We were lucky to catch up with Chris Rodway recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Chris thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

Starting out nobody wanted to give me a chance, I got so frustrated not being able to get any work at all. So one day I pretty much just said screw it, if nobody else will hire me, I’ll just make my own project & hire myself. That’s exactly what I did, myself and my brother Sean created a comedy rap project, went out & got it funded, then recorded a single in a recording studio & made the music video. It was to this day one of the funnest times I’ve ever had in my life, & it’s what made me discover my love for not only the on camera work (which I absolutely do love), but creating my own projects & being in charge of the entire production! And that project is what led to me being able to launch my company.

Chris, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Chris Rodway, I’m an actor, producer, and rock & roll singer. I’m currently lead singer of the kick ass sunset strip hard rock band Madam Riot, our debut record is coming out soon, & if you wanna catch our show, we’re playing next at the Whisky a GoGo July 20th, & the House Of Blues Anaheim on August 5th!

As per acting, I currently have a movie coming out called Unplugged in the Head which I am playing one of the main roles in, but I’ve been on major productions like Better Things, Baywatch the movie, Permanent starring Rainn Wilson (VERY nice guy btw!), & many others.

And producing I am working on a horror anthology series based on several popular internet Creepypastas, & am also producing an indie sci Fi feature. My company is called Movie One LLC.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Well when I first came out to LA, I was a super active & athletic guy. I wanted to be a big action star, someone who does all his own stunts. I did kickboxing, skateboarding, rock climbing/rappelling, wakeboarding, anything fast or dangerous I was probably into. Then I got several major concussions, and was told by multiple doctors that I’d never be able to do sports or anything close to a stunt ever again, my brain just can’t take it.

Naturally that was pretty shattering to my career plans as an actor, for a long time I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be able to act again. But ultimately I healed enough to be able to do the work again, & I just completely pivoted into diving into the deeper emotional side of acting, doing drama, romantic comedy, etc.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Well semi recently I lost the biggest project of my life. It was something I had worked tirelessly on for 8 years, actually was able to partner with great producers, A list talent, & was talking with studios when Covid shut down the industry. During that time I lost the attachments & studio interest. When things settled I nearly worked myself to death drumming up a new deal, new set of A list attachments, & a clearer path to production & distribution for the project. Actually the deal I started to build was going to be dramatically bigger than the first version, instead of just a movie it would have been a movie, a video game, & the expansion of a NY Times bestselling novel series.

But after I set all of this up, I was literally about to get the paperwork going for the deals, the novel series’ estate decided to pull the option, I no longer was able to do anything on the project, & all my deals had to collapse. I had basically staked my entire future on getting this project made, & suddenly it was ripped away.

For most people this would be a career ender, most would pack up and leave town, find another path for their lives. And truth be told, I almost did too. In fact during this time I even contemplated suicide. But after a whole hell of a lot of thinking, soul searching, & talking to everyone close to me about it in depth, I decided I can’t give up. Even if I have to work the rest of my life to get half the opportunity I had, I can’t give up.

After this realization, I had to figure out what’s next. And not too much longer I found what’s now my biggest project, what will be a major tv series. I’ll be producing it, & acting in it as well.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/chrisrodwayofficial?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
• Other: Follow my band Madam Riot on Instagram @madamriotofficial

Image Credits
Headshots by Nogen Beck.