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

Sarkis, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

Do you ever get the feeling that you don’t belong somewhere? That everything seems to be at odds with what you want to accomplish in life? Such is a feeling you may have when pursuing a career as a creative sometimes. I’ve known since I was 13 years old that I want to be involved in entertainment. Oftentimes I look back on all the people that doubted me throughout the years. I’ve been laughed at, talked down to, and even misguided to try other careers because my passion is considered an “inconvenient”, “unlucrative”, and “directionless” path to some.

I remember once working at the Business Office of a community college and one of my colleagues asked me what my major was. I replied with “Theatre Arts”. They laughed at my response, while adding “You should think of a backup plan.” When I hear those words, I don’t fret. Instead I am motivated to continue doing what I love. If there is one thing I’ve learned from adverse moments in my life, it’s to never be discouraged of what makes you happy. Otherwise, you may as well doom yourself to living by a trail of money alone.

Life isn’t supposed to be easy. And it surely isn’t supposed to be taken control of by others. Finding purpose to your existence isn’t simply labeled under the most profitable means. Creating stories through narrative experiences, whether by character portrayal or written screenplays, is where I find an utter joy – with a limitless rush of dopamine spreading freely. My purpose in life is being fulfilled. And I am here for the long haul.

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.

I discovered the performing arts while being the class clown in middle school. I began training classically from the age of 13 and proceeded to star in several theatrical productions growing up. After graduating from California State University – Northridge in 2016 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Arts, I made the effort to transition my career to film and television. Although theatre will always be at the forefront of my gratitude when it comes to performance, I felt the need for something new and wanted to challenge myself further.

I made my television debut as an actor on “NCIS: Los Angeles” for an episode. Most recently, I had the honor of playing the main character of the feature film “Pride Jewel”, which released on most popular streaming sites and is available to watch now. Other credits include doing voice-over work for animated productions and audiobooks. Aside from acting, I have also written multiple episodes of the mockumentary web series “Real Acting”. I am currently working on a few different projects, one of which is my very own animated series called “Ninja Survive”. I am co-creating it with a friend of mine, Brandon Swofford.

It hasn’t been the easiest journey by any means. I’ve been the biggest advocate of myself, as well as the biggest critic. It can be discouraging when others tell you to try something different because it’s not guaranteed that you’ll be successful in this line of work. Success to most people in entertainment is becoming famous. Success to me is to be a consistently working actor and screenwriter. I can care less about the fame, to be honest. If I can do what I love and make a living while doing it, I will forever be happy.

I think the thing that sets me apart from others is my particular brand of humor. Some people may know me for my physical comedy and sketches that I post online. I love making sketch comedy videos. It’s one way for me to express some of my writing in short bursts.

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

I feel as though one of the most underrated forms of entertainment is live theatre. I started my career as an actor performing in live theatrical productions, and the adrenaline rush I get when experiencing an audience’s reaction to a narrative unfolding is unmatched. Sure, Broadway might be a hub for the biggest and most glamorous of shows out there, but local theatres offer some great experiences, too. Society can definitely support local artists and creatives by watching live theatre. It even gives you an alternative perspective on storytelling. There are even interactive productions now where the actors may communicate with visiting spectators, making for unique experiences.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

As an artist, I always consider how a person other than myself would feel in a number of scenarios. When developing a character, one of the most rewarding aspects is understanding that person’s mindset. What they are and aren’t capable of doing through moral standards. It begins to envelop your mind of who that person is. It can be compared to visiting a friend’s home and staying there for a bit, listening and paying attention to the many nuances of behavior that your friend has made habits out of. When I think about playing with interesting ideas, I feel like my mind is racing with several thoughts clashing into one another. It can feel like a curse at times, but one that is pleasantly tolerated.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6885449/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_2_nm_6_q_sarkis%2520ba
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarcastic_circus/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/sarkis-bakalyan-68308b204
• Other: Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/sarcastic_circus TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sarcasticircus?lang=en

Image Credits
Stills from Pride Jewel – Courtesy of 4D Legacy Studios