We were lucky to catch up with DIANA CASTLE recently and have shared our conversation below.
DIANA, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?
I grew up in a world of people who saw green. They couldn’t see purple, didn’t want to acknowledge that purple existed, and when they saw glimpses of purple, most of them were just plain mean. I had to learn about the green state of awareness in order to survive. If you take a map of Los Angeles and try to navigate NYC with it- you’ll be lost. This was an early lesson in my life- that wisdom, courage and compassion are developed through the power and practice of the empathetic imagination. Gratefully, my parents, who were also purple, encouraged my purple creative self while at the same time supporting me the best they could to navigate the green world. Once I left the green world, I was introduced to all the colors of the rainbow. I met other purple people, as well as more green people- and felt gratitude for the experience of what I learned from the green people early in my life.
Cultivating the ability to engage – especially with those who may “other” you or with whom you feel a divide or difference, having the courage to navigate uncertainty, and most especially the practice of making commitments and following through with them, I think these are all absolutely vital abilities in the work of art, in a career, in relationships with people- and most especially in my relationship with myself. Getting very clear about what my core values are as a human being has made choosing and pursuing all the goals in my life much clearer and more satisfying. The combination of empathic curiosity, a willingness to engage, to make mistakes, to learn and grow, and the importance of taking committed action in line with my core values has been key for me.
DIANA, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Countless actors artistry, careers and lives transformed. I’ve been coaching and teaching professional actors my philosophy, practical application and daily creative practice for 35 years . Our amazing staff at the studio- for over 20 years. Actors marvel at the individualized care they experience at The Imagined Life®. This is because we don’t teach a blanket “technique”- we teach people. We believe in the transformative promise of “acting as the art of the empathetic imagination”- and we get to see it daily. We care deeply about facilitating lasting transformation and celebrate seeing it translate into real career effects. Our introductory workshops are dynamic experiences where the actor acquires practical tools that address their unique needs and can be practiced daily. Every other art form has a clear daily creative practice- except the art of acting. We all know that a habit is something you do a lot- so you get good at it! Our daily creative practice is not dependent on other people – and it’s a game changer. This is just one of our many unique offerings. A few of the words actors use to describe their experience of The Imagined Life® -“enlightening” “transformative” “life-changing” “magical” “powerful” “illuminating” and “fun.” We’re grateful for the opportunity to coach and teach online as well as in person at our beautiful theatre/studio space. In this way we’re able to share this philosophy, practical application and daily creative practice with actors in Los Angeles as well as worldwide.
Have you ever had to pivot?
Covid 19. Until March of 2020, we’d been conducting our acting classes and private coaching sessions in person at our beautiful theatre and studio space in Los Angeles. I’d travel to NYC and Lisbon to conduct The Imagined Life Introductory Workshops and intensives or I’d travel for on set coaching and/or occasionally do a FaceTime coaching call with a client. Everything changed on 3.13.2020. We moved onto Zoom that day. By Monday 3.16.2020 our classes went online and we haven’t looked back! Why didn’t we think of this before?! It’s been amazing! Now we get to work with actors worldwide and those actors are also getting the opportunity to network with each other- which has opened up the field in so many ways for them. How wonderful to see an actress in Auckland, New Zealand playing with an actor in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s really a reflection of what TIL is all about-the widening of our empathetic embrace. The zoom format has offered so much expansion and benefit for everyone in so many ways. We continue to conduct our in person classes at our theatre in Los Angeles as well. This “pivot” transformed an obstacle into an opportunity for all.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The experience of play and all the gifts that come from the widening of our empathetic embrace. Warren Beatty said “you’ve achieved success in your field when you don’t know whether what you’re doing is work or play.” I’m so grateful that I feel this way about my chosen path in life. As a mentor, teacher and coach, I get to do meaningful work in alignment with all my gifts and values. In order to stay engaged and resilient, rewards always have to be larger than challenges. The rewards of developing the play spirit, doing this creative work on a daily basis, expanding my capacity as a mentor, teacher and coach and experiencing the impact that it makes on my students and clients art, careers and lives far outweighs any challenges. I’m so grateful that I get to live my Imagined Life®!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theimaginedlife.com
- Instagram: @theimaginedlife
- Facebook: Diana Castle’s The Imagined Life
- Twitter: @DianaCastleTIL
- Other: I AM Audio Lecture: https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-imagined-life/294719510 Audition or Opportunity Audio Lecture: https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-imagined-life-the-art-of-acting-vol-2/304434552