We were lucky to catch up with Christine Weber Rivera recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Christine, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

My short answers: Yes, and yes. But to really answer this first question, I find myself needing to go a bit further back than I would necessarily have anticipated. I came into the life of a creative at the same time my mother was re-igniting her own–she had studied to be a director, but largely gave it up in service of helping my father build his business and to raise my brother and me. By the time I was 9 or 10 she had introduced me to the world of theater and I never really looked back. In all my years working across the United States, whether in large houses, independent films, studying in London, or training with world-class institutions, “Are you happy as an artist” is nearly always the question paired with the statement, “…because if you can do ANYTHING ELSE that you like doing, then do it.” This, I have found, is a bit too reductive to be fair. More reliable day-to-day structure, less rejection, higher pay, better opportunities for advancement–all of these “regular job” benefits are almost always the collateral that come with the life of an actor or director. So of course the thought of jumping ship and getting a “regular job” has crossed my mind–I’d be shocked if you ever came across an artist who hasn’t entertained this idea multiple times throughout their careers. But what I’ve found as my career and life have shifted (again, multiple times!) is that being an artist/creative is actually more a life philosophy than strictly a profession. These days we have folks like Elizabeth Gilbert who are heralding the inherent creativity that each person holds within them. “The Artist’s Way”, a tried-and-true workbook for anyone looking to cultivate their own confidence and understanding of their own creativity, encourages everyone to think of themselves as artists…that part of the beauty of this life we have is to express ourselves in the ways we can, through the outlets we can, when we can.

Christine, 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?

I have been an actor since I was a kid, and launched myself into formal training at a young age. I was lucky to study at the Children’s Theatre Company, where I studied voice, dance, and performed in many shows, including the Intensives where teens would dive into challenging material like “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” (ever see an 18 year old Nurse Ratched? That’d be me). After high school I continued my studies at the University of Minnesota’s renowned Guthrie BFA Actor Training Program, studying under Ken Washington, Kenny Mitchell, Lucinda Holshue, Steve Cardamone, and Marcella Lorca, with masterclasses with the likes of Charles Keating, John Barton, Mark Rylance, Helen Carey, Kerry Washington, and more. I spent the first ten years out of undergrad traveling the country, performing and directing with regional theaters and acting in commercials and films. My passion has always been to present (as actor, director, etc) honest, authentic, raw, deep works–and I’ve always hoped for the chance to really hook into a role that will allow me to stretch further than I’ve been challenged to before.

I absolutely love being an artist. In the decades I’ve been part of this industry, I’ve often been presented with opportunities to get out of it (toxic directors, job offers in another industry, etc). But no matter my frustrations, I just can’t seem to make myself leave it behind. Acting, theater, film sets, writing, production meetings–they’re all part of who I am, and I am proud of all the work I’ve done. But as I’ve grown, and as my family has grown, my idea of a challenge has evolved. For years I’ve wanted the next big challenge.

This led me to pursue my Master of Arts Management degree. It’s a rigorous, data- and analytics-heavy program, with classes in law, statistics, economics, while also equipping us with industry know how. I’ve been loving my time as a student again, and have been simultaneously pushing my own creative projects forward: writing/polishing two screenplays, co-producing a colleague’s short film, acting in commercials here and there; the usual life of the creative. My aim in pursuing the degree is to be in a leadership position of some kind–whether that’s as a producer for film and television, or an artistic director of a theater company. Time will tell . Wherever I end up, I hope to be the kind of leader that makes each team member feel valued, inspires collaboration, and guides a project or institution with integrity.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I deeply value my training as an actor, and have always loved the idea of apprenticeship. So I spent a lot of years refusing to claim titles that others claim freely and quickly. I didn’t, for example, feel comfortable calling myself a director for many years because I had never had any formal training/schooling. I had been assisting directors for more than 5 years, and directing my own shows for several years, still refusing to call myself a director. Then a friend of mine finally asked me why I had such a hard boundary around the idea, and I had to make peace with the fact that I was dealing with some major imposter syndrome. But even more than that, I grappled with the idea that there is no straight path in this career. Every actor/artist is required to be an entrepreneur, businessperson, manager, and more. And it also serves nobody to sit around waiting for someone else to bestow a title on you, or offer you the challenge you’ve been waiting for. Sometimes you have to try doing something first (and even fail at it a few times) to learn what you want to learn–and that is often just as valuable as formal training.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Two things: freedom and community. I love how much freedom there is in it! Too much freedom can sometimes be overwhelming, and you can become a bit aimless. But when harnessed and focused, there’s so much space to carve your own path, pursue your next interest, try something new…it’s a unique vocation that offers a lifetime of exploration, collaboration, and expression. The commoditization-of-artist aspect of the industry can be incredibly disheartening, but with experience I learned that there’s a difference between being an artist/creative and being a professional. As a professional, the acknowledgement from outside sources is key to building a career and providing a living–whether it’s by booking the gig, or getting a good write-up, or whatever. But being an artist is untouchable by outside forces. Nobody can take away your creativity, your vision, your artistry. Nobody can take away your curiosity and drive.

My friend and teacher Michael Laskin–a brilliant actor in his own right–has spent most of his life in LA, working in film, tv, theater…he’s worked with some of the “best in the business”. He could have just coasted on his hard work and good fortune, but he now dedicates most of his time to coaching and nurturing the next generation of actors and artists coming up. His studio focuses on offering a safe space for actors to shake off the day-to-day headache of the industry, come together, and challenge one self to step into the next artistic curiosity. He has built a gorgeous community of supportive actors who come together–even all through COVID via Zoom!– and offer support and encouragement, friendship and camaraderie. The community aspect of being an artist is magical: to make and share work with people of all ages, from all over the world, and all different backgrounds…while having to form trust and understanding quickly…there’s nothing quite like that. “Finding your tribe” — in the least groupthink way possible! — has been so incredible as I get older. I feel lucky to have brilliant friends and colleagues everywhere I go.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://christine-weber.squarespace.com
• Instagram: @cmweber4
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-weber-rivera/

Image Credits
Ann Marsden, Dave Ash, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Sonny Valicenti, T. Charles Erickson, Peter Bean, Charlie Griak