We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Anthony Grant a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Anthony, appreciate you joining us today. 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?

I’d say that most days I’m happy to be an artist. There’s something about the unpredictability of artistic opportunities and being able to work in a creative space that doesn’t get old or lose excitement no matter how often it happens.

While I truly believe that people should pursue what really makes them happy, I’m also aware that we live in a mostly results driven world.

It’s hard when you know that,as a creative or artist, that you will NEVER
truly get an equal return on the efforts put in.

You put a certain level of effort into eating right and the gym? You will be in better shape. You work extremely hard at excelling at your job? At some point you’ll likely reap the benefits in the form of a promotion and raise.

You can consistently put in an Oscar worthy acting performance in your auditions for a decade straight and not book the types of roles you’re more than talented for. There have been times that I have to remind myself of the creative fulfillment and growth that I’ve experienced over the years and not focus too long on the “what if” when it comes to thinking if I should’ve chosen regular employment. You have to be willing to see the dream through no matter what road it takes you down and have faith that the end result will be worth it.

Anthony, 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?

Of course. My name is Anthony Ryan Grant. I was born and raised in Miami Florida and come from a Jamaican cultural background.

I’m primarily an actor but bigger than that, I’m a creative.
Throughout my career, I’ve made music, art, and I continue to write. I ultimately want to look back on my life as things that I’ve tried and achieved rather than things I wish I had the courage to try.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

The one story that immediately comes to mind is what happened my first year moving out to Los Angeles to pursue my Acting Career.

I was just coming up on my first year anniversary and I’d gone home to Miami to visit my family and friends as well as celebrate my birthday. LA was a lot more expensive than I’d realized so I’d already used up almost all of the money I’d saved up to live there. I was very homesick and to make matters worse, while on this trip, my long term girlfriend and I ended up breaking up. Then, not even 48 hrs later, my roommate called me saying that he’d upset our landlord so badly that we were getting evicted.

So I have an eviction notice to look forward to when I get back to LA, I’m breaking up with the woman I’d been dating for the past 5 years, I’m homesick, I’m not auditioning at all and I’m almost broke. To say that I wanted to call it quits with Los Angeles was an understatement.

Despite all that, I made it through and I doubt I would’ve experienced some of the wins I ended up having had I thrown in the towel then and there.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think Society is overdue on truly recognizing and properly compensating the creative ecosystem for which it depends on for just about everything.

How many more times are we going to continue to hear horror stories in the fashion world, music and entertainment industries,etc about creatives and artists who have to fight to get two nickels to rub together because the corporations, who make millions of dollars from creative ideas, also look for new ways to undercut, undervalue, and underpay said artist and creatives?

Stop cutting artistic programs in educational institutions. Let’s make it easier for artistically gifted people to have access to resources to hone their craft.

Why is it such a risky career move to join the entertainment industry when said industry collectively nets billions of dollars? Most people wouldn’t consider it as risky to go all in on a career at Apple.

Ultimately,I believe the creative ecosystem deserves a level of infrastructure and support second only to essential career paths.

Contact Info:

• Website: AntoniusDaGreat.com
• Instagram: @antoniusdagreat
• Facebook: OfficialAnthonyRGrant
• Twitter: @antoniusdagr8
• Youtube: Antonius DaGreat