We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Trinity Johnston a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Trinity thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
The most meaningful project I’ve worked is a short film called My Soul to Keep which is about mental illness. Many people can relate to this topic and it hits close to home for me because I struggle with anxiety and panic attacks. When we were working on the storyline for this film, I was able to add what I’ve been through and how I handle my own issues. I love how this film brings awareness to mental health and how it’s important to ask questions and be very aware of what is going on in your child’s life. This was also a new type of role that I hadn’t played before which required me to go to a dark place. I worked hard preparing for this role to make sure it felt very reel…watching multiple actors to see how they portrayed someone with the same characteristics. On the day I had to film a very difficult scene where my character has a mental attack, my director helped me get to the head space and become super focused. This was the first role where I was left alone in the room, except for the sound girl, so I could just ‘go for it’ and become completely immersed in the darkness of this character. I loved how it all turned out and feel we leave the audience really thinking about how they can pay more attention to others around them.
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 started acting when I was five years old when my parents put me in a theater summer camp. I was hooked and haven’t stopped since then. I have always been a hard worker and was taught to ‘put in the effort’ if I wanted something. So for every role I wanted, I would rehearse and prepare and go into the audition with confidence. I think that’s what set me apart as a child, I was super determined and had a drive that most did not. That’s how I landed the role of Alice (Alice in Wonderland) at eight years old for a professional theater in Austin. They were looking for a fourteen year old to play the role because it was so demanding and they needed maturity to handle being the lead of the show and the difficult schedule. I had no problem demanding the stage and feel like this opportunity set me on my path as an actor. I quickly decided I wanted to try film acting as well and soon after got an agent and manager out of Los Angeles. This career can be grueling and you learn how to handle rejection over and over. But this too is what sets me apart from others, I push through, work hard, and understand that I still might not book the role. I’m proud of my work ethic and will continue to pursue my passions. I feel at home on a set, I love everything about making a movie. I have not shifted since I was five years old. I know what I want and will continue on this path until something in me changes. I constantly tell my followers that in order to get something you want, you must put in the effort!
Have you ever had to pivot?
When Covid hit in March of 2020 everything changed, especially for the life of an actor. Film sets shut down, theaters closed, there were no more auditions coming in for me. I had to shift. My mom and I had been talking about me starting a YouTube channel, so that’s what we decided to do. I was able to get together a small group of teen actors in Austin who became what we now call the ATXcrew. We found a way to safely film all types of challenge videos and became a close knit group. Making a video every week gave me a creative outlet and a way to bond with new friends. I kept myself busy and learned how to talk directly into a camera with confidence. (for acting you never look into the camera and play a character). Being a youtuber is completely different from acting and it brought me out of my shell. I now have over 100 videos and 10,000 subscribers. After Covid shifted and we could go back to filming, we decided to make a scripted series and called it Austin High. I helped write and produce the series with my mom which has two seasons and a total of fourteen episodes. Here’s why shifting actually helped my career…our series just got picked up by a streaming service who is going to market it all over the world as well as stream both seasons. They are also getting sponsors to make a season three. I learned that if life needs you to shift, then do it. You never know where it might take you!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I absolutely love meeting new people and getting to know them. Every time I start a new project, I get to meet the new cast and crew. I could spend all day on a set just talking to everyone. It makes me so happy. It’s how I thrive. Yes it’s amazing to see the final product of what we all created together, but my favorite part by far is hanging out with the coolest people on the planet and getting to vibe with their energy. (Artists are very cool people.)
Contact Info:
- Website: http://trinityjohnston.com
- Instagram: trinityjohnston123
- Facebook: Trinity Johnston
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TrinityJohnston
- Other: Tik Tok: trinityjohnston_123 IMDb: Trinity Johnston
Image Credits
Isaac Rowry Ruben Caballero