Meet Ken Holmes

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ken Holmes. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ken below.

Hi Ken, 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?
Well, I’ve been acting and telling stories for as long as I can remember. Even before I could write, I would dictate stories to my dad who would type them out, or I would record them myself on a tape recorder, often doing voices for the various characters. When I was twelve, I got a role as Robin in a college production of Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor”…it was at this point I knew I wanted to act as my living. From that point on, I acted in numerous plays, took several acting classes (often being the youngest in the room), and I also continued to write. My motto is to never stop learning and growing. The secret to life is to enjoy learning as much as you enjoy knowing. This keeps me going, and I would say is where my work ethic stems from.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m an actor, writer, and filmmaker in New York. I’m a proud SAG-AFTRA member, and I have been in hundreds of films and TV shows, in roles ranging from lead, supporting, day player, to background. I also make indie films and have my own production company, Rain & Neon Productions. Rain & Neon has been behind my web-series “Old Hearts Cafe” and several short films. We also make the award-winning web-series “Zoom Shorts” along with Eugenia Films and Klami/Holmes Productions. “Zoom Shorts” was born out of COVID, and began as a show in which people called each other over Zoom. It started as a way to continue to make films while social distancing. However, it has evolved over time, and now we make all kinds of episodes telling stories from multiple viewpoints. Each episode tells a different story, and we have experimented in such genres as comedy, drama, romance, and even a little bit of horror. You can find it on YouTube! It’s now in its sixth season. It’s produced by myself, my dad Burnham Holmes, and my friends and frequent collaborators Karen Klami and Allie Radice. We’re also in post for our first feature film based on a Zoom Short entitled “I Love You, Maria” which is about a couple who learns that their child will have special needs.

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?
Love what you do, don’t take anything too personally, be authentic. Admittedly, these might be cliches. However, taken into practice, they have gotten me through life. We’re all on our own journeys, but we do share common experiences, so I think they will be helpful to many if not all of us. So remind yourself to take these things into practice when you find that you’re slipping or doubting yourself. And please, please, please, have fun and be nice to people! Word gets around how you treat others. Plus, you never know who might end up being a long-lasting friend and collaborator down the road. And in terms of having fun, I sincerely believe it’s important. It can be a grueling business, but if you have a good time, you won’t burn out.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My dad Burnham has shown unending support and encouragement for which I will be forever grateful. I also learned the importance of joy from my mom. She passed away of cancer when I was very young, but up until the end she was grateful and filled with love. That has shaped my attitude to this day, and I never take a moment for granted. In her words, “Joy Now.”

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Audrey Seybold Photography

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