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

Andrew, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

As an actor in the film/tv business I am constantly striving to better myself as a person and artist. This is because through my acting I want to be able to share meaningful stories that impact the world for the better. To help people connect and see themselves represented and know that they aren’t alone in how they feel. As I age and grow, I realize more and more that this is my true purpose in life and as an artist. One of the first times I experienced this sense of purpose was right after I played Huck Finn in Big River the musical. I was sitting in my counselor’s office and she told me that ever since her daughter saw me she hasn’t been able to go to sleep without listening to one of the songs from the show. THAT has been my driving force and continues to fuel me as an artist to this day.

Andrew, 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?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on so far has been The Mulligan. A movie all about second chances, The Mulligan follows Paul McAllister as he realizes what is truly important in life through golf. I play his estranged son Jake and during the shoot it was the first time I felt truly at home on a set. The entire cast and crew became part of my extended family and I am forever grateful to have that connection. The message of the film made this experience even more meaningful to me. Mulligans, aka second chances, are not something we get often in life anymore. We live in a time where one comment, post, tweet, etc. can destroy a person’s life forever, even if it’s not true. I believe everyone deserves a chance to grow, change, learn from their mistakes and be heard. We as humans must have compassion and empathy to allow others to grow rather than just canceling them out.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think the biggest thing that non-creatives struggle to understand about the creative life is the amount of work that goes into it and the reasons why we choose this path. For me, acting is where I feel most at home and it’s the only profession that I can imagine doing that would make me happy. That’s the only reason why I do it. The other misconception is that if we aren’t on set or on stage we aren’t working. Actors spend countless unpaid hours working on auditions, monologues, accents, physicality, mindfulness, acting classes, ect… We are working hard to make sure that when the opportunity does come, we are ready for it.

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

I think the best thing that society can do to support artists is to really appreciate them and the impact they have on the world. When Covid-19 hit, what did everyone turn to? The world turned to entertainment to provide escape from the horrible pandemic that still plagues us. We need to provide more comprehensive financial and educational support to allow artists to thrive. Artists can really impact the world, and we should be given the space and support to do so. One of my favorite quotes is from actress, Uta Hagen and it encompasses the power of the artist.

“Since the time of the ancient Greeks a democracy has depended on its philosophers and creative artists. It can only flourish by continuous probing, prodding, and questioning of the social conditions under which man exists and tries to better himself. One of the first moves of a dictatorship is to stifle the artists and thinkers who have the ability to stir up dissent from any prescribed dogma which might enslave them. Because the artist can arouse the curiosity and conscience of his community, he becomes a threat to those who have taken power.” -Uta Hagen

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10596213/?ref_=tt_cl_t_16
• Instagram: andrewbrodeur11

Image Credits
Calvin Aurand, Adam Hendershott