We caught up with the brilliant and insightful AJ Danna a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
AJ, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?
I feel very fortunate to have met a variety of working actors at a young age, who opened their hearts to mentoring a young creative. In the entertainment industry, the concept of “competition” can sometimes get in the way of the teamwork crucial to creative success; however, the majority of fellow actors I’ve worked with have been openly positive about helping one another. One of the kindest things I’ve ever experienced was the delivery of a simple paper airplane. One of my mentors had tossed it to me from the stage they were performing on at the time; written on the paper was the name of an improv school that they felt would be a good fit for me at the start of my journey. That simple gesture, representing a willingness to share their world with me, opened me up to a career and lifestyle built around joy.
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?
I’m proud to be working as an actor and creative in the immersive themed entertainment industry. While show business at large is often dominated by technology, the power of utilizing face-to-face connections continues to hold value in immersive theatre. Audiences can metaphorically (and literally!) step into their favorite stories when visiting branded immersive entertainment experiences, or be introduced to original stories in a more interactive format than television or film. While theme parks continue to be a large part of the themed entertainment industry, temporary pop-up activations promoting films, shows, and games often appear in public spaces… bringing experiences with theme park quality to a city near you!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Navigating this particular industry has been a rewarding experience, as it utilizes aspects of many different fields I’ve explored and experienced from every angle. Performing in live theatre, working on film sets, and understanding the “business” of “show business” have all come in handy when working on immersive themed entertainment experiences. I suppose one of the biggest challenges (and thus biggest rewards in the end) remains how to keep audiences engaged and participatory; as I’ve found with younger audiences in theme parks, it may sometimes be shocking or overwhelming to see your favorite characters interacting with you face-to-face instead of behind a familiar screen. As a kid who grew up going to theme parks, however, I was never afraid of jumping right in… to the point that, when I was a toddler, my mother had to pull me back to stop me from dancing alongside my favorite characters in a Disneyland parade! Finding the right balance to create guest-driven, guest-centric experiences can produce meaningful rewards for all.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
As an entertainer, I have found valuable inspiration in visiting an array of creative experiences and destinations around the world. One of my goals has been to learn from as many different creators as I can; there are so many ways to approach a metaphorical canvas, and I can almost always find something that resonates with my own storytelling philosophies in each of them. If you have the means to travel, I’d definitely recommend doing so for your own creative journey. I personally find joy in observing how other individuals in my creative disciplines are expressing their talents in different markets, with different parameters to consider. While this research can also be accomplished by staying on top of what’s new via social media coverage, the experience of learning from fellow creators face-to-face is often worth the expense and effort. I’ve been fortunate to have conversations with some of the immersive themed entertainment industry’s brightest team members during trips to Las Vegas, New York, and San Francisco – all of which went on to become some of the most inspiring tools in my toolbox, and helpful means of fulfilling my goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.ajdanna.com/
- Instagram: @ajdanna