Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Christopher Craven. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Christopher, we are so appreciative of you taking the time to open up about the extremely important, albeit personal, topic of mental health. Can you talk to us about your journey and how you were able to overcome the challenges related to mental issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
I struggle with depression and anxiety, and looking back at my journey, the hardest challenge for me was admitting that I really did have mental health issues. Feeling sadder than sad or madder than mad i thought were just parts of the everyday drudge as human beings, and that it was best to bottle it up so you didn’t affect others. Now i now that isn’t the case. I was born a hyperemotional person. Perfect for acting. Those emotions later amplified with both my depression and anxiety which made for a very mean combination. Mental health is persistent. It wont go away with the snap of your fingers, or just one therapy session. Instead, you have to deal with it. But you want to know the key that worked for me? People. People are wonderful and full of unsuspected kindness, especially those you call your friends, family, or your partner. Opening up to those feelings is hard, I know, and even harder when it’s to those people you care for and don’t want to see you any different than you are now. It took me decades to admit to others that i really did need help. I remember one Sunday morning I was in church and everything that was bottled up in me burst out and i ran away. I locked myself in a bathroom and cried my heart out. After that, I was scared to talk to them and scared of what they would think of me. Although i ran physically, i could no longer run mentally. That’s when i had to take the leap, and when i did, i fell onto the cushion. My friends were there for me and comforted me. Some even told me that they have their own mental health issues, which was comforting. They hugged me and stayed with me until i was better. Those people are the ones you must cherish. Even if they don’t fully understand, help them understand. If by some chance they ridicule you, then find the ones who get you, people you feel comfortable with sharing that vulnerable part of you. You may not want to admit it at first, but if you do, it will be worth it. Trust me. Talk to yourself and find those wonderful people. You’re not alone.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’ve been a performer ever since i was a little kid. Decades of performing in musicals across the world and starring in films and television. There’s only one reason why i do what i do. Its fun!! Acting brings me so much joy and love and i can’t stop doing it. Because of this, I have learned so much about the craft and that there’s a lot more avenues to go down and still be considered a performer. Starring in my own productions, voicing e-learning scripts for foreign exchange students, the list goes on! Being a performer teaches you to be versatile, and i love it. Currently, I signed on with Deyan Audio and Mosaic Audio, both very well-known audiobook companies and I starred in a movie that’s going to be released to Netflix in the coming year. In addition to that, i am also in an audio drama that will be coming out soon.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Kindness is an invaluable quality to have. Kindness brings more kindness. If you are kind to others, so will they be unto you. Not only will people be more willing to help you, but you’ll gain friendship and connections out of it. In my line of business, those connections are equivalent to booking a role. However, don’t just be kind so you can gain something. That’s not how it works. You have to appreciate others, respect them, greet them with a smile or hug, and listen to them.
Learn when to not be too optimistic. For those of you who are overly happy, this is for you. There are times when optimism is not needed. I am a very happy go-lucky person myself, however, I learned that being too optimistic in certain situations can not only derail you from the current problem that needs to be addressed, but in fact make things worse. In times of intense vulnerability, its best not to provide a solution and instead just listen. For me, it would be my partner. I offer solutions because i want to stay positive, but there are some of those back-breaking, exhausting moments when you cannot be too optimistic. If you do, then it will feel as if you were completely disregarding their feelings. to such a crucial moment.
Don’t be afraid to set your boundaries when it comes to an acting role. Sacrificing your mental stability for just one acting job is not worth the risk. You have to learn what you are and aren’t comfortable with, and then you have to communicate that. For example, don’t be afraid to stand up or reject something that wasn’t previously discussed in a contract. IF you, personally, don’t feel like you want to do it, then don’t. Listen to yourself. You may get dropped and they move onto some other actor that’s willing to do it, and that’s okay. You have to be strong when it comes to this business so you need a healthy and strong mind to keep you going.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
Believing in myself. Not just current, but that challenge has been with me for years. Picture this, a young aspiring actor that moved all the way to California from Germany to pursue his dreams, with awards on his belt and recognition from some of the top American theatres in the country, only to find out that he is only booking a couple projects every year. Definitely not good for the confidence meter. When your confidence goes down, it can be deadly to the point where you just want to give up on your dreams. It is excruciatingly hard to get your confidence back to that previous point. This industry is tough, with a capital t. Believing in yourself is one the keys to getting you to stay, and because of that, i have found myself wavering from my dream because i don’t think that i am good enough. That’s why you need to chance your perspective. The truth is, you are good enough. And more than that, think about this. Those casting directors want you to book those jobs because then they wouldn’t have to look anymore for an actor. They want to cast you, and if they give you a compliment on top of that then they really mean it. Still, for me, despite knowing that, my confidence is still building up.
Contact Info:
- Website: christophercraven.com
- Instagram: @christopher_craven
- Facebook: Christopher Craven
Image Credits
Photography for Headshots: taken by Shandon Photography
