Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Clete Keith. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Clete, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
My purpose really found me. It was in my DNA. My maternal grandfather was a great editor and director in the 1940’s. He was quite well know for saving films that were in trouble. He would take the footage and re-cut it in the hopes of saving the movie. My father was an actor who in his early career worked with Orson Wells and did a lot of television shows in the 1960’s. My mother was an actress who excelled in theater. My sister was an actress and ended up marrying a known actor/writer, Jonathan Daly. My brother has been a producer, editor, and has worked in the visual effects fields for years. He started working on Tron in 1982. Point being, it was my calling to work in the entertainment field. It became my joy and obsession at the age of 17. I began as an actor in theater and also began writing which is now my main passion.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Having begun as an actor, that was my passion. I did 17 straight years of acting in the theater. The first 10 years we had Monday nights off and 2 weeks for Christmas. Other than that, we were involved with putting up shows in a theater in Hollywood, literally upstairs on Hollywood Blvd. known as the Stable Theater. Near the end of that journey I began to focus on the writing and directing aspect of theater and film. The short The Fool” (on YouTube) won awards as did my feature film Instant Trauma (on Amazon). During all of this I was helping make ends meet by working for the City of Beverly Hills on events and a ranger when filming up at Greystone Park, where I had an office for 20 years. Greystone is so haunted that in 2020 my brother and I put out a book: “Ghosts of Greystone – Beverly Hills, The Eyewitness Accounts.” I interviewed 86 different people about their encounters and ended up with nearly 300 stories!
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?
When looking back on my career to where I am today, I always have 3 letters in my mind that worked for me. O.D.M. In order to achieve success on several different levels of the entertainment business, I had to be Organized. Knowing what I needed to work on at that moment. Whether is was as an actor, going out on interviews for shows or making the time to work on the newest play by memorizing the text and blocking which allowed me to be comfortable during the rehearsal process and into the performance. You have to be organized with your time to write a screenplay while working on that newest play. Discipline – Not being distracted by situations that took me away from achieving my goal of acting and writing. When I was younger, all my friends were partying and going out most every night. I was in the theater. I was trying to stay focused. While they were getting high, I was getting notes on my performances! Motivation – In order to sustain some sort of presence in this business, and I mean whether you are successful or not so much, you have to keep your head down and plow ahead. Regardless your age! If it’s what you love to do, keep at it. I’ve never given up and still feel there are projects and deals awaiting ahead.
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?
The entertainment business craves youth. Being young and energetic is what draws attention. Beauty, both male and female are certainly a foot in the door. Who you know can also open that door. Being older for me is now the challenge. As much as the industry will say that it’s only your work that matters, be it acting or writing, isn’t necessarily true. They want young actors and writers. So being older you have to re-invent yourself in a way by marketing your creative abilities so that they are received in a positive manner. Example is trying to submit a screenplay without the agent/manager/producer knowing much about you. That is difficult in our world of social media. It truly is a major challenge. It has now become the topic of my next play I will be writing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thosekeithbrothers.com
- Youtube: Ghosts of Greystone Beverly Hills
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