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Interview: Tony Green August 1, 2005
1. How long have you been a resident in Siskiyou County?
Just under four years.
What brought you here?
I had lived here before when there was nothing, no economy, but I eventually moved back down to L.A. When I was living down in L.A. as a casting director, I was coming up here numerous times and finally the fourth time I said, "That's it!" and moved back up here. I had quit acting, I was done with it. I had spent three and a half years in L.A. and it had killed the whole thing for me. I used to joke around saying I was the first actor to quit acting to wait tables.
2. Can you give a short explanation of your specialty or your artistic medium?
My main talent is as an actor, or interpreter for the playwright. I love the idea of doing theatre when people walk out of the place thinking. I want to snap them out of it and help stimulate thoughts about moving society forward.
3. How long have you been making art (professionally and unprofessionally)?
Professionally, I have been working in the business for about fifteen years. Unprofessionally, I have been doing it all my life. I started acting when I was a little kid. I was acting in high school and was involved in many socially relevant plays. After I went to Ashland and finished school, I moved to Seattle and did a little theatre there for about a year. After that I moved down to L.A. and tried to shoot down there. So I have been doing it on and off.
4.Is art your full time career?
Yes, I just quit my day job. Acting With Purpose is my focus right now.
5. How have you learned your art? Have you had any formal art education? If so, where, when and for how long?
I started in high school. I went to San Diego State for about three years after high school then I came back to Ashland and spent five years studying in Ashland. It is always an on going process.
6. Have you had any special mentors that have influenced you and your style?My father, who I disagree with regarding issues of the day, always taught me to "at least have a belief" and to stick with that! As far as acting couches go, I find myself quoting, when I am teaching others, a gentlemen by the name of Denise Smith who is an instructor at SOU. He always said, "There is a reason we call it a play!" So, we are supposed to be having a little bit of fun and fun can also have purpose.
7. Can you talk a little about your experience as an artist in Siskiyou County? (In other words, what is unique about being an artist in this area?) (Pros and Cons) (economic, cultural, physical/geographic)
There is a special appreciation in Siskiyou County for what we do here. There was nothing in Mt. Shasta when Shadow Box got here. We provided free Shakespeare and made it accessible to people. There is an appreciation here that you don’t have in L.A.. In L.A. you are a just another actor. Here people are happy to have some entertainment. I am glad I was here for that ground work that Shadow Box played in the community theatre in this area.
9. Do you feel like living in Siskiyou County has influenced your art? What aspects have you drawn inspiration from?
I draw a lot of inspiration from Ra-el Corsini and her shows. She does a lot of stuff that I think theatre was in the beginning. Somewhat ritual, using mythology and with Birth Unveiled she has a purpose with her theatre.
10. If you had to describe your style in a few words how would you do this? First 5 words that come to mind?…I would say eclectic, I don't really have a 'style.' I am more method in my acting. Method is when an actor really becomes his character, he totally immerses himself in the role. For instance, the last time I did Private Wars, I didn't change my socks for the six weeks that we did the run because my character wouldn't… Just when I was on stage, not in real life.
11. What is it about making art and the creative process that you find most interesting or are most passionate about?
That you can influence, that we can make a statement freely and effect lives in some manner.
12. Do you have one particularly interesting story about your adventures as an artist? The most unusual work you've done, the hardest work, the most interesting commission, celebrities you’ve worked with, your biggest success story or biggest failure, or your earliest memory of making art.
I did a show years ago called Iphigenia. We worked on this thing for three months. I was in a lot better shape then I am now and we wore costumes that were like rabbit skins. We did Aikido workshops for like two months. That is all we would do for rehearsal. Everyone was in shape and it was a huge but very tight cast. We just got so much out of it. We worked our asses off for this thing and it was all about the process. Creatively, we got so much out of it...Then, it bombed. People hated it. People walked out! My friends even walked out. But I didn't care. I loved it. So, you never know.
After I gave up acting in L.A., I think letting that aspiration go opened up so much creative energy. That prestige was no longer 'my goal' in life. It was to actually accomplish something meaningful to me.