We recently connected with August Gladstone and have shared our conversation below.
August, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
My most meaningful project at the moment is my indie pilot, THE LAW BROTHERS. I came to Los Angeles to make comedy TV (as so many do) and quickly landed at a high level operator in the Film & TV industry. It’s been an amazing inside track, but has revealed firsthand the scarcity of the holy “YES!” in Hollywood. Seeing these opportunities disappear has been disheartening, but galvanizing. Even if the business-heads refuse to admit it, there is still a cultural desire for TV-ready comedy, and a mountain of talented people ready to make it.
Making your own work IS that “yes.” THE LAW BROTHERS came together off a script that got encouraging feedback, but more importantly, was producible. Existing in the hotbed of underground, up-and-coming artistic desire in LA it was easy to find a team of incredible people willing to work for the sake of creation. I’m thrilled that people put enough faith in me to give their time and money to a project I wrote, produced and starred in, but the real pleasure has been giving other young, hungry artists and producers the chance to lend their talents and voices to something broad, quantifiable and collaborative.
We scrapped together $10,000, a remarkable cast of clowns & thespians, and a highly skilled crew. We’ll be premiering in early 2025. It won’t be perfect, but it will be special if not for the mere fact that it is REAL! We’ve put something into the world! It will be absurd and hilarious and never-before-seen. This piece is so meaningful because of how much it means to more folks than me. THE LAW BROTHERS was a chance to satiate the beautiful artistic hungerers clamoring for spiritual meals. Beyond the success of this project, I deeply hope that it inspires others to go out, make what they want to make and provide opportunity for others. It’s what we need in an increasingly tempestuous world.
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’m August. I’m many things. Writer, Poet, Clown, Actor, Troubadour, Producer, and Notorious Bother. I grew up in a circus troupe family of local (Long Island) thespians. I’ve been acting since I was 3 years old and was on Broadway by age 6. Storytelling is the family business. I feel it in my bones. I’m not hard-wired for anything else. I went to Emerson College, majoring in Writing for Film and Television with a Minor in Comedy. I moved to Los Angeles immediately following graduation in 2022 to pursue that instinct on the grandest scale possible. Shoot for the moon or whatever.
Being in the heart of Hollywood has caused my dreams to mutate quite extravagantly. I am still quite committed and constantly working on the path of the Hollywood Screenwriter, but it’s a challenging one. It’s riddled with no’s and stagnation. While that makes the “yes'” all the more valuable, this industry has a penchant for putting artistic souls in an iron maiden, squeezing them till the sweet ichor of passion runs dry. I am still writing and filmmaking, as mentioned regarding THE LAW BROTHERS, but from the independent angle. This is a city full of artists who shouldn’t wait for industrial permission to express themselves.
As wonderful as Filmmaking remains for me, I needed to find a more immediate form of sharing work as well. This led me to Poetry and Music. The poetic community of LA has been inspiring, uplifting and spiritually salving. As close a thing as I’ve found to church. I’ve only been writing poetry for two years (since I’ve moved to LA), but am incredibly proud to say I’ve gotten published 7 times this year. I put together a full-length collection which got signed by a truly incredible book agent – we hope to get it published in 2025! A major goal of mine is to elevate the cultural presence of poetry. It’s flown under the radar for too long, but is such a powerful, truthful means of expression that cuts through so much of the noise in the world. Through a combination of traditional publishing, filmmaking, performance poetry and digital work, I really hope to galvanize folks towards linguistic acrobatics.
I’ve been chirping about myself for far too long, so I’ll quickly mention that I am also a folk singer-songwriter. I’ll be putting out my debut album in 2025. It’ll be real sweet. We have an exciting year of creative unveiling ahead. I do hope you’ll join me on this journey and share with me as much as I’ll be sharing with you. There’s never been a more important time to be each others biggest supporters.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
The most important thing we can do as a society is to be vocal and unequivocal in our support of up-and-coming artists. If you see work that you think is great, share those thoughts with the creator! It’s an isolating world, that of the unknown artist. Especially in LA where the city drowns in talent and we are faced with insurmountable odds every day. Go to their shows. Read their books. Watch their films. Buy their prints. Get off your phone and out of your comfort zone. Do whatever you can to show your friends and community that they are seen and supported. Artists who support other artists are the greatest kind!
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Self-Perfection. I want to be the best that I can be at the things I like to do. It’s for this reason, I don’t believe my creative journey will ever end. There’s an incessant voice in the back of my head urging me onward, saying that I can do more, be more. It’s certainly not the healthiest mindset, but I do think it’s a common one amongst creatives. On the plus side, I love what I do. It makes me feel alive more than anything else. I will always be proving something to myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://AugustGladstone.com
- Instagram: @NormalAugust (https://www.instagram.com/normalaugust/)
- Facebook: August Gladstone
- Linkedin: August Gladstone (https://www.linkedin.com/in/august-gladstone-1152a2211/)
- Youtube: @NormalAugust (https://www.youtube.com/@NormalAugust)
- Other: Spotify: https://artists.spotify.com/c/artist/5ZCN2uiVqxsgqOK8jdbq3E/profile/overview
Image Credits
Liz Vespe, Robby Gessel