We were lucky to catch up with Tom Sys recently and have shared our conversation below.
Tom, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
An artist always has a special connection with the pieces they have created. It’s their little baby that they bring from start to finish. I’m incredibly proud of some of the productions I’ve brought to the screen or to the stage, but there was one experience in particular that has been the pinnacle of my acting work so far. Only a couple months ago I played Colin in the devised theater production of Dominique Morisseau’s “Blood At The Root”. It’s a moving play that offers a fictional take on the diabolical charges against the “Jena 6” in 2007, Louisiana. This type of story was unlike any other I have helped telling before, neither was its crucial relevance. Thereby, to play a character that grew up in a classic Southern culture, had a horrible family situation, and struggled with a sexual orientation that is different from my own, was a real challenge. Through the rehearsal process of bringing the script to life, I had the task of really immersing myself in this world that was so outrageously different from mine, and most importantly, to not only understand what Colin was going through, but to “feel” it. This time I could put my studies on the Stella Adler acting techniques to the test. Through months of examining, imagining, and exploring I finally had a firm grasp on how to live each moment to the fullest and eventually fit Colin’s journey into the rest of the play. It was only a small piece in the big puzzle that was put together by our director, Richard Gallegos, and the incredibly talented cast members. This amazing group of people has been pushing me further with their brilliance since day one and I couldn’t be more grateful. “Blood At The Root” ended up inspiring, touching, and educating audiences of all ages. I was satisfied with most of the performances and happy with how my work was rewarded in making the final version so worth-watching. We told an impeccable story through a tough preparation and we made people feel things. It couldn’t be more meaningful to me.
Tom, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Since I was a kid I’ve been into theatre and the performing arts. Being able to pursue this professionally was already a dream come true. But now I come across a point where I have to find my personal place in this industry. There’s many career paths one could take in showbiz, but you’ll never know which one unless you try it. Acting is and always will be my main focus. I tell stories on stage or in front of the camera and tell it through the lens of my personal unique experience. Originally I am from Belgium and whatever project you find me working on, a hint of my culture will be involved. Now, in the search of my place in the industry I have tried on many hats… and most seem to fit! I started feeling out the producer side of things when I created my first short film “Table of Truth”. It worked out well and it propelled me to produce a stage play called “Do We Have a Deal?”. Both projects were a joy to lead from start to finish, so much that I started a film studio called “Movart” alongside Erik Sopracasa and Luca Fontaine. We produce commercials, documentaries, and other visual content for our clients. The fact that we’re all internationals gives each project a little foreign touch that’s true to our culture and that makes our stories unique. The same is true for my theatre bug. I love it so much that my friend Frank Tirimacco and I started a theatre company called “Two Oceans Theater”. We aspire to put on plays that ring true to any audience and that zoom in on the core aspects of the human experience. We have been able to do that greatly with the help of of the wonderful writer Maddy Zambello. More projects are in development as we speak. Aside from producing I found a passion in screenwriting. So far I’ve penned down a bunch of scripts and had a couple of them produced. It’s such a thrill to see something come alive from a simple thought into a full on movie. There’s nothing that’ll give me more satisfaction.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
There’s too many things to name that drive my creative journey. I have a lot of goals rather than a singular specific one. Leading the cast of a big studio movie is one of them. In order to achieve that I have to get comfortable and skillful in doing small budget film projects. Bit by bit I gain more understanding of the craft which prepares me to climb the ladder of Hollywood. Seeing those movies or hearing stories of how they are made are already a massive drive in my journey. My goal in theater is quite similar. Being in a stage play on Broadway is an ultimate goal that drives me. Getting comfortable doing small theater plays is the first step. Whenever I see a play, do a play, or hear about one I am fueled again to work towards that goal. A person that always shares his personal experiences when working on a play, TV show, or a movie is my best friend Aaron Allen. Aside from learning about the workflow of big productions, he also drives me to work harder and become a part of such endeavors. I couldn’t be more grateful to be shared such valuable experiences with.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Every time an audience is moved, affected by a story I tell, there’s a satisfaction in me that is more rewarding than anything I can think of. Since the performance industry is so highly competitive it is already a great feeling to be able to take part, but when you do the work, you are committed to the material, and determined to do justice to the story, it is the ultimate reward to know it has an effect on those who watch it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @tom_sys
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/tom-sys-633a11233
- Youtube: @tshorts8933
Image Credits
Chris Wood, Brianne Dudra, Phoenix Medina