We recently connected with Theo White and have shared our conversation below.
Theo, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
It all started when I was really young. I’ve always been a part of talent shows and the performing arts from elementary school through high school. My parents even paid for my acting and modeling classes right before I went to college. But then, the momentum slowed down because I was focused on my athletics and classes in college for which I received a scholarship. Then after graduating college in 2019, I came back home and started working without thinking about the entertainment industry. After the passage of some time, I received an email from the acting and modeling school, where I took my classes, inviting me to audition for a talent tour in Los Angeles. I decided to audition for a chance to meet with some prominent and notable agents. Once I was accepted, I was “over-the-moon.” I was so excited that I immediately booked my flight ticket for the trip and took my mother with me. While in Los Angeles, I was involved in multiple workshops that were led by other agents, casting directors, and actors. It was truly amazing and exciting. I also took a tour around Hollywood to look at celebrity houses and major studios. This just added fuel to the fire for me to pursue this acting and modeling career. Towards the end of the trip, I performed a monologue in front agents and managers. Afterwards, I sat down with each one of them in a “Speed Interview” process which turned out to be a huge success. After this whole experience, I just KNEW that I wanted to be an actor and a model. It was like I was bitten by the performing arts bug and now I am on this creative path for the long term. I am seizing opportunities that come my way that will allow me to develop and grow as a performing artist as I prepare for that “big break!”
Theo, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
How I got into the industry (post talent tour):
– After the talent tour in Los Angeles, I was more motivated than ever to pursue an acting and modeling career. As soon as I came back to Columbus, Ohio, where I was born and raised, I immediately started searching for projects. At the beginning, everything was going according to plan. I started auditioning for films and received opportunities to be in fashion shows. I was even an extra in a trailer which was my first time being on camera. Things were looking great as I was gaining momentum in pursuing this career. But as soon as everything started to go well, Covid hit and everything shut down. I was devastated. Right when I was about to do the things that I’ve always dreamed of, the pandemic halted everything. I had no idea how long this was going to last. I started saying to myself that maybe I was not meant to pursue this career. After five seemingly long months, I received an email from the assistant director that was involved in the trailer in which I was an extra. Apparently, he, along with the director and staff, really enjoyed me on set and wanted me to be in a short film that had an epic fight scene between me and another actor. I immediately said ‘yes’ without thinking twice. At that moment, I had a feeling that perhaps my goals in pursuing this career are still alive. Prior to the shooting of the film, I rehearsed and trained extensively for the fight scene and for memorizing my lines. Because of my training and rehearsals, everything went smoothly during the filming. The choreography was on point, the acting was terrific, and the director got all the angles he needed. I had an amazing time. I was on set for about 13 hours and I did not notice because I was so engaged and present in the moment. After the project, I knew that this is what I wanted to do. I was on a ‘high’ knowing that I could do this for a long time. Approximately a year after the project, I found out that the short film received many awards including “Best Action Film” in two film festivals in Los Angeles. Since that film, I have been involved in numerous projects including other films, theater performances, photoshoots, fashion shows, music videos, and more. My career opportunities from that moment has increased and I continue to receive new projects.
Things that I’ve learned:
– Persistency. Throughout my journey, I’ve learned that being persistent is the key to growing and surviving in this industry. In this field, it is expected to receive a lot of rejections. At first, I had a really hard time accepting this. It can take a toll on someone who is constantly hearing ‘no’ all the time. But that one ‘yes’ will outweigh a thousand “no’s.” This is something that I had to ingrain in myself because I have a tendency of taking things personally. I would feel like every rejection was a sign that I was not good enough. But after I discovered that even some of the greatest talents in the world get rejected, I stopped being so hard on myself and just continued to do the best I could. Nobody is perfect and I did not have to be perfect. I just had to be the best Theo that I can be and give it my all in every opportunity. This mindset keeps me encouraged and gives me the necessary push to never give up, to constantly improve and acquire new skill sets, and to seize opportunities that come my way. In other words, I am staying persistent on this journey looking forward to what comes next.
