We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gilbert Smith a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Gilbert, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
When I was born, my family was based in Hollywood, CA. My grandmother owned a (6) six unit apartment on Homewood Ave. just west of Vine Street. My mother has a singer and was cast on various music/variety shows in the 1950’s. and my sister and I were on tow and ask to stay quiet while my mother worked on the set. Producers found ways to employ us in commercials, episodic television and motion pictures. I learned that if I made a mistake it was permissible and everyperson on the shoot was like family to me. I had support to excell with my ambitions to make photographs when I decided to carve a career as a photographer. After thirty years in advertising, I learned to appreciate all of the commercial contract work that landed in my studio. In 2005, I was offered the opportunity to rebuild an iconic live theatre in Hollywood. When I arrived the theatre was in very poor condition with 18 years we aree seeing success and still have optimism that we will continue to grow as a producing theatre company. in Hollywood.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I was engaged by directors, producers and sponsors when I was a young child actor. I was cast in (2) television series. First in 1958, I was cast in the orginal Dennis the Menace series as Dennis’s friend Joey. During the sumer of 1960, I was made a cast member with another television series called Peter Loves Mary. Proctor & Gamble, the company sponsoring this NBC series would send us cases of their product. So many that we distributed them to our friends and neighbors. WE became the cleanest neighborhood in Sherman Oaks. Branding was engrained into my brain as a positive value that came in exchange for my work first as a cast member and the later it was to tool and trade of the photographic contracts that my studio ingaged in with Ford, GM, Apple Computer, Oakley, Porsche, Nissan and many other commercial clients. My work now is with the focus to create messaging with designed campaigns for social media to the general public.
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?
We are born with a brain anf body that is ready to grow and form knowledge and skills. My advice to others is to always be available to join with fellow students or cohorts to create positive impact and income. Accepting challenges and seeking solutions continues throughout our lives. I always try to understand the changes with our media delivery modes to position my work as being “groundbreaking”. I don’t know if I am considered and innovator but I am certain that I am usually and early adopter.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
I have pursued a career as a Creative Director/Photographer for several decades. I made the decision to focus on being a team leader as a show producer in liver entertainment. I am mentoring others who are young and talented. I continue to create digital imagery, designs for advertising andam now considered the client.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.themontalban.com
- Instagram: The_MontalbanTheatre
- Facebook: TheMontalban
- Twitter: @TheMontalban
- Youtube: @themontalban
- Yelp: The Montalban
Image Credits
Photo by Lionel Garcia
