We were lucky to catch up with Patrick Pizzolorusso recently and have shared our conversation below.
Patrick, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I can’t say there was this defining moment where I said to the world à la Michael Scott, “I declare I want to be an actor!” Instead I think it was a slow realization during my childhood. If I had to point out the initial seed that started this slow realization, or this slow trek to a life in the arts, it would have to be the Muppet Show. Also, relatedly, Sesame Street. But, mostly the Muppet Show. As a kid, the Muppet Show was in reruns but whenever it was on, I was glued to the television. Having watched Sesame as a little kid, I knew pretty quickly that there was a human behind those furry monsters. But it didn’t click that those humans were making a living bringing these monsters to life. It wasn’t until the Muppet show that it dawned on me that they’re performing. Clearly I needed it spelled out to me since the Muppets quite literally are performing in a large theatre. That combination of special human guests interacting with the Muppets all to an audience, I was mesmerized.
Couple that with the relationships backstage, the joy and love they all felt for one another and for performing, I now had this growing need to be a part of that. In a way it was my first exposure to Vaudeville and slapstick, the purposeful intention to make people laugh. These early lessons from the Muppets are ones I have kept with me to this day, they’ve served me well. I often like to describe myself as a physical actor, and it’s because the Muppets showed me you could make someone else laugh by being physically silly.
Like every child after a night of television watching, I’d go to school the next day and try to recreate what I saw. Me. A small child in elementary school, trying to mimic the comedic genius and timing of the Muppets. There were no amazing performances, but the laughter I received fueled that craving a lot of artists have, and only made me want more.
Fast forward to the premiere of Star Trek the Next Generation. I know I’ve just dated myself, you’re welcome. I had grown up in a fairly sci-fi filled house and the original series was on regularly as my parents sat with pride sharing these beloved stories with their kids. I will admit, I’m the only one who really went for it. Science Fiction is not a shared interest among my siblings, unfortunately. While the original series was wonderful and unbeknownst to me, started building a firm understanding of Shakespeare in my slowly developing artistic mind, it wasn’t until the Next Generation came out that something truly clicked. Where the Muppet Show was entertainment and bringing people together, Star Trek was telling stories. It was telling fantastical stories. Stories I wanted to be a part of and share with the world.
As I sat there watching this ship hurtle through space, enter everyone’s favorite nerd, Whil Whaton as Wesley Crusher. There was a kid flying the Enterprise. FLYING THE ENTERPRISE! Playing a pivotal role in these fantastical stories. In that moment i realized several things. This is a job people actually have! Not the flying of the Enterprise, but acting in a television show. And there is space out there for kids like me who dream big. I’m fairly certain from that moment onward my trajectory as an artist was sealed.
Like all artists there are bumps in the road but I’ve stayed the course doing my best to inhabit characters and tell stories that need to be told and shared. Star Trek and the Muppets are both fantastical vehicles for story telling but under it all, there is a human just trying to make someone laugh, or save Star Fleet. Sometimes both at the same time.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I could say that I was born performing but that’s not true. Well maybe for a kid in the suburbs of NY we were all performing in some way. However, I truly started studying the craft of acting and learning what kind of artist I am in high school. I was fortunate enough to have a very encouraging and robust performing arts program and any chance I got to perform I took it. The next logical step of course is to head off to college and I am still thankful for the friends and the lessons learned in my UnderGrad program at USF in Tampa. As a strictly undergrad program, the opportunities to create and perform were plentiful and we all took advantage of any chance we could to create something. Either working on a mainstage production or creating student backed performances just to try something new.
My undergrad also afforded me the opportunity to work with professionals in all theatrical fields from all over the world and solidified my love for Shakespeare. (something I’d need when I eventually moved to NYC.) We had a steady stream of theatrical professionals visit and teach from British actors and directors, to modern Irish playwrights to stage combat classes. All of which I am still drawing on to this day for inspiration and lessons.
After college I packed up my classically trained diploma and headed to NYC like all good young actors. I am not a singer so I didn’t have any big broadway musical dreams. Though, that doesn’t mean I’m not opposed to them. I began taking classes and auditioning for anything i could find that i’d be right for. Remember I mentioned Shakespeare? Well he’s everywhere in NYC in the summer. I’ve performed Shakespeare in parks, in a pizza place, in someone’s basement apartment, a parking lot (while the local mobile dog washer cleaned out their van), in the middle of Times square, and several old churches.
While in NYC I was working steadily as an actor both on stage and in some very indie films. There was a bit of a cross over and I was cast in one of the most meaningful roles i’ve ever worked on. The Last Cyclist by Naomi Patz and directed by Edward Einhorn. This was a stage play recreated from surviving text during the holocaust. it was a production that was written and rehearsed in the Terezin ghetto but ultimately was not performed. Our production was a recreation of that performance that never was. This piece is something I hold near and dear to my heart as it brought together a cast whom I love and adore every member of, and because I am deeply proud of the work I put into my character, the titular last cyclist himself. This piece was remounted and recreated a few years later as a film and I am still forever thankful to have been asked back to be a part of the film. The subject matter is still unfortunately relevant in today’s world and the words of these artists coming from past horrors are still necessary and need to be heard today. Of all the projects I have worked on and all the pieces I have been in, this has been my proudest to date.
The Last Cyclist inspired me to work on my own projects as well and as I’m currently living in Los Angeles, I have started working on self producing my own work. Any artists reading this will be familiar with the idea of self produced, or just that thought of, “make your own work.” in the aftermath of the strikes it feels even move important than ever to make your own work because the business is still awfully slow. I started small with a little silent short many years ago. But they say write and work on what you know. I have s small Shakespeare short i produced and of course acted in that’s been in the festival circuit. Most recently I have just finished filming a project that has been in my head and notes for the past 11 years. A small sci-fi short based on real events. it’s currently in the editing phase but this project is the biggest I’ve taken on myself and I hope to continue and create more.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
You’ll often hear people say it’s not the destination, it’s the journey. While I agree with that completely. I will say for me as an artist the most rewarding thing is seeing something that you created quite literally come to life in front of you. I was exchanging emails with my editor who is currently working on a short I wrote and produced….and starred in (of course), and I told him how he put a soul into a collection of shots and takes I handed him.
That moment when I sat down brewing with anxiety and fear that this gamble i’ve taken, this vision I have just wont work was a terrible moment full of feelings I don’t want to visit again. But seeing this project come to life before me. The performances jumping off the screen. My fellow actors making amazing choices with the words i wrote and our crew coming together to capture beautiful magic on screen is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever felt.
Yes absolutely the journey was amazing. The days shooting with a crew of extremely talented people who stepped up to keep us moving forward towards our goal were the most fun days. Getting closer to friends and getting to know new professionals is always a joy. That journey is wonderful. But the end result, seeing it all come together and getting chills when something you created and envisioned in your head is there on your screen in front of you is like no other feeling I know.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I think my goal with everything I’ve done with my career is to tell stories. To pick up someone else’s voice and tell their story. Tell it as faithful to them as I can and to honor who they are, be they a writer who wrote a crazy farce, or a historical piece and I am the voice of someone who.s voice can no longer be heard. I just want to tell stories and tell them in a way that impacts the audience and leaves then touched or altered in some way.
Equally as an actor on stage or on set, or as a filmmaker putting all the pieces together, I want to tell stories. I want to tell fantastical stories but keep them rooted in the world we live in. I want to keep them grounded so anyone seeing them will be able to relate in some way to the story or the characters within.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.patrickpizzolorusso.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pactorpizz/
