Today we’d like to introduce you to Garrett Avey.
Hi Garrett, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in the spring of 2020 (yes, it was a virtual ceremony.) Throughout college, I was constantly acting in short films and writing screenplays, even though neither had anything to do with my actual major. I made it to Los Angeles in the summer of 2021 with an unshakable sense of wonder, or in other words, I had a somewhat naive view of what the industry was actually like. I thought the path was simple, foolproof even: You get an agent, book a few supporting roles, then a lead role, and another and another and on you go to stardom. Nearly four years later, I’m still working on the first thing.
I moved out here with plenty of acting experience and a solid reel, something that many actors I met were still scrambling to put together. But it quickly became clear that in order to get a good agent, I also needed one of three things: a major credit, a big industry recommendation, or a massive social media following – what you might call a Catch-22.
Seeing the writing on the wall with the conventional path, I decided to try a different one. I began writing my own movie – a feature-length horror film I could star in, made for a low budget. It’s become my passion project, and now, after years of development, we’re halfway to our fundraising goal and slated to shoot this October in Big Bear.
All the while, I’ve been working on some of the biggest sets in Hollywood as a background actor. While it might only result in a second or two of screen time (or no time at all), there’s nothing I would trade for getting to see how the greats in the business work. I’ve had the privilege to observe directors such as Chris Nolan, Greta Gerwig, and Damien Chazelle, and actors such as Keanu Reeves, Margot Robbie, Cillian Murphy, and Al Pacino. Some of my fellow actors see background work as nothing more than a paycheck, but to me, it’s been an education. Every hour on set is experience I’ll carry onto my own film and every project that comes after. And, yes, the paycheck’s nice too.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There’s no smooth road in this industry, as far as I can tell. Since I started pursuing this path, we’ve had a pandemic, a writers’ strike, an actors’ strike, the existential threat of AI taking our jobs, and a general anxiety that the entire film industry might be on the verge of collapse.
Of course, trying to be a working actor is already hard enough without all that – submitting self-tapes into the void with no hope of feedback, the battle of whether or not to join SAG, juggling the costs of acting classes, workshops, and showcases – but every actor at my level goes through that. Like I said, there’s nothing smooth about this.
On the production side, our horror film has faced its own delays – postponed shoots due to lack of funds, location issues, story changes, and more. But the great thing about producing is the sense of control, which is almost nonexistent in acting. As an actor, you’re constantly at the mercy of someone else’s choices. But when you’re writing and producing, you get the final say… or at least get much closer to it. That reversal has been a welcomed balance during my time in LA. Seeing the other side of the process gives you a bit more grace when you’re on the receiving end. In other words, getting rejected as an actor now feels little different than breathing, and that’s a good spot to be in.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m an actor and a writer, though in the last few years I’ve leaned much more into the latter. I now have ten feature length screenplays and three mini-series under my belt, all (mostly) polished. While a few have placed in competitions, they haven’t done much for my career beyond sharpening my craft.
So, instead of letting them collect virtual dust on my desktop, I decided to start adapting my scripts into novels. So far, I’ve completed four books and am working on a fifth. I’ve been querying agents nonstop in hopes of landing a publishing deal. So far it’s just been a new arena of rejection, but all it takes is one yes.
I’m proud of the body of work I’ve compiled, even if it’s only entertained a handful of friends and family so far. I think the thing that sets me apart – and allows me to write so much – is my consistency. Everyday I don’t work (which as an actor is quite a few) I write. I put aside at least three hours in the afternoon and chip away at one work or another. At this point, I can comfortably write over 2,000 words a day, which means I can finish multiple novels a year and a feature-length screenplay in just about ten days.
What I’m known for though? About one second in the movie Oppenheimer where there’s a shot of me whipping off my glasses like I’m Clarke Kent.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I believe we’re on the brink of a significant shift in how theatrically released films are budgeted. In recent years, we’ve seen an increasing number of films with extremely high budgets struggling to recoup their costs. Much of this is beyond the studios’ control – especially given the evolving viewing habits of a post-COVID world – but it does seem that some adjustment is inevitable. These changes might take the form of shorter shooting schedules, more streamlined locations, condensed crews, smaller ensemble casts, more targeted marketing strategies, or even a shift in the types of stories being greenlit. Technology continues to evolve at an incredible pace, and ideally, those advancements should help make filmmaking more efficient and cost-effective, not more expensive.
How the industry will ultimately shift, I can only guess, and if that change will be for the better, who’s to say? I happen to be an optimist though.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamgarrettavey/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@garrettavey
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/garrett-avey
Image Credits
Rocio Ramirez (for all headshots), Zach Jenkins (for the stills in the suit)
