Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Zachary Scalzitti. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Zachary, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?
Ha! I suppose I never really think about what it’s like to have a “regular” job considering I wait tables five nights a week. I’m left only wondering when my next creative outlet will happen.
The future does concern me though. With how much uncertainty there is in this business it’s hard not to spiral. I’m one that strives to be present & in the moment but too often am I left panicking. However, if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that the more you try to make sense of the uncertainty the more doubt you bring upon yourself.
I grew up in a very small, Midwest, Italian household where we valued one thing above all else: family. The driving force in all that I do is to make my family proud and bring honor to our name. We all had to overcome a lot of adversity together and, even through our darkest moments, we were always there for each other. Which is why in my personal darkest moment it only made sense my family was there to pull me through.
As one would expect when making a big life-changing move, I had a lot of doubt about what I was setting out to achieve. Toward the end of my college career I entered a really dark place questioning my purpose each and every day. My whole life I always scoffed at the idea of having a “backup plan” and for the first time I was panicking that the doubters were right. I had a conversation with my parents that really grounded me and put into perspective where I was and what I needed to do. They lifted me up and reminded me of everything I had already done to get to where I was. They encouraged me to get help before moving onto this next chapter of my life. It’s funny, it took me reaching my lowest point to acknowledge I needed help and so I decided to go to therapy. It was there we unpacked just how worthwhile my contribution is to this world. The difference my passion could make for the arts, and no matter how long it took the journey will be priceless. Forever prioritize brain health!
Often times the greatest hardships we face provide us with an opportunity to discover our ideals and who we want to be. I want to be an artist for life, I want to make a difference with my gift and give to others what I had trouble giving myself. The conclusion I came to was to rely on my faith. Faith that there is a path laid out for me, faith that my hard work will pay off, faith that the present moment is better than anything to come. My best friend, who’s practically my brother, Jake taught me that sometimes faith has to be a downpayment for your future. That it’s better to participate than anticipate.
Zachary, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Zachary Scalzitti and I’m an LA based actor pursuing my dream of film & TV. Having recently graduated from the University of Evansville with a BFA in Theatre Performance, I work toward devoting my life to telling meaningful and impactful stories for all. I believe both the cinema and theatre to be the only places people can sit and completely live in the moment. There is no better feeling than leaving a theatre feeling truly changed by a work of art, and any way I can contribute to that process is a blessing. I was born & raised on the south side of Chicago and am very proud of my hardworking, resilient, and sincere roots. In many ways my home isn’t a place but more my identity, as I try to live out the ideals & values I was raised upon that make me the person I’m proud to be today.
From a very young age I always loved helping people smile and escape their everyday problems. I would film silly little videos of skits I wrote, perform talent shows for my family they 100% enjoyed watching, and reenact scenes from my favorite films. It wasn’t until I saw my uncle, an aspiring actor himself, perform on stage that I knew I may have found my platform. He co-founded a theatre company, PAC Rats, at South Suburban Community College in Chicago. He acted, directed, produced, and built the sets for many shows there, and when I saw him transport that entire theatre to a different world I knew I wanted to give it a try. In the eighth grade I played the genie in Aladdin Jr. and the response from family and friends, primarily my uncle, was so positive and supporting that I knew I wanted to pursue it professionally in my life. I continued studying it through high school into college and my love, passion, and devotion for the arts only grew. I became so secure in knowing this is what I’m meant to do with my life and nothing was going to stop me. My senior year of high school my uncle got me into a show at South Suburban that he was building the set for. One night after rehearsal we talked in the parking lot until 2 am about everything; life, family, relationships, school, the future. He confided in me that, even though his dream didn’t quite pan out the way he envisioned, he was living his dream through me. It was the most special thing anyone had ever said to me. However little did I know that would end up being the last conversation I had with him, as he was killed in a car accident a few days later. Now through every audition, job, workshop, and everything in-between I carry him with me because we’re in this together. Until I’m holding that Oscar thanking him for the endless love & support.
The thing I’m most proud of is my endless dedication to making my dream a reality while forever staying true to who I am. If there’s one thing I’d like for people to takeaway it’s that hard work and perseverance, through any adversity, pays off. Los Angeles is a tough city, it tries to change you in many ways. Anyone else working in the arts knows the odds are stacked against us in this industry, but if you are genuine, collaborative, kind, forgiving, selfless, understanding, open-minded, respectful, and gracious you will succeed. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
It’s so easy to get caught up in the difference & impact we can make in other’s lives through the power of storytelling, that I sometimes forget the positive effect a process can have on me. Most notably my collaborators in said projects, fellow artists that band together to work hard and overcome many hurdles for one common goal: meaningful art. You learn the most from people around you and there’s two instances that immediately come to mind.
One is a show I participated in my sophomore year of college called “Columbinus”, a play that takes a look at American high school adolescence, isolation, brain health, social pressure, and suburban evil through the story of the Columbine shooting. This obviously was a very difficult story to tackle and touched on themes that, while very important to share with an audience, frightened us at times. However, the love & understanding we all had for one another and that story propelled us each and every day. We were all so passionate about the impact we knew we could make that, through any distress, we turned to each other. We needed each other. Our director created such a secure environment in which we were able to enter & leave the space safely. An environment that utterly changed my outlook on what true collaboration looks like. Unfortunately, we never got to share the story as it was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But that story and those artists will have a lasting impact on me forever. Not only did this group of people make me a better actor but a better person.
Second is the first feature film I had the privilege of contributing to after moving to Los Angeles. “Summa Cum Loser”, a dramedy about just how cutthroat the entertainment industry can be and a group of friends banding together to pave their own path. These were the first artists I was introduced to in the city and the familial bonds we all created with one another in such a short time was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. These are some of the most genuine, selfless, talented, compassionate people I’ve ever met who are all just trying to kickstart careers. In particular our director, Sydney Welsh, is one of the most inspiring people I’ve ever met. To watch her start from the ground up and personally write, fundraise, produce, cast, direct, set build an entire film on an ultra low budget is unlike any work ethic I’ve seen. It pushes me to be a better artist, which is why I’ve started writing my own projects! My first film out here proved that anything is possible in LA with the right group of people. The film is coming soon so be on the lookout!
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
The in-between. The in-between sucks. There is absolutely nothing worse than wrapping on a set and waiting months on end for your next creative outlet. Which is why when people say “create your own work” you should listen. It’s the only way your artistic mind won’t go ballistic because the hardest thing to come to terms with is that it’s a marathon. It’s a constant daily affirmation of telling yourself it’s a matter of when, not if. No matter how small or insignificant, get your beautiful art out somehow. Write a short story, buy a coloring book, perform the Gettysburg Address as if you were Shakespeare, film yourself reviewing the Chili’s 3 for me, write a song parody. There’s people that have the luxury of practicing their dream each and every day, why should an artist be any different? While I do believe everyone to be a creative in their own respective way, a true artist is never satisfied. Make the next opportunity yourself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://scalzittiz.wixsite.com/zack
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zacharyscalzitti/
- Twitter: https://x.com/ZScalzitti
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@zacharyscalzitti9214/videos
Image Credits
David Zaugh – Zaugh Photography
Daniel Knight – Studio B