Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amelia Bryant. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Amelia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
It is so easy to do the seemingly “right thing” – the thing everyone has told you to do. Save your money, go to college, but do it in-state, get a practical degree, live somewhere less expensive blah blah blah. You could do everything “right” – but sorry, kids, you’re still going to experience loss and hardship. There is no easy route. No simple steps to take. The advice that everyone is giving you is just wishful thinking of “if only”. So, if everything is hard…maybe just do the hard thing. The thing you never thought – even if you had been born into wealth and privilege – would be within reach. You can sit there and do risk assessment after risk assessment. You can make all the right choices, but we’re still going to the same place (the grave).
When I was 18, in college in cold Chicago, confused, and downright depressed, I decided to uproot my life and go study drama where I had always dreamed – London, England. The rich history of literature and art, plus some sexy, sexy government funding in the arts, drew me in closer. Hearing my complaints, an exchange student from Rose Bruford in South East London said “why don’t you just audition for my school?”, I finally asked myself…Why DON’T I??? I”m already unhappy – what is the worst that could happen? Would I rather look back in regret – because silly little humans are going to either way – or say “hey – I did that.”
I packed my bags, moved to England, and started my drama training. Was it hard? You bet. Still the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I went through intense culture shock (just because we are speaking the same language does NOT mean we are saying the same things), I struggled to make friends, eat the food (like a little salt, England?), learn how to get medication and use the healthcare system and renew my visa and… I could go ON. But I also found so many like-minded people that came from all over the world.
Was it worth it? YES. Anything worth it packs in a lot of suffering, but the most important thing is what you learn from it. My whole belief system was challenged because I finally got to look outside of my own bubble. I questioned, pondered, pontificated, and my art has been so much better for it. I decided my work needed to become more meaningful. I realized there that I didn’t want to be just an actor and singer, I wanted a hand in the whole creation process. I started writing my own plays and songs, directing, and producing, which has led to my job as an associate at FlipNarrtive, a new production company focusing on representing unheard voices. That in itself is incredibly risky – but I would have never done it if I hadn’t already survived the cliff jump that is moving abroad.
It’s a tricky balance – because mental health is hard to balance even on a good day. What kind of suffering is good for us is hard to asses. So I say all of this with a caution sign “don’t do this if you don’t feel like you have a stable foundation” because the ground can and will crumble beneath you. Whether it’s moving, taking a risky job, or even going on an adventure that could prove fatal – like hiking (if you’re me, that includes a walk to the park), make sure you have your brain together enough so that when the Earth starts to shake, you got your safety kit. It’s a lot harder to save yourself when you already flailing.
The second hardest thing I ever had to do was get on a plane and say goodbye, for now, to my new home upon graduation. My life is all about looking for the next challenge, not for the reward at the end, but for the sake of the challenge itself. Luckily, the human experience is all about grabbing someone’s hand and jumping into the abyss together. Because trust me, if you jump, you’ll find plenty of people falling right next to you. I think that’s pretty beautiful.
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 aman actor, comedian, singer, writer, educator, and all-around creative. I am a recent graduate of the Theatre Arts program at Rose Bruford College in London. Originally from Eastern
Kentucky, I currently reside in Los Angeles.
Experiencing both the scarcity in Kentucky and the extreme wealth in London gave me a passion for creating political satirical comedies. Upon graduating from Rose Bruford, I self-produced and performed in an original piece, Crystal Vision, a live cabaret commenting on the exploitation of spirituality. My partner, Alex Patterson, and I are developing a new piece with original music set to debut next year.
I also has 8 years of experience working with drama therapy programs and elementary schools, offering acting as a tool to help children and young adults on the Autism spectrum to socialize and learn.
I look to bring my passion, uniqueness, and creativity to a variety of roles in both film and theater. While I continue to establish myself as a multi-hyphenate artist, I am proud to have recently joined FlipNarrative as an Associate Producer.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
In America, we are facing a labor movement and a crisis in the arts. The WGA/SAG strike has only proven how much support actors and other artists need. There is certainly a lot of misinformation about the work ethic and how much money goes back to those who work on it vs. the top CEOs. I think, from my experience as a struggling artist, the most important element is community. There is a strong community of artists who work to support each other, but it’s quite insular, and those on the outside struggle to see its purpose. For that reason, we grind to find funding for our projects. While grants exist, if you can get through the paper work, we often see art programs completely slashed. People struggle to find the value. During my time in England, I was pleased to learn about the Arts Council – a government fund completely dedicated to developing creativity and culture. Meanwhile, across the pond, Americans turn on the TV everyday, but then talk about how they don’t want their kids in that field, despite media being this country’s biggest export. We must place more value on the arts, and direct the money more towards to artists.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Like most human beings that were alive in 2020, I had to rethink pretty much everything. I was stuck in England for a year, and during that time I decided to take a break from theatre and work on film once I graduated. I left London, where I had planned to stay, and moved back to the States. I decided, for the time being, I would rather be close to my loved ones in case any big disasters and shut downs might occur. This was crushing. I loved my life in England, but I also didn’t get to meet my nephew until he was way past the cute little alien infant stage or hug my mom or go to my music teacher’s funeral. I get back to America, spend a year in Chicago, met the love of my life, and we then moved to LA only for…wait for it… A STRIKE TO BREAK OUT! My point is – I’m still pivoting! I am still learning. I have made big, risky choices. Some have worked. Some have maybe made things a little more confusing, but isn’t that the world? I am learning that adaptability is the most important skill you can possess. There is a lot you cannot plan for – like pandemic and labor movements – so staying flexible and creating structure for yourself (not based on whatever everyone else is doing) is so important. I have finally decided to stop trying to pigeon hole myself as someone who works as a theatre artist or in film. They are sisters with a lot of overlap. You can apply this to any field. If you can stay flexible, the world is your oyster. Unless you don’t like oysters.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ameliareedbryant.com/
- Instagram: ameliareedbryant
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/amelia-bryant-739326229