Rising Stars: Meet Tristan Turner of North Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tristan Turner.

Hi Tristan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story is… complicated, to say the least. If you drew a picture of what it looked like to get to where I am now from an outside perspective, it might look bumpy and whacky with twists and turns, but the POV from the inside perspective would look like an ominous Jackson Pollock painting.
What I mean by that is my inner world was my main focus, whether I knew it or not growing up. I was so stuck in my head with my eyes on the prize that the outside circumstances hardly mattered at times, for better or worse. I grew up in Henderson, NV. Moved there from Racine, Wisconsin after my baby brother was born. I was 4. Henderson (Vegas) sucked. No culture. The people there aren’t the kind to strike up conversation with strangers, or trade smiles. And it was very very white, so I was quickly aware that I was different, and the other kids never let me forget it. I’ve been doing Theatre since I was in elementary school. The movies Hook and Space Jam had made a monster of me for my school teachers. I learned to assimilate, but that fire never went out. I tried sports, band, even got into science and math, but nothing could give me what acting and what Hook gave me. Once I found out I could go to school for Acting, it was a done deal. After high school I did 7 straight years of college, til I came out on the other side with a Bachelors and a Masters in Acting. I finished grad school on my laptop sitting on a couch in 2020 (lol) and moved to LA that August. To be transparent, it still doesn’t feel like I’ve “gotten” anywhere, per se, but I think that might be a mindset thing. I have done quite a bit since being here. I’ve shown up in a couple shows, done a lot of really good Theatre, and now an indie movie I starred in last year is an official selection at Tribeca! So maybe I am arriving.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No. No friggin way. I feel like this has been a road I’ve been paving all by myself for a long time. My home life was pretty rough from a young age. I have loving and rewarding relationships with my immediate family now, but that was hard-earned and fought for. We all went through a lot, and put each other through a lot, so my early adulthood years were like I was thawing from having been frozen. I was always so frustrated with myself for not being a guns-blazin’ gym-trainin’ grind-mentality kind of guy, where I would work tirelessly on my ways into the industry day and night, but that’s because I wasn’t really seeing what had happened to me and giving myself credit for what I was actually doing which was grieving and healing to become myself again. Only now do I feel like I’m past all of that, and what’s great is other than time, it didn’t cost me anything. I still do find ways to bum myself out over not having made it to my ideal life by now, but if that had been the case, it wouldn’t have mattered at all, because I wouldn’t have truly been there to enjoy or appreciate any of it.
Oh yeah and COVID was pretty lame.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an actor, singer, writer and songwriter. I specialize in acting above the rest. In fact I’d say that I’m using all the other skills to help me get opportunities to act more. I love it so much. I’d say right now I’m most known for acting or for singing. I’ll probably be most proud (so far) of my performance in this movie that’s premiering at Tribeca this year, once I get to see it. It was a dream come true to film it, and I was consciously and subconsciously grateful every single day I got to be working on it. I think that will shine through in the final product.
I think what sets me apart is my honesty; my authenticity. I’m a loud, goofy, deep-thinking and compassionate person. In my acting work that manifests as me making bold, honest and fun choices, and believing in the things I say as if I’ve always believed them. In my music that manifests as lyrics that try to grasp something deep in simple ways.

What’s next?
I’ve been writing a show for about 3 years now and it is SO COOL. All I want to do for a big chunk of my life is make this show. I want it to be as big and epic as it deserves to be. I want to direct, produce and star in it, and I want to help with the music of the show and the casting and the editing process and everything. I also want to make more music and someday do a music tour. After I’ve done those things, I think I’ll get a cottage somewhere and meditate until I levitate or I fade into the Force like Obi-Wan Kenobi. Or maybe I’ll start a family. I dunno we’ll see.

Pricing:

• I offer voice lessons!! $70/hr
• I offer acting lessons!! $75/class (1.5 hrs)
• I offer creative consultations!! $50/hr
• I offer monthly packages! Price negotiable

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tristanturn/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristan-turner-716a83361?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Soundcloud: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2IMuB4OCNcPclzUUXCpwh5?si=Z7fhPCoFRsab4Oqf_FGGPw
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@turnerhudo?_t=ZT-8w0tBzsDuuc&_r=1

Image Credits
World Premiere of Pru Payne by Steven Drukman
BTS of “The Travel Companion”, PC Alex Mallis
Action/Model shots, PC: Kristina Ho
On set of “I Can See Your Voice”