We were lucky to catch up with Kevin Saunders recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kevin, thanks for joining us today. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made (either in terms of time or money)? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

The best investment I’ve ever made (and continue to make) is investing in myself. I know this might sound a bit silly, but honestly, it’s true! I think we as people are quick to put a value on things that are either physical or things we can outwardly see the potential for growth. For example, if we put money into a savings account that can accrue interest, we know the money will grow if we keep our investments in that account. However, when it comes to things that don’t equate in the same way, we’re quick to look past it.

Personal growth and investing in ourselves are some of the greatest possibilities available to us. What’s beautiful is that it’s a never-ending investment that will continue to grow throughout our lives IF we put value on it. Investing in myself, understanding myself, and aiming to nourish those investments as much as I can, has led me to a lot of the accomplishments I’ve acquired so far in my life. I guess for me, it became a way to focus on being a better me and betting on myself first, above any other odds. We hear things in our industry like: “The likelihood that will happen is…”, “1% of actors are…”, “You’ll only get on TV if…”, which are all opinions based upon another person’s perspective. But when you invest in yourself, you become who you need to be for any and every opportunity this life has to offer you. And personally, there’s just something magical about that!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

At heart, I’m a storyteller. I grew up watching many movies and television shows which vastly expanded what was already a quite vivid imagination (haha). I knew I wanted to become an actor when I was a child, but fear kept me away from actually pursuing it. I had an underlying fear of the rejection acting had waiting for me, and felt I may not be good enough to “make it”. Because of this fear, I shifted my dreams to pursue the mental health field of study, in hopes of becoming a psychiatrist with a private practice. Helping and inspiring others has always been a focus of mine in my life, and I felt this might be the “safest” way to do that.

It wasn’t until my freshman year of college that I had, what I call: “my first real acting experience.” Marat/Sade was the name of the very first play I was in. As obscure and interesting as it was, it motivated me to take acting seriously and pursue it as a career. When acting became my primary focus, part of this realization was rooted in what movies, stories, and characters did for me. I would be helping a lot of people, but while doing that, I’d be fulfilling my own joy. Art is therapy, and this art form has helped me and many others have breakthroughs in our lives. The intentions and life principles rooted in becoming a psychiatrist became even more vivid as I found purpose in my craft. The beauty of wearing the mantle of director and producer is that it gives me an even bigger say in what stories I’m able to create for people to see. If my art is a gateway to healing and “feeling” within people’s lives, then I know I’ve done my job.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Three books come to mind that have truly impacted my journey and overall entrepreneurial perspective: Kevin Hart: I Can’t Make This Up, Mark Betterson: Draw the Circle, and Paulo Coelho: The Alchemist. Each book has unique perspectives that I hold close to my life for many different reasons. In my opinion, every artist needs to read Kevin Hart’s book. It speaks about resilience, determination, hard work, and perseverance while chasing a dream, even if your life circumstances seem like they’re working against you. Mark Betterson’s novel requires an intentional commitment surrounded by trust and faith which is needed when life feels “impossible”. Finally, Paulo Coelho’s iconic journey in The Alchemist showcases and excites the embracing of the unknown, and unlocking the underlying power we have inside us. Each novel I’ve listened to/read multiple times along this journey to keep my perspective positive and in line with my overall purpose.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

If society shifts its value to what art is, I truly think perspectives would change, and the creative ecosystem could flourish. Oftentimes, art isn’t seen as a “real job” unless it makes a certain amount of money. In film, you’re often not seen as successful or “doing it” until you’ve got a billboard with your face and name on it. In actuality, many of the unsung heroes in our art form don’t make it to that level, yet they are making a living doing what they love. It doesn’t make them less than an artist and they shouldn’t receive any less praise. I too have been blessed enough to have my art pay my bills, yet I’m not famous. Although I have major dreams and goals, just having that privilege is so fulfilling to me. But if our “art job” was valued like an IT specialist, banker, construction worker, etc., I feel there would be far more resources and even new opportunities we’d have available to us. Instead of art being looked at as a hobby, it could be valued as a profession, which would give far more possibilities for the majority of artists.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @kevo_theactor
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.n.saunders
• Twitter: @kevo_theactor

Image Credits

Photo Credit: Kurt Yue, Corban Lundborg

Screenshots: HBO Max, FX