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

Canaan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?

Embarking on a life adventure as an actor, designer, entrepreneur, and all-around creative, I’ve journeyed through many twists and turns. Growing up, my parents did a great job sheltering me from the harsh realities of microaggressions, latent homophobia, and racism. They instilled in me a firm belief that I could achieve anything, but the world had its own ideas about how a young black boy should behave, leading to assumptions about my sexuality. Funny thing is, people seemed to figure out I was gay before I did. This led to a lot of misunderstandings and misinterpretations about who I am.

Even now, as an adult, these experiences echo in my creative pursuits. I recall a talent coach in Los Angeles suggesting I needed to “black it up” to succeed in the industry. While her words shocked me, her track record suggested she might be onto something. But having come out of the closet, I wasn’t prepared to hide my true self for success.

I’ve always been a private person, sharing details about my personal life only when necessary, like on my podcast “Date Smarter Sexier” with Andrea LaRosa. But I’m open about being a gay black man married to an Irish man. Despite this, people often form assumptions about me based on my height, appearance, and skin color.

In my acting career, I’ve noticed a trend. I often audition for either the sassy gay best friend or the polar opposite – characters stuck in harsh urban environments. Rarely do I get the chance to audition for roles of everyday people dealing with everyday situations. I’m always seen as a stereotype, which makes it tough to land roles. Casting directors seem unsure where to place me: I’m not flamboyant enough for the typical gay roles and not “urban” enough for many black roles.

Society seems to have a narrow view of how gay black men in the spotlight should behave. Despite the misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and the occasional struggle to get people to pronounce my name correctly, my commitment to becoming a working actor remains unshaken. I’ve always found movies incredibly moving, and I long to contribute to this art form, telling captivating stories that will draw audiences in.

Through years of introspection and solitude, I’ve grown into the person I am today. Some might see me as blunt, but I never set out to hurt anyone’s feelings. I’m just being me. I take pride in my determination to keep going, even when the going gets tough. Despite not always getting the response I hope for, I keep pushing forward.

Sharing these thoughts feels like a bit of a risk, but it’s worth it. I’ve seen the unhappiness that comes when performers have to hide their true identities for the sake of their careers. I want to succeed, but not at the cost of my authenticity.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

In my college days, I had the incredible opportunity to take an Acting 101 elective with a remarkable professor who was also a Black Shakespearean actor. His lessons served as a springboard for my acting career, leading me to the off-Broadway stages of New York City. I look back fondly on performances like “Tales of the Black Veil” by Night Force Productions, where I delved into the roles of a vampire and a flamboyant art dealer’s assistant. On top of that, my background work on shows like “Lipstick Jungle” and “SVU” gave me a tantalizing glimpse of life on set.

After my stint in off-off Broadway, I decided to take a step back from acting to explore other ventures. But as it turns out, you can take the actor out of the theatre, but you can’t take the theatre out of the actor. A spark was reignited during a Warner Bros. studio tour after I moved to Los Angeles. It brought back the encouragement from a retired Broadway actor who, years ago while I was waiting tables in New Jersey, had urged me to keep pursuing my acting dream.

Now settled in sunny California, I’ve been tirelessly honing my craft. From improv classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade to lessons in fight choreography and on-screen acting, I’ve been soaking up as much knowledge as I can. The vibrant L.A. improv community brings back the nostalgia of my theatre days in NYC, and I’d love to immerse myself in local improv shows. Even though I ventured into entrepreneurial pursuits, the yearning for the stage never really left me.

Watching my peers land roles and climb the career ladder has been inspiring, even though my own journey has mostly led me to background and minor principal roles. Despite audition after audition, callback after callback, with no major breakthrough yet, I’m not giving up. I’m confident there’s a role out there for me, and I’m determined to find it.

Balancing the emotional highs and lows of building an acting career, I’ve also nurtured my entrepreneurial spirit. I’ve poured my creativity into launching a clothing line named Canaanwear and setting up ventures like the GENTLEMN Company and a publishing company. At the end of the day, my goal is to be a dynamic performer, a renaissance man who thrives on variety and excitement.

All these facets of my life contribute to my identity as a creative individual. Whether it’s my style, my actions, or my hobbies, they all paint a unique picture of who I am. While this might make it tricky for others to categorize me, I’m comfortable being just Canaan. I’m not interested in labels or fitting neatly into a box – I’m simply Canaan Dewey, and that’s enough for me.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Supporting artists and creators is easy – pay them fairly. Many non-creatives complain about lack of support while also wanting high-quality work for free. This puts a lot of pressure on artists. They need to make a living while also trying to create their best work.

A good portfolio is important, but artists also need to pay their bills. Money stress can stop artists from doing their best work. They’re too busy worrying about day-to-day stuff to fully focus on their art.

Every few years, there are strikes that show how some people make a lot of money from the work of artists. The artists themselves don’t get much of that money. Sure, producers who bring the art to the public deserve a reward. But artists should get more than just the minimum.

I’ve heard people say that art isn’t needed in this world. But those same people wear nice clothes, drive cool cars, and enjoy music and movies. Everyone enjoys art in some way. It makes life more fun and less stressful.

So, artists deserve more than the minimum. Making art is hard and can be stressful. Artists choose this path because they love it, not to be taken advantage of. The best way to support artists is to pay them what they’re worth. It’s not cool to save a few bucks at their expense.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Sometimes, people who aren’t creative themselves have a hard time getting why creatives need to work a certain way. Creativity pops up everywhere: making cool social media images, planning great events, writing interesting press releases, coming up with gripping short film scripts, or even cooking up a tasty last-minute dinner for unexpected guests. Creative people trust their gut to make stuff that everyone can enjoy.

Creative people might work in ways that seem a bit weird. This can lead to misunderstandings, like being seen as standoffish, dismissive, quiet, or even as a diva. But really, being creative needs realness, and it thrives on a flow that can be easily broken by interruptions.

When they’re interrupted, creatives might seem a bit snappy, but it’s not because they’re mean—it’s just that it’s hard to get back into their creative groove. It’s important to be nice and respectful to each other, even when this happens. Being creative isn’t an excuse for being rude.

A lot of the misunderstandings between creatives and non-creatives happen because of bad communication and not understanding the creative process. To help, non-creatives should give creatives some space, avoid hovering, and only start conversations when a draft or finished piece is ready for feedback.

Working better together can happen by understanding and respecting the creative process. This will help reduce stress in creative workplaces. Good communication is key, with non-creatives giving creatives space to work, and creatives being more open about what they need. This mutual understanding and teamwork can lead to more fun and successful outcomes for everyone.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.canaandewey.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/canaandewey
• Facebook: twitter.com/Canaandewey
• Twitter: twitter.com/canaandewey
• Other: www.canaanwear.com

Image Credits
Butler Suite Photos