We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Connor O’Brien. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Connor below.

Connor, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

The biggest risk I ever took was for myself and my dreams. I am from a small town in Indiana and grew up knowing everyone in town. I didn’t know what I wanted to do or be when I grew up but near the end of high school I became really involved with the theater department. At first it was behind the scenes tech work. But I always wanted to try to act on the stage. I auditioned for a role and got it and had the most amazing experience with such a small role. That is when I decided that I wanted to perform for a living.

It was daunting to say the least. I had less experience than most people who peruse this career path but that didn’t stop me. I auditioned for my dream college and got into their BFA program for acting and performing arts. I ended up graduating with honors.

I got an agent by taking risks every day. I got a IMDB pro account and emailed 10 Agents a day every day for two weeks straight. I was shot down multiple times and was ignored throughout but I kept risking my neck and the reward was well worth the risk.

Today I am a represented actor by the brogan agency and I create YouTube content on the side under the name alemonlad. Had I not taken the risk and perused my ambitions I would have never been this far along in my career. I am still taking risks to this day!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hello my name is Connor J O’Brien and I am a 23 year old entertainer. I started in technical theater and then soon wanted to try out life on the stage and have never looked back since. I spent three years at AMDA LA and graduated with a BFA in performing arts in 2022. I am currently represented by the Brogan Agency.

I like to view myself as an entertainer more than an actor. I have multiple hats that I wear throughout the day to do the things that I love doing. Just to list off a few of the the things that I am passionate about, acting, content creation, improvisation, and, combat choreographer.

Acting has been a strong passion of mine. I love both stage and film acting so Hollywood has been the most fitting for me personally. I have recently been apart of a stage reading of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet. As far as the most recent filmed production Ive been apart of it would have to be a short film coming this summer called “All good”. It fallows a teenage kid named Ashton (me) as he figures out his hard and complex family life. Althouhg this has been the most recent project I tend to do 3-5 auditions each week.

Content Creation has been a really fun creative hobby for me. I am on twitch and youtube under the name alemonlad. I mainly stream video games and make funny music videos and sketches with the character “Lemon Lad” who is just me in a yellow morph suit and a lemon hat. (Sounds fun right?) I upload at least three videos a month, aswell as stream once a week. making that a total of 7 unique viewing experiences. I take these videos and make instagram reels and tik toks to spread the name around. The channel hasn’t hit a huge stride yet but I have loved the experience. I have leared so much editing wise that it helps with my self tapes while I act!

Improvisation is something that I find myself doing all the time. I helped with a really fun improv group in Hollywood that is called Rat Milk. This was just a few of my buddies making some fun long form improv and it has now become something bigger. It has been a blast to see the group grow. I had to take a step back due to my calender but I really liked being apart of something that cool!

Combat choreography is really fun to do! I got my certification in knife combat and am currently taking classes to get my small sword certification! I have choreographed two shows for a community theater in Moorpark. One being Romeo and Juliet and the other being The Play that Goes Wrong! Stage combat has been in my life for over five years now and I cannot see my future without it!

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

When I graduated high school a week later I was on a plane to Los Angeles to go to my school of choice. (AMDA) Life moved really fast for me ever since. My uncle got me this book called “Steal like an Artist” By Austin Kleon, this book has impacted my views on creativity and how to go about making art. The book was a short read and that was a big selling point for me because I prefer reading comic books over normal non-fiction books. This has since changed but I digress. Steal like an artist put a certain kind of power in my hands that I never thought I would have as a creator. I learned that I didnt have to do 100% my own thing but that I could be inspired by one thing and turn it into my own unique Idea. This in turn made my creative side able to take the flight that it has so far, and I don’t plan on stopping.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

One of the most rewarding experiences that comes from this career path that I have chosen is that it is so gratifying to make work that I am proud of. I remember when I was making videos with my class that never saw the light of day. Watching everything everyone made was so fun because we all kept this standard when making videos and skits. I look back on some of my old work and see the passion that still is apparent in my current work. I still laugh and am involved with those older projects. Seeing the growth is something that I will always be grateful for.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: connor_J_obrien
• Facebook: Connor Obrien
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkQ3UoUuSakeBdo4O6U0FSw
• Other: Twitch: Twitch.tv/alemonlad IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13618253/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_0_nm_3_q_connor%2520j%2520obrien