04/12/2017
We are thrilled to introduce to you "Canteen", our artist spotlight feature. You can look forward to interviews of professional artists exclusively given to the artists inn. we hope these interviews inspire you, and help you along the way on your own career path.
Our first feature is "Wolf on Wall Street", and "Big Little Lies" actor P.J. Byrne:
What inspires you/ what are your artist obsessions?
Virtually everything inspires me to be an artist. Primarily, it’s just speaking to people about their lives that most forcefully drives me to tell stories in an authentic way. Or, the most simple, uncomplicated elements in our daily lives can sometimes drive a vision and a story -- a garage in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, a corner restaurant, watching my kids smile. Very common, ordinary things can help spark a new level of insight and I work to use those things to bring something extra to my vision of a part or script.
What do you do when you aren't creating?
When I’m not writing or working on a movie or a TV show, I garden. Maybe some people meditate, I garden. My grandfather was a farmer in Italy when he was growing up. It must be in my genes. I grow tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, spinach, squash. I have peach, plum and orange trees. Anytime I see an open space, my brain starts spinning as to what I can plant there. You don’t need acres to be a farmer. A small city backyard will do it.
How do you know when an idea, piece, series is complete?
Knowing when a piece is completed is one of hardest things an artist deals with. I personally never know when to stop thinking about a scene or certain lines. That’s why on the day of shooting I try to offer the most versions of a scene as I can and do it as efficiently and courteously as possible. TV and film are such collaborative endeavors. So it’s critical to be working with people who are not only talented but also have a sense of judgment you can believe in. Once the job is complete, we all know we are going to have to live and die by the final product so it is really important to work with solid people.
What is the greatest challenge you have faced in being a professional artist?
Being in such a collaborative industry, you end up working with a ton of people who bring vastly different techniques, approaches and personalities to the project. The great ones are always exquisitely prepared; always have a strong shared vision of the material; and a huge seriousness each and every day. They live and breathe the character and are ready to riff and bring far more than what’s on the page. Great directors simply expect that level of commitment. When you’ve worked with the best – like Martin Scorsese – there are no “off days”. The only way you can be satisfied with the job you’ve done is to know you have challenged yourself like that every single day.
What is the one piece of advice you would share with emerging artists who want to transition from art as a hobby to art as a career?
When you decide to turn your art into a career, there are two things you need to do: hustle, hustle, hustle and prepare, prepare, prepare. Talk to everyone to get a big picture of the industry. Never stop learning and honing your craft. Be prepared to try new avenues. There are tonsof reasons an actor doesn’t get the job and most of them have nothing to do with how talented you are as an actor. But you better make damn sure you don’t lose out on a job because you didn’t do all the work needed to prepare for the audition.
Why is the Artists Inn important to the artist’s community?
Having a community of artists is not only special but also critical to the creative process. It’s so wonderful to have a venue that supports artists and challenges them be great!
