We were lucky to catch up with Anthony Misiano recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Anthony, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

In this industry you usually work as an artist-for-hire. It doesn’t really matter what the art form is, whether you’re an actor, director, an editor, photographer or anything else. You put yourself out there, you seek out projects that need X position filled, and you apply to that job. You’re a rendering machine. Someone needs a piece of work created a certain way, and you deliver that work. And while it *is* incredibly fulfilling to get to a place where you’re keeping your lights on solely through working as an artist, I personally felt like something was still missing.

Primarily I work as an actor and editor, so my job is essentially taking someone else’s work, and trying to breathe a little extra life into it. I help bring their babies into this world. But I almost never did the same for me. I would always tell myself, “well, you’re not a writer”. When people would ask “why don’t you make a film for yourself?” it was the same response, “I would but I’m not a writer”. It wasn’t until I hit an unexpected lull in work in 2019 that a director friend said to me, “use this time to write something for yourself, you’re a good writer.” What was he talking about? Does he mean that short film I showed him that I made all those years ago? Does he mean those sketches I used to post on social media? Are those “writing”?

It turns out he was right. Maybe not that I’m a good writer, that’s not up to me, but that I am, in fact, a writer. I do have stories to tell. I was able to create a one-man show called “I Squeezed Really Hard” in 2021 that ran for a few weeks here in New York. It received a surprising turnout and glowing reviews, and I’ve since began working on a film to be made later in 2023 that I will also star in. Original work. Work that is my own. And the funny thing is, the time I take away from working for others to create these projects for myself haven’t hindered my outside work. In fact they’ve even helped by way of exposure, exposure that specifically showcases I’m more than “just” an artist-for-hire.

Don’t tell yourself you can’t do something, at least not before giving it an honest, earnest try. And don’t be afraid to take the tools you have at your disposal, all of the skills that you’ve learned and earned, and put them toward creating something YOU want to create. You have a voice. Use it.

Anthony, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Some of my earliest memories are of creating things. Whether I was drawing or painting, making puppets out of paper, or at 5 years old transforming the top of my dresser into a primeval diorama made of playdough and household items, I was always making something. And at 13 years old I was bit by “the acting bug”.

The short version of that story (we don’t have time for the full version, trust me) goes like this: I was in the eighth grade, I was incredibly unpopular, and I ended up on a stage in front of the entire school making about two thousand students laugh (and they never knew it was me). Well that about sealed the deal.

In my mid twenties I moved to NYC and hit the pavement at full speed. Between acting, editing and occasionally directing, I’ve managed to keep my head afloat over the past decade in this city I now happily call home. As an actor I’ve worked in television, independent film, commercials and voice over – I like to think at this point you’ve likely seen or heard me somewhere and had no idea. With both editing and directing, I’m very meticulous and decisive. I’m always afraid that because of this I might be a pain in the ass, but people tell me they’d rather I be specific than vague. At the end of the day, if nobody’s laughing on set, something’s terribly wrong.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Truthfully? Friends.

I was an only child from a broken home, I was always a bit of an “odd-duck”, and so the safest place for me to turn was inward. I very much tend to work alone. As an actor I prepare alone, as an editor I edit alone, and as a writer I literally just sit with my thoughts. So it took me a while to understand the value of networking, of connecting with peers within your industry and staying in touch, nurturing those relationships and building those friendships.

I think in every industry, progress comes only in part by the work you do, and largely by who you know. That’s not to say that you don’t have to do good work and earn your place, you do, but the best jobs you get are going to come from people who worked with you in the past and enjoyed the experience and what you brought to the table. Those people are going to remember you, and it’s your job to remember every single one of them if ever you’re in a position to hire or recommend someone. You are a bearer of your generation, the people who came up with you, so keep them close to your heart and value them.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

Tulip mania’s some crazy shit, am I right?

Contact Info:

• Website: https://anthonymisiano.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/howdyanthony
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3272133/