We recently connected with Alessandro Yokoyama and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Alessandro, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I used to be a stock trader for around 3 years. Trading has actually taught me so much about acting it’s crazy. Maybe in my own way. I don’t know. You start and you think that good trading is about how much money you make but it’s actually never about the result itself, just like so many actors judge their career on their ability or inability to cry/scream on cue. It’s not about the result at all! My job asa an actor is to develop and maintain good acting habits. One Good Rehearsal at a time. That’s it. That’s all I focus on. One good rehearsal. Was this a good rehearsal? Are there things I want to work on? Maybe I should work on those. Are there things I’m doing great? Maybe I should do more of that, and less of the other stuff. Then when time is up and it’s time to execute (whether that means going on stage, auditioning, or market opens) I know it’s all about letting go and practicing those same habits I’ve been honing in, trusting that I don’t need to control everything, I can just trust my preparation and whatever happens is awesome. It’s not about impressing the lady in the front row, or trying to be a hero. It takes an enormous amount of prep work but I don’t see myself acting any other way to be honest.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m an actor. I’m pretty good at it. I’m Italian, born and raised in Florence. Pretty good at that too, I think. Mom from Japan, dad from Cameroon, crazy mix. I’m also a chess instructor and a pianist.
But actor above all else. One of my teachers used to say that whenever you study a time period, you should look at their art, and that is going to show you the life of the people far more than any history book. That stuck with me. The fact that art is not just an expression of me, my ego, my smallness, but an expression of something bigger than me, a whole era, a Weltgeist, God… It makes me feel like we’re way more connected to one another than we might think. This communion of souls is the paramount reason I love acting. Bringing people together, just for a little, closer, united. I love that. There’s a huge responsibility in it too though.
I guess I love projects that have this timeless quality about them, projects that celebrate the intricacy of what it means to be human, in all its paradoxical facets, and share it. I’ve done a lot of drama so far, especially the last two shows I’ve been in, “Tracks” and “Room 1214”, both at 59E59 Theaters, but I also adore a good comedy, –I just think we humans are just such a silly bunch! Somehow most of my stage acting has been dramas and most of my film acting has been comedies. Weird…
Any news? …I’m not really allowed to divulge my casting in this project, but what I can say is that I’m beyond excited about it and I’m so so grateful for the trust they’ve put in me. Stay tuned!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Ahhh! I feel like I get constantly bombarded with what I should be doing, what I should eat, how I should sleep, and it usually just ends up overwhelming me so completely. Because also I don’t know! Luck was such a huge part of it too, I can’t really claim I’ve somehow “cracked the code” you know?
I will recommend this one book, and I’m not sponsored by her at all, but “The Artist Way” has had the greatest impact on my life, along with falling in love and starting therapy. It’s that good. If you’re a creative or ever wanted to be one, it’s an incredibly fulfilling read/practice.
If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
Yes! I love questions about struggles! Right now I’m on a quest to becoming gentler with myself. Most of my life I’ve relied on severe discipline and rigidity, which has brought me great result but also the occasional anxiety and panic attack, or the constant feeling that my self-worth hangs on my ability or inability to run 10 miles before 7 am or be productive for 12 to 16 hours per day. That wasn’t great. It was the only way I knew to respond to my circumstances at the time, and it’s okay. Now I’m looking for something more functional. So now I’m on a quest to find out how to be productive while still taking great care of myself. As long as I’m healthy I know I can do anything in due time, so that is my number one concern right now.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nibalessandro.wixsite.com/homepage
- Instagram: @ale.niba
Image Credits
“Tracks” – Burdette Parks;
“Room 1214” – Hunter Canning;
“Othello” and “Hedda Gabler” – ak47division;
GRSF Green Show – Pedro Figueiredo
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
