the camera. This allows me to get a better grasp of directing and acting which truly keeps the gears moving smoothly with any project.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
This place is a good place. I compare it to collegiate wrestling. High school wrestlers cannot compete with collegiate wrestlers UNLESS they get in a practice room with collegiate wrestlers. Collegiate wrestlers are far superior in craft, time spent on technique, and overall mental maturity than high school wrestlers because they are COMPETING with significantly more talented wrestlers. Every high school wrestler that was excelling were the ones who were able to practice with collegiate wrestlers. They got better because they were surrounded by like minded and talented wrestlers who were dedicated to their craft. Los Angeles is collegiate wrestling. Living here means being surrounded by like minded, creative people who are working their asses off doing what they love to do.
That being said, there is no one true single path. EVERYONE has a different path. You do not need to be in LA to be “successful”. The definition of success is completely dependent on the individual.
Contact Info:
- Website: joeykrulock.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @joeykrulock
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