We were lucky to catch up with Garrett Alexander Watson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Garrett Alexander watson , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Taking a risk

Id like to call this passage: ‘ As an Actor: Beyond the Glory and All The Fame. ‘

I think many of us today see our favorite actors on tv and film and commercials and get really excited. Because it’s SO entertaining.

But what did it take for that person to get there? How did they make the journey?

Well, everyone’s journey is completely different, and I will say, they all required major risk. So, let’s talk about risk.

I began in the commercial market a few years back. I believe it’s been 7. And that trek really was interesting because I learned fast to bring headshots and show up 10-15 minutes early in person for my auditions. Obviously that changed during covid, but I will say that every actor should be focused on making sure their self tape set ups are done well and they’re bringing their all because zoom has brought a lot more competition! And you will be doing tons of auditions throughout the year, so make sure you learn to throttle yourself so you don’t burnout. Audition burnout is real. Please take care of yourselves.

In regards to Tv and film (currently
In the game at 4 years,) which I will be utilizing to discuss the bulk of my journey; it found its way to me. When I first moved to Orlando from Philly I had met an actress in a gym here who persuaded me to work with an acting coach in Atlanta. I went for her summer intensive and studied there for a few months. That was Mornell Studios. So I ended up driving 7 hours for a 3 hour class, drove back to Florida on a 3.5 hour – sleep in car – 3.5 hour drive back and start my day. I think one of my friends recently called it “car camping”. If you’ve got a full size sedan it ain’t too shabby, and even better when you’ve got a warm home to come back to!

I was there for a few months. Between doing that, commercials, and working at a night club, I was burnt out, to a point I would even go as far as to say was extremely unhealthy.

Then Covid struck. And everything became virtual. But around that time block I ended up auditioning for a TV show on Starz (lionsgate) twice, called Step Up: High Water. I didn’t get either role. But my agent at the time called me and I got an offer for another role. I ended up taking my first co star, shot it in Atlanta. Now the best part about this trip: So on my day there, I was standing with the series regulars. A lady named Holly Sorensen (writer show runner and director) came up to me and introduced herself. She said to me that she loved my
Last 2 auditions so much, that she made this character just for me. And then she gave my character the name Nelson, which was someone she personally had known.
I felt at this point like I had been in the right place.
(Unfortunately the show got cancelled by time it aired; most shows during Covid had 1-2 years delaying before release due to many reasons. )

The next part of my trip was getting into acting classes. If I was going to move out of co star roles I needed to up my game. I began online at Berg Studios with a few coaches like Camilla monet and Cornell Womack, and also began workshops and intensives, with coaches like James Kempt and Kristof Conrad who developed actors in Yat
Malmgren and Alexander technique.

I also worked with Tessa auberjonois (I hope I spelled that right) in a voice and speech course too.

From there I had found out about an online class from a talent manager named Kyle Fritz who helped
Actors get themselves ready to find (west coast) representation. A lot of the students in the classes raved about a guy named Howard fine. So I figured I’d try an online workshop or two. Then that went into continuous online classes. And then that went into the 4 day in person intensive in LA. The rest is history.

I also enjoy working with Rus Blackwell and Micheal Testa too.

My friend, (amazing) writer and director Daniel Martineau is someone who’s helped me on a lot of class tapes and last minute turn arounds.

*And with this industry being so fast and quick for turnarounds on tapes and class assignments, I highly suggest everyone find a steady person or 2 they trust to work with!

Now we will get right back to that. At this point in time I had booked my first independent feature and had a lead role. It’s still being edited, but I was an archer and took archery classes. I mean, how else do you prepare for a character without getting the physicality down as well, right?

I also booked my second feature film, the Boyfriend Trap. I auditioned for a lead support and got bumped to a lead. The character I auditioned for was actually brown haired, green/blue eyed and over 6 feet. But I saw a character who I related to and submitted. I know a lot of actors may not do that stuff but I sometimes find that being unorthodox can be very fun. So if I see a breakdown that’s me, even if it’s “in another body” I’m submitting. The worst anyone will say is “hell no”.

I then booked my third feature that was shot in LA. Aisle be Home for Christmas. It featured on Great American Family Network and then went to Amazon Prime and Apple TV +. I guess I can say this now since it’s been 2 years since I shot it, but I didn’t audition for this one. I got an offer for it since I was scouted from the boyfriend trap film.
This movie had moved my career some, since it was the first time I had done ‘kit’work, radio interviews and was put into people, entertainment weekly and a few other big magazines! It was a very fun project and had a great cast,
production, crew and network too!

