We recently connected with Connar Brown and have shared our conversation below.
Connar, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I’ve been very fortunate and my family has always been supportive, and immersed in the arts. My grandfather practically founded the theater school at Virginia Tech, and was a huge contributor to the Moss Arts Center. My parents also did some community theatre, and even met while doing the Mikado at university. So, you could say I have “creativity running through my veins.” In regards to my history with theatre and the arts, I was kind of just always into it (probably due to the early immersion). There are home videos of my much younger self dancing to music, improvising songs about all of my plush dolls, and not subtly trying to get everyone’s attention. Starting in second grade, I pretty much took every opportunity to take the drama class, or be in choir, or audition for the school shows. I decided to continue and focus on the creative world through college. I attended Columbia College Chicago to have a liberal arts styled education, and was able to graduate with a BA in Acting, and with a double minor in Voice-Over, and Video Production. I made sure to have some production credits under my belt, in case I ever wanted to film or create my own content–and I am grateful for that.
It wasn’t until 2021, around the pandemic that I found my passion for producing and creating. My friend Brittany Devon and Fiona Campbell were taking a virtual Create Your Own Content class with Cathy Reinking, and invited myself to join. We took the class together for a few months, along with some others, and it turned into a Writers Room. We collaboratively came up with a mini-series called, Breakout, and we wrote all the scripts. In the heat of excitement, we were able to fundraise enough money to film the pilot. We had folks from Atlanta, New York, Chicago, and Grand Rapids, but through fundraising, we were able to send everyone to Grand Rapids and get the pilot filmed. Though the whole creation process was very collaborative, when it came to production, I took a very strong leadership role and was the main producer, and director. The week of filming truly felt like a fun creative retreat. I felt very fulfilled just being immersed in “creativity and play.” A few of us even ended up filming the first season of another project called Platonic Girlfriend. It was after that weekend when Brittany asked if I wanted to join a production company. At that moment, I hesitated, due to financial fears and the unknown, but something hit me a few months later where I thought, “I missed that creative retreat.” So I accepted to join, hence She Them Productions.
Connar, 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?
Yes, HELLO! You can call me Connar Brown, and I am a multi hat wearing individual based in Chicago. I lived in Japan for 8 years, London for 2, Atlanta for 4, and now back in my birth city of Chicago. I am first an actor, but I am also a director, producer, editor, puppeteer, voiceover artist, and overall someone that enjoys creating. So much so that I currently share a production company with a friend called, She Them Productions.
I pretty much have always had a creative mind, but I typically say I started acting when I was about 8 years old. It was back at the Tokyo International School of the Sacred Heart. My first show was put on by the school’s choir–it was a musical version of Snow White by Roald Dahl. I portrayed the Huntsman. From there I pretty much took every drama class opportunity. It continued in London at the American School in London, where I got to take a theatre trip to learn about Stanislavski, in Russia! In Atlanta I went to the Atlanta International School, where I took IB Theatre at a Higher Level (basically AP Theatre). It was there I found my love for puppetry through a production of Avenue Q Jr., and my strong interest in Physical Theatre. I continued the craft at Columbia College Chicago where I learned a wide range of skills from Realism, to motion graphics, to stage combat, to audio reel creation. I basically collected tons of skills, so if I ever felt obliged, I could create my own content, or support others with theirs. Today, I am still an active member of the Chicago Theatre community, and I offer freelance video editing services for a flexible acting schedule.
With all my various tools in my tool-belt, I get to put those skills to the test. As briefly mentioned, She Them Productions was founded by Brittany Devon and Fiona Campbell. After producing some other content together, I decided to join officially. We created content such as Platonic Girlfriend, Chicago Ned and Chicago Petey, as well as short films rooted in truth. Now Fiona is focusing on some amazing work in microbiology, while Brittany and I continue to leisurely produce content through the company. She Them Productions is mostly a platform for us to have fun and create. A way for us to share our own stories and characters instead of waiting for the industry to accept or pass. It’s a place for Brittany and I to connect with each other, laugh, create comedic bits, but then also get vulnerable and share stories that aren’t typically shared. For example, Platonic Girlfriend became a series about polyamorous relationships, the acceptance, the love, and the effects it can have on yourself and partner if not communicated “properly.” As we work on season 3, it is again transforming into a piece about self love. All the emotional core elements are based on real experiences and emotions from Brittany and Fiona. Our short film Relieved, which was recently released, covers content about emotional abuse from a friend, and is based on real emotions from myself. It’s a platform for us, but we also ideally want it to be a place for folks with similar experiences to connect, and feel seen.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
So I technically have two. One is the more professional goal: For me, I just want to be able to succeed in what I love. I want to reach a point in my career that I am financially, and emotionally secure with just creating and performing. I know it’s a little naive thinking potentially, but I just want to surround myself with fun and play. So I make sure to find those connections. I continue to audition. I continue to collaborate. I continue to dip my toes in a little bit of everything, and try to stay open minded. I create my own content when I can because not only is it fun and a way to express myself, but you also never know who might see it. And truthfully, I feel like I’ve gotten pretty close. I get to act, edit fun content, and create! That’s pretty much surrounded by fun and play. I also try to remind myself; I know my younger self would be amazed at what I have accomplished. (I mean, I got to perform as Spongebob in Spongebob The Musical for a weekend!)
My other goal shows my nerdy side, and is potentially a lot less long term: I want to be in some sort of content that gets me invited as a guest at a comic-con. It can be film, tv, animation, or even a puppet I perform. I just want to be able to attend a comic convention, or nerd/entertainment expo as a guest. My first convention was Dragon Con in Atlanta, and a whole world opened for me! I love going to them as an attendee now, and I try to go to C2E2 almost every year too. I always cosplay, see panels, and walk through artist alley. I don’t know. I just think it would be super fun and cool to be a professional guest. Seeing the amazing fans and supporters, and being able to see your character in cosplay!
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
There are many ways society can support artists. The big one being financial support, and removing the stigma of art not being hard work. I know I have been asked the question, “so what else do you do?” when I say I’m an actor. Why can’t I just be an actor? Being an actor and living in the creative world is hard work. I feel like if you personally know me, you think of me as a hard worker. I never stop…a pro and con… Both society and the higher ups need to continue to remember that ART is real and hard work. Especially when we live in a world where Artificial Intelligence is creeping up, and replacing tons of creative fields. ART. IS. WORK. I feel like when we reach a point where society doesn’t treat acting/theatre like a hobby, then we will have a more thriving theatre ecosystem.
But how can we also help on smaller scales?
Go to the theatre! In Chicago, we have a gorgeous array of storefront Theatres. The best way to support them is to go see their shows. Theatre really took a hit during the pandemic, and many are struggling to continue creating art. Creating theatre is expensive! There are a lot of pieces that go into creating a successful show. Going to the theatre supports the actors, the tech crew, the designers, the company, and the theatre. Your ticket helps a lot of people.
In the more digital world, you can support artists by interacting on social media. Like, repost, favorite, and share the content of your favorite artists to help them reach a wider audience. Support by watching content. If you have a friend sharing a video they made, then watch it. Watching, and interacting are simple, and free ways you can support artists.
Another ask is to support real artists before supporting AI.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.connarbrown.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jgcbrown97/
- Other: For She Them Productions: website: https://www.shethemproductions.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/shethemproductions/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzijNvFd_s57m4cS6IGRGyg Breakout video link: https://youtu.be/j4uen___vlk?feature=shared
Image Credits
Photos by Elisha Knight, Allie Idrac Photography, Tyler Core Photography, Stills from She Them Productions (DP: Tanner Hamilton, DP: Kenny Boos).