Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Orville Cummings. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Orville, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

We’ve all heard the expression “starving artist” which I think is a bit extreme, just “Artist” is fine. After all, the lifestyle of an artist is filled with the unknown, and instabilities, which on one end is what makes it so wonderful, there’s no linear path, and you have so much freedom to take any route, and not knowing where it leads is part of the fun and excitement. On the other end of the spectrum when it comes to money it can be a bit…terrifying. Not knowing when your next gig is, and struggling to put yourself out there in the competitive field to even be given a paying job, It’s no wonder artists have so much anxiety and need therapy (which costs a lot ). All that being said its possible. It’s possible to live solely off your art, and to earn a full-time living!

I have been blessed to have been able to earn a living off my craft as an actor, and oddly didn’t even know it at first “Huh?” Let me explain. Coming fresh out of TFS (Toronto Film School) from the acting for TV and Theatre program, I started working at mary browns as a fry cook, I was making steady money, but I wanted more, frying chicken isn’t my perception of artistic expression, I’m a performer! So I quit my job moved to the city, and made a deal with the universe, I promised I would work hard at my craft and be disciplined if I could live off acting alone. I was then hired at Casa Loma as an actor in their escape rooms, and that became my source of income, all while I was still auditioning for TV shows, movies, and commercials. I booked a handful of one-liners, and commercial spots during that time, and I was grateful, but I still wanted more. So I quit my comfy job at the escape room and applied to a bigger acting agency, money was running out at a rapid pace due to no income and failed business ventures. I was just about bottomed out, and planning to move back home with my parents, I wasn’t giving up just “rolling with the punches” and just when I was about to hit rock bottom, I got a new agent, and within a month became a full union member at ACTRA, then landed a recurring role that grew on the renowned series “Star Trek: Discovery” then offered a lead in a movie, then from that got cast in a now Canadian screen award-winning short film “Patty vs Patty.” Now you might read that and think “Wow this guy is lucky!” But I think it’s something deeper than that, it’s a vow I made to myself and the universe, and because I was determined and focused everything fell into place when I needed it the most, and it taught me a lot.

Could I have sped up the process? Yes. Maybe if I left my job sooner, and applied to that new agency, sure. But this is the long game I’m playing, if you’re looking for a quick buck acting isn’t the industry for you. A lot of pain and patience goes into making it. You have to have what’s called ” Stupid faith” and an unbreakable confidence in your craft. The money is only a byproduct of your work and commitment. I know people don’t wanna hear that, they want a blueprint/ road map. There aren’t any, but there are valuable assets that can help you, and I’ll give you a big one.

Network. This is a social industry, people want to work with those they know. So put yourself out there by going to events, and talking to directors, writers, and producers. But please, don’t be sleazy, people can often tell when you just want something from them, be genuinely interested in them as a person first and the rest will take care of themselves organically.

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.

It all started at the young age of 10, growing up as an only child I would create these fantasy worlds, filled with my favorite TV, cartoon, and movie characters, and act every single one of them out, giving them arcs, a unique voice, and motive. Coming to Canada and signing up for the film and TV course in high school made a world of a difference and opened up my eyes to the possibility of acting being a career I could pursue, a way to keep the kid alive and create art!

My main motivation is to inspire. I have many heroes in my life both spiritual and physical that I admire and look up to, and because of their light, I gained the confidence and strength to be authentic, faithful, and motivated to go after my goals and dreams. I feel the world would be a better place if everyone knew their purpose, and lived in their true power to fulfill such purpose, but it’s hard sometimes, it’s like climbing a mountain, you could fall, you could get over exhausted, but when we see someone climb that very mountain the energy of “Possible” takes over, and we gain the strength to take the steps inch by inch towards the peak. I want to be that light, and I want someone to take that light I give, become it, and do become the light for another spectator.

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

The best thing society can do to support an artist outside of purchasing products, Is showing up and sharing their work. You don’t know how much it means to an artist to have people show up to support their craft, be it at an art gallery, a theatre show, or a concert. After all, we’re kids at heart, and when a child is performing at school in any format they’re looking out into the crowd for their loved ones who come to support them, it gives them confidence, and it shows what they do is important. no matter how talented you are it’s hard to stay motivated if you feel like no one recognizes or appreciates your work. I’ve seen friends who have an amazing talent hide it, because they feel people don’t care, and I’ve seen a simple compliment or share on social media from a stranger give them that spark of confidence and now they promote their art religiously.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I would say in this lifetime I’ve had to die to be born again. All those lessons I’ve learned growing up that didn’t serve the bigger picture of my life, and were a big part of my identity had to perish for the new and more powerful freeing lessons to take their place. We are told to fit in, get a stable job, etc. And hey for some people they find comfort in that. Not I. I want this life to feel like it truly belongs to me, and the only way for that to happen was for me to discover who I want to be, and what I want to experience and choose that for me. I’ve read lots of books on philosophy and the great masters of the past, and the one thing those masters have in common is that they didn’t conform, they had a calling, a passion, and they followed it unapologetically.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orville.cummings/