After this my agent and I decided we wanted to steer from romance and romantic comedy films. We had done 2, one in summer and winter, and I also felt the stories there had been told. So I wanted viewers to enjoy those stories, while I myself visited new ones. What I wanted and yearned for were stories of characters that had different kinds of struggles and issues; world- level problems outside of their own. Or internal issues that were very different to work thru.

A lot of people who were fans of the christmas movie I was in kept suggesting I do more, but I’m a story teller at heart. It’s not always about paychecks for me. I felt there were more tales to be told in other worlds and that’s where my pursuit has been ever since; Changing course when there’s a formula that works. Now there are some agents and managers who may not like that because it’s in a sense requiring more work and maybe even some rebranding. But I’ve always been true to myself, my heart and my wants, and I’ve always been open about that with my agent and manager too. And I love we’re all on board the same train!

Now, Believe it or not, I actually haven’t booked anything since I’ve changed course. Do I have days where I ask myself “what the hell am I doing”? For sure. But it feels right.

(This is where I suggest finding flexible job positions that will work with your career and dreams. This will also be one of the hardest things you’ll have to accommodate for, and you will eventually see why. But it is a must. The risk of having no work while you’re building your career in acting and entertainment is not a calculated one, and I would not recommend it to anyone at all).

In the mean time, I have had the chance to audition for some bigger projects since. I’ve had some great feedback from casting and gone to producers on tons of shows too! (I guess I can talk about these now too) General hospital – series regular, the walking dead series finale -major guest star, Line Sisters (BET)- major lead support, and more!

I have also auditioned for Black Adam, The Flash – series regular. Misanthrope (cast by John papsidera – lead), Sweet Magnolias (recurring guest star), Stranger Things Season 3 (this was actually my first audition ever), The Resident (series regular), Dynasty (series regular) and Denzel Washington’s Piano Lesson (lead/lead support) and a ton more.

Some of my favorite auditions have been for independent projects like Alaska, balloon animals, ellipses and semicolons, miskatonic U, just to name a few. The story lines for these projects were immaculate and honestly really up my alley. Sometimes these projects may have less of a budget than box office and streaming-contracted ones, but when there’s a story that calls to me, I’m generally going to respond.

Now what’s interesting on Miskatonic U, I wanted that storyline so bad. It was contracted as a series for Amazon Prime. HP lovecraftian; you know, cthulu kinda stuff. It was for a series regular role. Actually the director and CD wanted me and pushed hard but producers couldn’t fly and lodge me on that one. I was hurt. But these things happen all the time! It just wasn’t the right fit for me. Always more down the road, so keep going.

And there are some other big ones I’ve auditioned for. But the shows aren’t out yet, so I can’t speak on them due to NDAs.

I did audition for a lead role in Horror X which hit box office theatres in 2022. But back then I had no idea what the movie even was. Sometimes you never know the size of what you’re auditioning for, so it’s also good to get in the mindset of not trying to always calculate how much you’ll make IF you get it. Let your agents and managers handle that. That’s their job to get you the big bucks when you book.

In the mean time since booking, my friend Omwhitney and I have started a movie and show review podcast on YouTube called Beach Cat Cinema Corner. I’m also working on another podcast which will begin airing on YouTube in 2025, which will host my friend Logan Allen and myself (Allen Watson Audition Reviews) reviewing our auditions on the ones the ones we lost out on & the ones we’ve booked!

So, the point is, you will find in this industry that no one’s tale is the same. Studying and learning are required. Networking and pushing yourself are also required. Rejection happens. It’s a part of the process. Be careful of burn out. It happens a lot. Risks, and calculated risks will be mandatory. Get yourself out there. Get on stage. Get creative in your auditions rooms and tapes. Casting wants to see YOU. Pick up new hobbies. Another big one, and probably the most important is to experience LIFE. It is lived beyond the acting classes. Trust yourself. Trust the process.

Everyone’s journey started somewhere, but no two actors are the same.

As they always say, nothing ventured, nothing gained. 🎭🥂

– Garrett Alexander Watson
– @watsonalexander

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Watsonalexander

Image Credits

@shotsbynayshka