– Preparation. Failure to prepare is preparing yourself for failure. This is a concept that I had to fully adhere to if I wanted to succeed. I’ve always understood the importance of preparation. However, after one project experience, I decided to be fully committed to it. Shortly after the short film with the fight scene, which was my first official film, I received an opportunity to audition for a ‘Pilot’ being produced in Columbus, Ohio. In preparation for my audition, I memorized my lines so that I did not have to hold the script while auditioning. I received an email from the writer a week later saying that I got the role. They explained that I got the part because I was the only actor who auditioned without holding the script. I was ecstatic because this was a project that had the potential of being something great. However, this excitement did not last long as I almost lost the job. Shortly after the whole cast was announced, we had a table read to introduce ourselves, to go over the script, and to assess the chemistry amongst the actors. I was very nervous because I had the least experience of all the other actors. I was stumbling over my lines, I did not interact with the other actors, and I was messing up the flow of the whole table read. Safe to say that I did not prepare myself for the table read and it was noticeable. The director pulled me to the side and told me that for future table reads, it would be ideal if I familiarized myself with my lines ahead of time. I was embarrassed and I knew that he was not the only one who was concerned. After the table read, I began studying the script like a “mad man” making sure that I memorized every one of my lines. I needed to redeem myself and leave a better impression. Then once it was time to start shooting, I was ready to go. I did not mess up any of my lines and performed well in every scene that I was in. It even got to the point where I remembered other people’s lines in other scenes. After the shoot, both the director and writer praised me for how well I had performed. This was truly an eye-opening experience. Thanks to my time on this film, I was able to grasp the significance of preparation. It was my preparation that got me the role. It was my preparation that helped me perform well during filming and leaving a lasting impression. I took this concept and applied it to every other project in which I was involved. As a result, my growth as a talent has increased tremendously. The moral of the story is that if you want to perform your best, then you have to prepare to the best of your ability. Always be ready.
– It’s Not Only What You Know, But It’s Who You Know (Providing Value). A lot of people say, “It’s not what you know. It’s who you know.” That is true up to a point. If you do not understand what you are supposed to do or how to do it, then just knowing people will not do much for your progress. Even though it is possible to receive opportunities just by knowing people, you can easily lose and not receive any more opportunities if you do not know what you are doing. That is why I always make sure to know what is needed from me, and how it needs to be done, whenever I am about to work. For example, when it comes to modeling, I am always looking forward to connecting and working with various designers. Therefore, I need to know what that designer expects in terms of how to walk the runway, pose, and how to properly showcase the outfits that they have chosen for me to wear. Due to having these abilities, the designers trust me to showcase their fashions. As a result, I have been able to model for multiple designers in various fashion shows and photoshoots. The same concept can be applied to acting. I not only enjoy networking with different filmmakers and playwrights. Experiencing the different types of productions and genres provide opportunities to develop my craft. I endeavor to present myself in the best way possible in every project which I am a participant. People have complimented me on my abilities to bring a character to life, to memorize my lines quickly, to have a positive attitude, to bring good energy, and to being easy to work with. I try to assist in creating a positive and enjoyable working environment. As a result, I have been booking many projects through word-of-mouth over the years. So overall, it is important to know and constantly work on your craft along with forming connections with various people in your industry. That is the best way to grow as a person and an actor and model.
What I am most proud of:
– My Progress From When I Started. I can’t help but be in ‘awe’ of how far I have come on my journey as an actor and model. I began this journey three years ago and I have already been in numerous films, plays, fashion shows, and photoshoots. I have secured knowledgeable agents and managers who are guiding me on this path as a talent. Furthermore, the connections and bonds I have formed with other artists is truly amazing. Thanks to them, I am not only receiving more opportunities, but I am also improving as an artist. I definitely look forward to what the future will be for me. I get excited just thinking about it.
