We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nate Krimmel. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nate below.
Nate , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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.
I’ve been acting since I was seven years old, growing up in Baltimore and spending years immersed in the local arts scene. After I graduated from Washington College in 2018, I moved back home and worked locally for a few years in local theatre (shoutout to Fells Point Corner Theatre, The Strand, and Vagabond Players), student films, and indie projects. As time went by -and the pandemic- I kept thinking about my big move. I was either going to move to NYC or LA. I had always loved movies and knew that if I was going to pursue acting commercially as a career I’d have to make the leap. I also wanted to live in a big city away from all the usual machinations that made me comfortable. So instead of moving a couple of hours north, I moved across the country!
I uprooted my entire life to move to Los Angeles with no job lined up, no concrete plan, and no bed—just two suitcases, a few boxes, and the contact info of a family friend who lived in LA. It wasn’t a move made lightly. It came on the heels of performing in a timely play called Returning to Haifa in Vermont over the summer, where I had the time and space to microdose living on my own with strangers (on a farm), in a place I hadn’t spent much time in. I realized that if I didn’t take the leap by the end of the year then I wouldn’t be honoring my dreams and I would be living a life of regret.
So I jumped. I drove across the country with my Dad from Baltimore to Los Angeles.
The first month in L.A. was chaotic, fun, and stressful. I was navigating a new sprawling city, getting used to traffic, applying to jobs, and being in the middle of a national emergency due to the fires. I felt homesick and frequently thought, “What the hell have I done”. But little by little, things started to shift. I enrolled in acting classes, started meeting people (actors and non- actors), went speed dating, did a tour of paramount pictures, and most importantly, found solid new friendships that anchored me. The chaos gave way to routine. The doubt gave way to momentum.
Now, four months in, I’m building a life and a career that feels aligned with the dreams I had back in Baltimore. The risk didn’t guarantee success—but it did guarantee growth. And in the process, I’ve learned that the most important thing you can do is bet on yourself—even if you don’t have a bed yet.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I started acting when I was 7 years old. I had always had an active imagination and I would frequently watch movies and reenact scenes from Star Wars to 101 Dalmatians. I always loved the villians because I thought they were more interesting than the heroes (Darth Vader, Cruella De vil, Mr. Freeze). My parents took my family out to see theatre, symphonies, musicals, , movies, visual art shows, abstract experimental art, experimental theatre, and live music. I remember going to Artscape (the largest free festival in the US) when I was in a stroller; It didn’t matter if it was 100 degrees with high humidity. My family moved to Towson in 2002 and I went to see a neighbor perform in a local production of Peter Pan. I turned to my mom and said “I could do that.” I acted all through elementary, middle, high school, and college. I always joke that it’s never a good time to be an actor- but looking back on my life the pattern was boldly clear- I was going to be a performer. I started doing plays in the beginning and on-camera work (independent movies, student films, etc) over the last few years. I love the specificity of being on camera and how technical the filmmaking process is. It’s a collaborative effort because if the light and sound people aren’t delivering at a high level, the acting will be moot. I love how specific and alive things can become on camera when you haven’t rehearsed and you’re capturing a moment for the first and final time. No two takes are the same. Regarding plays, I love the feedback loop between actor and audience member. If you’re in a comedy the laughs are fuel and if you’re in a drama, the silence is intoxicating. Acting in a play is all about stamina, listening and receiving from your fellow actors, and adapting to each moment. If a prop breaks or if a light doesn’t go on, what will you do? I had an improv teacher that said, “Mistakes are the gifts you give yourself.”
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Getting to exercise my mind, body, and imagination in collaboration with other people to express emotion. I feel like being an artist is the greatest gift because I’m able to have a channel for imagination and life; I’m able to channel my fears, sadness, rage, joy, etc into character work within narrative. I think that stories keep us connected to something greater than ourselves. They keep us connected to ideals and to notions of transformation.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I would love to act opposite Vanessa Kirby.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: NateKrimmel
- Facebook: Nate Krimmel
