We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Maddison Bullock . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Maddison below.
Maddison , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
In the realm of creativity, the quest for happiness is a profound and enduring journey that I’ve had the privilege to embark upon. One of the most intricate challenges that both I and many of my esteemed colleagues face is discerning when to detach from our art and when to pour more of our very essence into it. It’s akin to a delicate dance between passion and pragmatism, a balance that every creative soul strives to master. For me, the true joy lies in navigating these intricacies, in the exhilaration of solving this ever-present conundrum. There’s an indescribable delight in surpassing my own expectations, in rewarding myself when I gracefully, or sillyly (can we make that a word?) bridge the logical and the artistic hemispheres of my mind. The very notion of trading my vocation in film and television for a more conventional role is unfathomable, not least because of the incredible community that surrounds me. I am profoundly grateful to have discovered my tribe within this industry, a collective that transforms the daily grind into experiences reminiscent of joyful summer camp days.
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.
From the glimmering ice rinks of the Olympic Training Center to the shimmering lights of film sets, my journey has been a testament to the interplay of discipline, passion, and storytelling. As a competitive ice skater, I reveled in the performance nuances that skating afforded. It wasn’t merely about the twists and turns on the ice; it was about weaving a narrative. I cherished those memories of sifting through vintage music stores alongside my mother, meticulously curating scores to craft a three-minute narrative, and conceptualizing costumes that resonated with the essence of the piece. While my athletic prowess endowed me with resilience and vigor — attributes I deeply appreciate, especially when diving into action roles — it was the allure of storytelling in skating that truly kindled my ardor for narratives.
It was this same ardor that led me to conceive, produce, and breathe life into a character in a family-centric ice-skating film on sisterhood, which found its home on Amazon. This endeavor marked the dawn of my heartfelt transition into the realm of film and television. Having had the honor of completing the Producing and Screenwriting Professional Programs at UCLA’s esteemed TFT school, I’ve been privileged to contribute as a producer, writer, and actor to several award-winning films and grace the screens in notable Netflix series such as “13 Reasons Why” and “First Kill”. Coming soon, I portray a young Mary Louise Parker in Sundance Jury Prize Winner director Bernardo Britto’s gripping drama “Omni Loop”.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
In addressing the question of how society can most effectively bolster artists and a vibrant creative ecosystem, my perspective might diverge somewhat from convention. A fundamental tenet I’ve come to embrace in my journey is the notion that artists, in essence, are in service to their audience. This is not a passive relationship; there’s a symbiotic dynamic at play. The general populace, amidst the cacophony of daily life, with its myriad demands and obligations, carves out moments of reprieve, pockets of leisure. If an individual chooses to allocate a fragment of this precious respite — say, two hours — to engage with my work, it is incumbent upon me to ensure that this engagement is enriching, uplifting, and affirming.
This perspective, while grounding, also provides an unexpected liberation from the relentless and often capricious metrics of industry success. The artistic realm is notorious for its shifting paradigms of popularity, making it a formidable challenge to consistently align with industry-defined benchmarks. Yet, when the compass is recalibrated to focus on the timeless essence of storytelling — the desire to resonate, to echo shared human experiences, and to engender a sense of kinship — the path becomes clearer. The perennial objective then remains to craft narratives that foster connection and engender understanding. Such storytelling, rooted in sincerity and authenticity, transcends fleeting trends and remains an evergreen touchstone for both the artist and the audience.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The reward of the creative life lies in its ever-evolving realm of discovery. Every day, as someone who humbly navigates the world of art, I find myself enchanted by life’s unpredictable tapestry. Inspiration, often, emerges from the most unanticipated moments and places. And honestly, there are times I fumble, misstep, or simply miss the mark. Yet, it’s the audacity to embrace the unknown, to leap into the void with the hope that the universe might just catch you, that brings a thrill unlike any other. In this dance with the unpredictable, there’s a deep sense of gratitude for every lesson, every stumble, and every serendipitous moment that fuels the journey of creativity.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.maddisonbullock.com
- Instagram: @maddisonbullock
- Other: Imdb/maddisonbullock
Image Credits
Ken Rogers Specular Photography for all images