– Overcoming Challenges. I do not shy away from challenges. Actually, I look forward to them because I know that challenges will allow me expand and improve not just as an artist, but also as a person. Throughout my journey, I have faced many challenges that have allowed me to grow. Most of my challenges came from my theater performances. I had two theater performances that really pushed me to my limits. In one performance, I had to portray a goofy British detective. In other words, I was a comedic version of Sherlock Holmes. This play really challenged me because I had to get out of my comfort zone in order to portray this character. The character was very eccentric and had a British accent-two things that are not me. But I still accepted the challenge because I wanted to expand my repertoire. Therefore, I accepted the role and extensively prepared for the performance. I even hired an acting instructor to help me develop the character. Once it was time for the show, I was ready to go. The feedback that I received from my performance was outstanding. People were amazed by my performance and I even signed a few autographs after the show. In another performance that was a challenge for me was a Tony Award winning play that had no intermission. This play was two hours long, monologue-heavy, and the cast members only had a few weeks to prepare. The preparation was extremely stressful because I was the Lead actor and had the most lines the majority of which were long monologues. Suffice it to say, this play really pushed me to my limits. However, I am grateful for the experience because the play was a success and the performance allowed me to grow further as an artist. Overall, challenges can be blessings in disguise if you face them head on. Accept and embrace the challenges and watch yourself become someone that not only amazes you, but other people as well.
– Being Able To Give Back. One of the perks of being an actor and a model is being able to help those who also want to do what you do. I have gained knowledge sufficient enough to allow me to have been able to share what I know with others who want to pursue acting and modeling. I was even given the opportunity to be an acting and modeling instructor. This was a very rewarding experience. I was not only able to share my knowledge with others, but I was able to assess all that I had learned in such a brief period of time. It was rewarding to learn that many of my students went on to start doing big things. A couple of them are models for big brands and signed to prominent agencies. One of my students even contacted me saying that she booked a huge role for a play and said that it was thanks to my teachings in my classes. Seeing and hearing these things really makes me proud as I know that they are also pursuing a career that they love. In addition to this, I would not have gotten this far if it wasn’t for other people helping me. I relish in the fact that I have been able to be of assistance to others.
– Awards. Throughout my journey in this industry, I have been involved in many award-winning films. Some of the films in which I participated won “Best Action Film,” “Best Short Film,” “Best Student Film,” “Best Western,” and “Best Acting Ensemble.” In addition, I have won a couple individual awards including “Best Actor” and “Most Outstanding Actor”. I am very proud of these accomplishments because it proves that hard work pays off. Each one of these films made me better as an actor and helped me form connections with other artists. Some people say that awards do not really mean anything. But to me, it shows that there are people who recognize and genuinely enjoy your work, which I find to be very special.
What I want people to know about me:
– I want people to know that I am a work in progress. While I have been given the opportunity to participate in a breadth of projects, I am still learning and growing. I will continue to follow that path that has been laid out in front of me until I have accomplished my dream. I will be persistent and I will persevere. I am on a journey towards my dream and I will continue to aim towards the stars. Who knows, maybe one day, I will be one.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect is the fact that I am able to express myself particularly through acting. I am able to develop characters and give my own interpretation of that character. It is also rewarding to be able to portray characters in a way that allows the audience to relate and believe in that character.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I had an audition for a lead role in a play. I really wanted to get the role because I was attracted to the part and the director was someone who I respected and held in high esteem. During the preparation for a theater performance, the director made a comment to me during one of the rehearsals that caught me off guard. She told me that the only reason why I got the part was because she “knows” me. She said, “You’re lucky that I know you. Because if I didn’t know you, I wouldn’t have casted you.” I was stunned by this comment because she made it seem like I did not earn the role through my talent, but that I got the role through some sort of familiarity. In that moment, I wanted to walk away from the production. That statement was unexpected and I was embarrassed because it was said by someone who I respected. I briefly lost my confidence in my abilities as an actor. But I decided to stay with the project. I had already committed and I was reminded of my motto that I see things through to the end despite my feelings, I really wanted to do this play as it resonated with me and I couldn’t just walk away. I reached deep within myself to meet the challenges that doing this play presented. By sticking with this project, I developed as an actor. By overcoming the adversities in this project, I gave one of the best theater performances in my career.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theowhite21/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theo.white.393?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpoSzQRIfmSRXB2i71s9NbQ
Image Credits
Western Picture – Photo by Ben McClain Father & Son In Car – Photo by Jay Hubbard Orange Shirt Theater Picture – Photo by Jasmyn Green Detective w/ Magnifying Glass – Photo by Ariel Wiles Gun Aim In Laundromat – Photo by Chris Ott