Meet Grant Merritt

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Grant Merritt a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Grant , so great to have you with us and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with the community. So, let’s jump into something that stops so many people from going after their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. We’d love to hear about how you dealt with that and persisted on your path.

At the end of the day, anything a hater has to say is just another person’s opinion. I tend to hold onto a quote by Dita Von Teese that I once read, “You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there’s still going to be somebody who hates peaches.” Daily affirmations also help. Looking myself in the mirror and telling myself, “I am good enough to be great!” until I believe it, and say, “I believe in myself!” I truly believe that the only way I can fail as an actor is by quitting. It’s a long game.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am an actor originally from Houston, TX. I played college football as a wide receiver at Sam Houston State University. After graduation, I moved to Austin, TX to further explore acting opportunities. I was in acting class three times a week, doing student films for free and working a bar job on the weekends. I then found local representation that set me up for opportunities for bigger roles in TV, film, and commercials. After gathering more experience and building my resume, I then moved to Los Angeles in 2016. I feel like I’ve had my fair share of luck out here in Los Angeles, aside from the Covid shutdowns and strikes. I’m actively working on my craft in class, in an attempt to get better each week, and I’m currently producing and starring in short films with a good friend of mine who is a filmmaker.
Here is a link to my IMDb:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6026588/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

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?

In this industry, it takes a lot of hard work, a bit of luck, and patience. Taking control of your career by creating your own content is definitely some solid advice that I wish would’ve started doing earlier on.
I would say taking risks in your work and failing, then getting back up and learning from your mistakes and trying again is something that’s helped me grow as an artist. Whether it be in class, auditions, or on set. Dare yourself to fail and don’t kick yourself when you do. Growth happens when you stretch yourself, take risks, and get out of your comfort zone.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

That’s a no-brainer! “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. It helped add to the self-discipline that I had already learned from my years as an athlete. I made myself sit down every morning for twelve weeks to write my “morning pages.” It’s the first thing you do when you wake up. You sit down and write whatever is on your mind for three pages. You’ll be surprised what comes out! Life issues arising that you didn’t even know were there, or finding simple solutions to problems that were right in front of you. Overall, it helps bring you clarity in the long term. You can write whatever you’re feeling.
I also learned to cherish my inner child. That is your inner artist. One must protect his or her inner child. That’s the part of you that is creative, playful, and sensitive. You begin doing the activities that you enjoyed and fueled you as a child. You end up taking yourself on artist dates. It may seem odd at first, but you’ll be surprised.
Taking action and simply doing, is huge! “All too often, it is audacity and not talent that moves an artist to center stage.”

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