Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alexander Ray. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Alexander, thanks for joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Since moving to Los Angeles 3 years ago, I’ve done nothing but work in front of and behind the camera.I’m a big believer in putting in the ‘ten thousand hours,’ and so I try to constantly put in a lot of time and effort in the areas I’m most passionate about: acting, writing, directing, and editing.

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 was recommended to do modeling from a family friend after my high school year book photos turned out well. So I did a 6 month modeling & acting program that led to me getting an agent in metro-Detroit. I subsequently went to college for acting, where I also did some directing and screenwriting classes. Since I really enjoyed those classes, I soon began thinking I was more tailored for filmmaking, instead of acting, and attended a film school after graduating with a bachelors in theater. A couple years into studying filmmaking, however, I regained a passion for acting, and since then have done both.

For acting, I’ve been in several independent features, crime reenactment shows, and commercials.

Filmmaking, I’ve written, directed and edited a web-series, multiple short films, and some music videos, the latter of which I’m most proud of. I’ll be directed a SuperClass – basically an off-shoot of MasterClass – coming up for a client.

Filmmaking allows me to express my own vision of entertainment, and I tend to produce creative stories full of quirky characters and colorful imagery, as exemplified by my Dragnet of Spies web-series and the Jason Biyo- “Flavor” music video.

While these are my own creative pursuits, I’ve also worked as a Production Coordinator, Set PA, and Assistant Editor for other productions.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I don’t think I could die content if I didn’t direct some feature films, as that’s my main goal and dream in life. I’ve written a half-dozen feature film and TV pilot scripts, some of which I have serious hopes of producing one day. Of course the one thing you need to direct is not talent, experience, or network connections; it’s money, and feature films are ridiculously expensive. So I’m still figure out how to get the money needed to produce my own feature scripts, and am trying to keep busy in the meantime.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

When I went to High School, the curriculum seemed to be designed by and for STEM careers. If you performed well in math and science, but not the arts and creative writing you were smart. However if you excelled in the arts and creative writing, but not math and science, like myself, you were almost seen as dumb. I think we all have our strengths and talents in life, so I think there’s a better way to create the curriculum, and not discourage more right-brain students.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/alexandertheray
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexandertheray/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLuCFUFdWVvAmYaORabJIg

Image Credits
The photographer of the 2 blue rain pictures is Daryana Fly The photographer of the red picture where I’m wearing a black leather jacket, and my fingers are at my mouth, is J Corso The photographer of the 8×10 acting headshot, where I’m smiling clean-shaven and wearing a dark blue sweater, is Jackson Davis