Rising Stars: Meet David Eves

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Eves.

Hi David, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am originally from Mobile, AL where I was raised and went to school. When I was in the 5th grade, I went to do a school play and that’s when I got the initial acting bug. However, it’s not a very popular thing to want to do from where I grew up and to live in LA seemed too far-fetched. I decided I would go to the University of Alabama and get a Mechanical Engineering degree like a good Southern boy. While in class, I got my real estate license and started to sell land. Eventually, I started to work in project management at an industrial and commercial construction company along with selling land on the side. I was doing well, but that wasn’t what I wanted to do. I thought to myself that if I can’t do what I really want then, I’ll just make a bunch of money and be happy that way. That was short-lived. So, to the surprise of my family, I quit my jobs and entered a modeling competition. Hindsight, not much came of it, but it was enough to make me drive out to LA and begin my career as an actor. LA wasn’t easy but I was finally doing what I wanted to do so I didn’t care and was happy to struggle. It’s funny to think about how clueless and unemployable I was when I first got out there, and it makes me wonder what I’ll be thinking a year or so from now. From being clueless in LA to now, having steady employment as an actor and a model, I’m excited to see how things go from here on out.

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?
No, but it has been fun. Living in LA and in NYC is hard to do. It’s really hard to get an apartment when you have no income to show for it. At one point I was paying rent in LA, NYC and a mortgage on a house in Alabama and I was making zero dollars… I committed financial suicide to do this. But one thing I learned is that apparently, these people with three homes don’t have to be rich. If I could do it as an unemployed actor, anyone can I guess. Aside from the money aspect… the challenge is first and for most, getting myself able to perform at a professional level. I take classes and read every book on acting schools of thought and technique. It took a while to be able to learn to act professionally and I am still figuring it out and probably will continue to for the duration of my career. The other struggle is being adaptable and not taking things personally. There are so many variables in this business that are out of your control. You get told “no” all the time. Most of the time, the “no’s” are for reasons completely outside of your control. Learning to do your best, be happy with your performance and forget it is tough but necessary.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an actor and I’ve fortunately been able to find work. I have/will appear in a few films in the near future. I appear as Tom in a movie called “Thirstygirl,” written and directed by Alexandra  Quinn. It’s a story about the struggles of addiction and I play a troublesome guy the lead character meets along the way. Then I also appear in film called, “Luke and Emma and a Gas Station on Franklin Ave.” This film was written and directed by Levi Wilson and produced by his wife, Lisa Hammer of Venture Bros Fame.

Aside from those films in the last year, I have appeared in the global Fireball Whiskey advertisement. That was actually me doing the worm and wearing the horse mask. Then, I’ve done several e-commerce ads and model campaigns as well. I’m thankful to be busy, even though it’s a slow time for the industry.

I write screenplays and have written for a couple of filmmakers, as well as have my own script ready to submit to festivals. Screenwriting is what made me branch into standup comedy. I was trying to write a comical script, and as I researched the techniques, all advice and books said to start doing standup comedy. It is so much fun to do, so I perform around the city periodically.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
I have to thank Wayne Gasser with the Gasser Group. He has been extremely helpful making higher-profile opportunities available, and he’s been a loyal mentor.

Don Hood is another mentor. He helps me with modeling and being professional. I ask him for help regardless of what the task is that I’m doing. He should bill me by the text. He introduced me to his trainer, Jacob Zieben with Systimfit, and he has been a really effective dietitian and trainer.

Dorthy Shi is a photographer I have worked with, and she’s gone above and beyond to push me to agents and campaigns. I have a lot to thank her for.

John Stepanian, head of the New York Performing Arts Academy, and my acting teacher Karina Arroyave, do way more than just provide a place to learn about acting. John has continuously worked with me to make classes available, even when times are tough.

I have been fortunate to have a lot of people help me when there wasn’t much in it for them. The people above went above and beyond to help me and I am forever grateful.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david_eves/?hl=en
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13455452/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_2 

Image Credits
Photos by Frank Louise and Carolina Parra.