We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ford Ferreira. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ford below.
Ford, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I love acting and am so fortunate to work in this artistic, imaginative space. However, pursuing a creative path took me a long time compared to other actors I’ve met. Being relatively pragmatic, even with a deep passion for the arts, realistically, I didn’t see a lot of other actors who looked like me growing up. So, I was apprehensive initially; it wasn’t until I started performing and getting encouragement from acting coaches and working actors in the industry that I decided to go for it. Being in an industry that is so inconsistent, making authentic connections with other artist who can share their personal experience and knowledge has been vital in me navigating this business.
Ford, 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?
I guess you can say I wandered into the industry; it wasn’t a direct, strategic path. I decided to return to school later in life and was planning on pursuing a career as a therapist. Acting resulted from being rejected from my Master’s program and enrolling in classes to do something creative. I began booking jobs relatively quickly on different casting networks, and it’s been such an education. You learn so much about yourself in this industry; it’s a deep exploration of your psyche. When prepping or performing, you constantly tap into different core memories, emotions, and sensations.
What sets me apart from other actors is what I initially felt would stifle my ability to work. I’ve now embraced that I am not your typical person next door with a conventional commercial look. I represent a shift in what I hope continues to grow in momentum within the industry. We are just now starting to see that audiences are desperately seeking something new, innovative, and original rather than the same recycled storylines. I want to be a part of that change, any change that makes more people feel a sense of belonging. I am most proud that I’ve stayed the course despite the challenges of this business, especially for those performers in the LGBTQ community.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
There have been so many rewards I couldn’t weigh one against the other. I love being on a set where you can feel a buzz of creative energy, different artists coming together to catalyze a story and bring it to life; there’s nothing quite like it. Having the opportunity to explore these narratives conjured up by such inventive minds is such a gift. To observe other artists in their process is fascinating to me; most importantly, witnessing the passion creatives have for their craft is something I deeply respect.
Another reward would be the incredible talents you meet in this industry. Recently, I booked a small part with a director I’m a big fan of, Jennifer Massaux, on a short. She was so encouraging in her direction it made every actor on set want to do their best work. Everyone from the cast to the crew was so warm and welcoming. Despite what people say about this business, I have met some of the most incredibly kind and generous people.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
What I usually hear from “non-creatives is why anyone would want to subject themselves to the harsh criticisms of auditioning and performing while fighting to find work. And they’re not exactly wrong; this business is not for everyone. Almost every actor I know has adopted a certain mental armor to keep going. However, knowing all that, if an artist is still pursuing their dream, it’s because the passion and love for their art outweighs the struggle. What’s always helped me, and this isn’t just as an actor but just the human experience in general, is coming to terms with the fact that not everyone will get it, and that’s okay. The only thing that matters, is how you feel about what you’re doing, and how you feel about yourself.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ford.ferreira/
Image Credits
Photographer: Noah Gilman Hair: Karen Huls